Category Archives: Common Landscape Mistakes

Common Landscape Mistakes: The Napkin Plan

The Napkin Plan Syndrome is something we see a lot in our office when we are doing take-offs. What is a napkin plan? It’s a drawing that lacks sufficient detail to be bid properly (e.g. something that was drawn on the back of a napkin).

Landscape architects and designers can frequently omit important details or submit a conceptual plan for bid instead of a true construction document. While this may be easier, save time, or reflect the stage of the design process for the project, it’s enough to drive us crazy.

Common problems include:

  • Poor material specification: Work labeled Stone Patio, or Wood Deck (what kind of stone or wood- 2 dollar tile from Home Depot? $20 Travertine imported from Italy?).
  • No size/length specification: Yes you can have the contractor perform takeoffs of areas like irregularly shaped lawns, patios etc. Most of the time this information could be provided with a couple of clicks in a design program. It would save bidding contractors a lot of work, and result in more consistent and accurate bids for project clients.
  • No plant specification table: Planting plans often don’t have a table counting the plants. Again, it’s easier to make the contractor count the hundreds of plants on your plan, but doesn’t produce help produce consistent bids. Planting tables also often lack container sizes.
  • Bidder design irrigation: Also known as have the contractor design a complete irrigation system without any specifications or guidelines. Suffers from the same problems as the previous examples.
  • No construction details: Often complex elements are not detailed at all- Install BBQ Island: This brings to light about a hundred detailing questions (what kind of counter, what type of island construction, what type of appliances, where does the gas line come from, etc, etc, etc…)
Can You Bid on This Drawing? (For the record this was drawn on a paper towel)

Common Landscape Mistakes: Steel Edging

Steel edging sounds like a good idea. Steel is a stronger material than composite plastic benderboard that is commonly used, and has a much thinner profile. Instead of 2″ thick edging common with composite edgings, most steel edging is 1/8″ to 1/4″ in thickness. The steel also holds straight lines and curves better.

While these are certainly advantages, steel edging has one main drawback- rust. Steel edging is powdercoated and usually comes in black, green, or brown colors. Once it has been shipped, handled and buried on the project, the powdercoat is usually flaking off. This results in unattractive rusting edge or profile.

Another alternative that solves this problem is aluminum edging. Aluminum isn’t perfect either, it is softer and more easily banged up than steel, but won’t rust. The annonized coloring of the aluminum won’t flake off like the powdercoating on steel edging.

For more edging options:
Sure-Loc Edging: Offering both steel and aluminum options
Epic Plastics: Makers of Bend-a- Board composite edging

This older steel edging had been pulled out of a project. The finish is flaking off and both the edging and stakes show significant signs of rust.

Common Landscape Mistakes: Fences

A continuing entry in our Common Landscape Mistakes series:

Fences are a fairly basic element in landscape construction, but one where we see common mistakes in design and construction. Here is a guide to fence types and ways to avoid common mistakes.

Proper construction of fencing really depends on the type of fence being installed.

The basic fence types are as follows:

1 -Perimeter Fence- metal, wood or wood and wire. Typically constructed for privacy on back or side yards. Heights typically 4-6’

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8′ Fence with Lattice

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Examples of Standard 6′ Fence and Alternating Board “Good Neighbor Fence”

2 -Front Fence- Typically a picket style, or semi-transparent design, heights typically to 3-4’

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Mock-up of vertical picket fence on top of wall

3-Deer Fence- to restrict deer access, typically wood and wire, or wire and Metal T-post construction, heights typically 4-6’

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Wood and Wire Deer Fence on Sloped Terrain

4-Railing: Typically wood, tensioned cable, or prefabricated metal. Heights typically to 3’

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Wood Railing on Top of Retaining Wall

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Cable Railing with Wood Frame

Construction: Fences are composed of a few key elements-
-Posts: typically set in concrete
-Stringers: Horizontal boards connecting posts
-Fill: Fence Boards, wire mesh, tensioned wire, etc.
-Decorative elements: Wood lattice, extended trellises, kicker boards, decorative detailing

Biggest Mistakes:
Here a few of the most common fence construction mistakes we see:
1-Horizontal Stringers: 2×4 boards are the most common stringers used in fencing. These boards typically span posts, spaced 8’ on center. Because wood at this span will have a tendency to sag, it is important that the strongest orientation of the board is used- in this case the 4” side, not the 2” side. Horizontally oriented 2×4 stringers spaced at 8’ spacing will show a noticeable bow over time.
-Insufficient stringers- we prefer 3 stringers for some styles of fence, especially over 6’. There are some fence designs where 2 stringers are insufficient.

