Changes

Whatever the choice of style, it is essential that the surrounding context is taken into account.  While a planting design can have a natural appearance, the landscape should never appear haphazard or messy. The aesthetic goal is to achieve a visual sense of fit and scale with the site.  The design should be intentional, appropriate and pleasing to the eye and consider the following:

Whatever the choice of style, it is essential that the surrounding context is taken into account.  While a planting design can have a natural appearance, the landscape should never appear haphazard or messy. The aesthetic goal is to achieve a visual sense of fit and scale with the site.  The design should be intentional, appropriate and pleasing to the eye and consider the following:

*Maintain visual interest throughout the seasons  

*Maintain visual interest throughout the seasons  

*Use of selective species palate  

*Use of selective species palate  

*Use of one or two species or elements to create an accent

*Use of one or two species or elements to create an accent

*Consistency in plant placement and spacing; incorporating mass groupings, repeating plant groupings, materials and/or design elements.

*Consistency in plant placement and spacing; incorporating mass groupings, repeating plant groupings, materials and/or design elements

*Avoid sparsely spaced greenery; the planting beds should be fully vegetated.

*Avoid sparsely spaced greenery; the planting beds should be fully vegetated  

*Consider habitat attributes of plant material

*Consider habitat attributes of plant material

*Enhanced LID function related to pollutant uptake, temperature mitigation, filtration, and evapotranspiration

*Enhanced LID function related to pollutant uptake, temperature mitigation, filtration, and evapotranspiration

==Basic Principles==

==Basic Principles==

==Planting Plans and Specifications==

==Planting Plans and Specifications==

For professional projects that are beyond the scope of a simple homeowner designed and constructed rain garden, the consultant must prepare planting details and specifications that reflect the specific municipal and agency requirements. A qualified landscape architect should prepare documents in coordination with engineering design, including tender documents that encompass site development, soil preparation and earthworks. Plans are prepared on a site-specific basis, incorporating planting layout, species composition and spacing. In addition, landscape plans should include construction details and pertinent notes specifying site supervision, monitoring and maintenance.

A qualified landscape architect should prepare documents in coordination with engineering design, including tender documents that encompass site development, soil preparation and earthworks. Plans are prepared on a site-specific basis, incorporating planting layout, species composition and spacing. In addition, landscape plans should include construction details and pertinent notes specifying site supervision, [[monitoring]] and [[maintenance]].

Early initiatives and successes are more likely to be public, commercial or industrial applications as there is a higher requirement for landscape professionals to be involved and usually a greater opportunity to control and monitor initiatives. Contracts for LID practices may need to be structured slightly differently than a standard construction contract in order to address the long term function of the LID practice, including provision for securities and an extended warranty period.

Early initiatives and successes are more likely to be public, commercial or industrial applications as there is a higher requirement for landscape professionals to be involved and usually a greater opportunity to control and monitor initiatives. Contracts for LID practices may need to be structured slightly differently than a standard construction contract in order to address the long term function of the LID practice, including provision for securities and an extended warranty period.

<h3>Plant Installation</h3>

===Plant Installation===

Plantings should be installed as soon as possible upon completion of the grading and installation of drainage structures. In addition to the planting plan, plant installation details for herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees should be followed per municipal and landscape industry standards, specifications, and guidelines. Avoid staking unless necessary (ie. vandalism or high wind exposure). If staked, then the ties should be a biodegradable web or burlap and removed after the first growing season. If any plant substitutions are required, then the contractor or contract administrator should defer to the designer or municipal agency to make the substitution.

Plantings should be installed as soon as possible upon completion of the grading and installation of drainage structures. In addition to the planting plan, plant installation details for herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees should be followed per municipal and landscape industry standards, specifications, and guidelines. Avoid staking unless necessary (ie. vandalism or high wind exposure). If staked, then the ties should be a biodegradable web or burlap and removed after the first growing season. If any plant substitutions are required, then the contractor or contract administrator should defer to the designer or municipal agency to make the substitution.

*[[Swales]]

*[[Swales]]

*[[Bioswales]]

*[[Bioswales]]