Landscaping is the art and science of designing, constructing and operating outdoor space. The word “landscape” derives from the French paysage which stems from the Latin pagus meaning field. Landscape designs can be as simple as a rock and a tree or as elaborate as an entire city park with specific areas for particular activities such as sports and play.
landscapes can include natural, man-made, or modified environments, reclaimed land, urban spaces. They can be designed to meet human needs for recreation, health, or beauty.
Landscape design is similar to landscape architecture except that it focuses on garden design rather than planning for construction and engineering (Fernie, p. 47). “Landscape designers tend to work more in the public eye whereas landscapers are employed by clients.” The services of a landscape designer can include conceptualizing, planting design, irrigation plans and management plans involving horticultural science. They may also keep records of plants and develop their floral competence with gardening skills which improve their ability to design gardens aesthetically. This knowledge includes knowing how different plant species grow together so that they can create designs that require no maintenance after being planted.
Once a plan is complete, a landscape designer must implement their design. This can be through a number of ways including the use of hand tools such as pruning shears and rakes to larger equipment such as tractors.
Landscaping may involve garden maintenance, using gardening techniques such as watering, weeding, mowing, trimming and edging lawns or gardens. Different landscaping techniques may be used depending on the climate and location of the site. In agricultural areas sites often include irrigation to supplement rainfall since food production is the aim in these areas; due to earlier exploitation of land for crop growing most crops are planted after harvesting another crop (Fernie, p. 50).
The professional disciplines which involve landscape design tend to also work in the general hardscape areas of site development outside buildings. This can include paving walkways and driveways, installing fences, walls and hedges, terracing lawns to prevent erosion, planting trees for shade or screening, etc.
Clandestine landscape design is used by criminals wishing to hide evidence that they have dug a pitfall trap or buried hazardous materials on another’s property (see hidden camera).
Landscaping can be used to reduce the physical distance between separate locations. It can provide privacy in land use, enhance an otherwise desirable view from inside a building or within a room of the house while outdoors. For example, landscaping around a home or other structure can improve its appearance while also providing some reduction in traffic noise or nuisance from traffic.
Landscaping as a method of noise mitigation is used as a strategy by airports to reduce engine and tire noise impacts on adjoining communities, neighbourhoods and schools.
One of the initial landscape design procedures is to study the terrain where the proposed outdoor space will be established. This can be done using topographical maps or aerial photographs which show subtle changes in land elevation. A site visit with a former or current land owner may provide valuable information on features such as waterways including rivers, streams and lakes; areas of steep slope; soil type; existing vegetation; house orientation towards the sun etc.; all important considerations for designing outdoor spaces (Fernie, p. 51).