2- Poor Posts:If the style will allow, pressure treated posts can be used to help resist weathering. In cases of finished fencing, a decay resistant wood such as redwood or cedar should be used. Untreated wood used outside will weather and decay rapidly. Post should be set in concrete, typically 9-12” in diameter and at a typical minimum of 18” in depth, with gravel installed at the base of the base pier to allow water to escape. Posts poorly set, will result in a structurally unstable fence, that will likely lean, or blow over in a storm.

3- Ugly Styling: Some fences are just downright ugly. Take a look in your neighborhood to find fences that have a good style of construction and a good aesthetic.

4- Poor fastening: screws or nails can be used for fastening the fence depending on application. Nails and screws should be galvanized at a minimum to prevent excessive rust and weathering; on high quality fencing stainless steel screws or nails should be used.

5-Too tall: Fences over 6’ need special construction considerations- 4×4 posts are typically not strong enough, 4×6 or 6×6 posts should be used. Sufficient stringers should be used on tall fences, 1” thick fence boards should not exceed a 5-6’ span vertically between stringers, if they do, they are likely to warp. Check also with your local building department, frequently fences over 6’ require permitting (sometimes 2’ of wood trellis is allowed, totaling 8’)

Common Mistakes: Don’t Paint that Concrete!

A continuing entry in our Common Landscape Mistakes series:

It might seem like a good idea, but painting concrete rarely turns out well. From time to time I see concrete walkways or driveways that have been painted over. Painting can make an old outdoor concrete surface look new for a while, but the drawbacks are numerous. Painted concrete chips and fades considerably, almost guaranteeing that in a couple of years that nice consistent looking surface is going to be faded, stained, and flaking. Painting concrete also usually reduces the roughness of the surface, making it more likely someone will slip on the smooth surface when wet. In addition to these draw backs, because it’s not done very often, painted concrete often looks strange in the landscape. Unless an earth-tone is selected, the color often stands looking strange in the context of the neighborhood.

Alternatives to painting are replacing the existing concrete with new colored concrete. Or, if the concrete is in good shape, there are specialized concrete stains available that can add color while not flaking or reducing traction on the material.

 

Common Landscape Mistakes: Overplanting

In posts this week we are going to focus on some common detailing mistakes made by homeowners and professionals alike in residential landscaping. Some of these are little things, some are major errors, but all are good things to be aware of when working on landscape projects.

Common Landscape Mistake: Overplanting

This is a common problem we see in residential landscape projects, planting too densely or not realizing the mature size of plantings being installed. To a certain degree this can be stylistic and subjective, some people prefer dense plantings, but at times it can look downright comical. Often wanting things to look good right away, plants are planted too close for their mature sizes. Also, frequently shrubs are planted too close together. For example an Angel’s Trumpet is planted 2.5′ away from a Butterfly Bush, both of which can grow to 6’x6′ in size. The most important thing is to remember to balance the immediate impact of plantings with their more mature look in 2-3 years.

Frequent plant spacings (on center)
1-2′ Small flowering perennials and annuals
2-3′ Woody shrublets, small shrubs, most grasses
4-6′ Larger shrubs, hedging shrubs, large grasses
8-12′ Small scale trees, aggressive vines, aerial and regular hedging shrubs

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Dense plantings aren’t always a problem- with these Lavender and grasses, tighter groups are desirable for distinct massings.

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Notice the same planting about 18 months before, when the plantings had first gone in. The Lavender here is planted between 2-3′ apart, but just coming out of the container the planting still looks insignificant.
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These ornamental grasses and New Zealand Flaxes are another example of density used properly. Problems can arise when larger shrubs with courser texture are planted in the same way.