This is a true story.
I got a call one day from a couple of friends who wanted some advice on laying turf at a property they were renovating/landscaping (one of the partners later moved into the house).
The house they were renovating was an old - I'd guess mid 1800's - terraced house with a steep short garden. They decided to terrace the garden.
The lowest area was paved and the second and third tier was put down to grass.
To cut a long story very short: I arrived on site to witness one of my mates using a vibrating plate to consolidate the lawn area. He seemed quite proud that the soil was really smooth (he'd also spread and levelled some ordinary building sand over the lawn area too).
I was too laterto offer any advice but I did tell my friends what a mistake they were making (form a purist horticulturists's point of view)
I know that turf was laid directly onto the soil surface but I never did get to see the lawn.
I still chuckle to this day.
Joking to one side...does anyone involved with hard landscaping have a moral obligation to support their soft landscaping colleagues to learn about soil and plants before taking on a project?
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absolutely. I don't see how you can be a hard landscaper without some basic knowledge. There cant be many hard landscapers who don't stray into soft landscaping when asked by a client. Its not that hard to pick knowledge up along the way. Yes I've seen a compactor being used on soil before for laying turf. god knows how they did it, as it must be hard work.
Being trained in horticulture, and the associated knowledge that comes with that, though being not unlike most landscapers out there, building walls and patios and laying new lawns, more than creating the whole masterpiece, it is rare that I ever consider the soil, (loam, sandy..., other than is it shallow chalk or heavy clay), and as for ph, well, don't even go there! A great deal of work is on new build sites, so the top soil could be one thing, with the subsoil being different again! As for plants, I studied for my knowledge, three years, and had to learn the Latin, for reasons only horticulturalists would know. Planting is a minefield! Right plant, right place, and all that. Just because you might know what soil to put it in, would you know the aspect and vice versa. Then, what about size, or more importantly, how quick will it get to size! If you can get your head around that, you then have the maintenance considerations.
If you are good at something, laying a patio, building a wall..., don't confuse yourself with areas that will make you look like a muppet if you get it wrong. If you need to offer planting, get a horticulturalist in, or a designer. If you want to do planting, go to college and study, though, unless it is something you are really passionate about, stick to what you are good at and sub-contract the aspects that might let you down. At least that way you will gain some 'on the job' experience.
Hi phil,
Its difficult one, as I see one as a builer I guess, and one a gardener.I think plant knowledge is going to far, and being on the ball in your own field is the priority But understanding of the soil is also a must,Im not expecting them to take on field soil samples but being careful and not reckless with issues like removal of top soil and compaction to mixing of soils.Its especially true if you remember that these are the people normally using the heavy machinery in the beginning.Protect , even storing the soil properly at the beginning of a job can save a lot of time , stress and cash at the end.Iv seen plenty of disasters in my time , where not the slightest thought is given to planting at the end.
paul doyle
Even for simple tasks such as repeatedly running a dumper over a stretch of lawn, You should have the knowledge to repair the damage caused, even if boards are used.
Again if you are asked to undertake a whole project planting must be included so you need to know how to do this properly.
Basically I feel A basic knowledge at least is needed.
I agree with both to a certain extent.. the majority of my work is predominantly hard landscaping projects, But i have made sure i learn the basics at least in maintenance, Planting, Turfing, soil science etc. And if i don't know the answer i contact one of the specialists i have managed to accumulate in that area of expertise. And not only do i pass that advise on to customers.. I bank it too... for use at a later date
Spot on Phil, I am amazed at what stunning work a lot of the hard landscapers create but it bugs me that some (not all) can't lay a lawn which surely complements the features.
How many times have we seen pictures of the prefect patio which has been designed and built with such precision, skill and care only for the new turf to be laid as if it was a patchwork quilt. Okay to be fair, maybe they sub contracted out the lawn to a gardener :-)
I rest my case, Okay not a landscaper did this fab (not!) turfing job but a so called gardener - I guess we all have our own areas of expertise and we should call upon fellow professionals when required, no one can be a master of all.
Is that turf laid on bark?
he has missed a bit , or is that a barked area?
Graeme @ BGS said:
From my understanding, this was a gardener who then said they were more specialised in fencing and then said the same about tree work - All three jobs undertaken were shocking and he fleeced the customer out of £1,100.00 for part payment. The quote to correct the damage and tidy up came in at over £2,000.00 and yes the turf was laid on a mix of bark mulch and compost up to 4 inches deep in places.
But getting back to the question phil raised. Most of the hard lanscapers I have come across do have a fairly good basic to excellent understanding of the soft landscaping side of things. The problem arises when the companies are predominantly the drive and patio builders who offer or chuck in the soft landscaping to "finish" the project. Under these circumstances wouldn't it be better if they engaged the services of a gardener to work in partnership? Whilst I have a few guys who have expercience of laying patios etc. I wouldn't dream of undertaking some if not most of the projects that you see on this site and would pass this on to people more qualified. I guess we all need to know what our limitations / areas of expertise are and not to be master of all trades.