OK, so you've designed that perfect garden, you've installed it, and the client is thrilled. So how do maintain that garden design over the years in a responsible way?
You can find the answers in a new book by Ann Marie Vanderzandan, along with Thomas W. Cook, Sustainable Landscape Management: Design, Construction, and Maintenance
For designers, it's a goldmine: I've never before seen a list of trees and shrubs with their relative tolerance to construction damage. Or a discussion of how to design a planting bed that is efficient for irrigation.
I particularly liked the chapter on "retro-fitting" existing landscapes for sustainability. It includes sections on plant selection appropriate for the site; how to streamline odd-shaped lawns and planting beds; replacement of plants that require excessive pruning and maintenance; and lists of plants that won't require hours of attention.
The authors also cover soils, grading, invasive plants, fertilizers and pesticides … and how to design a garden that's actually a native, self-sustaining ecosystem. They also warn that global warming is affecting many types of plants … and offer advice on how to design and plan for it in the future (along with helpful lists of plants).
Most designers today are certainly aware of the new movement toward sustainability, and most that I know are at least attempting to foster sustainable practices and trying to convince their clients that it's the way to go. This book will give you the ammo you need to make the case, and it's an invaluable guide for anyone who claims to be a serious landscape designer.
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