Each site, each garden and every public space is influenced by the macro- and micro-scaled elements around it. Each landscape scheme is strategic and should not only provide beauty and functionality for the owner, but should also add to the sustainability of the place. Each incremental improvement adds a distributive contribution to water efficiencies, water quality, flood control and habitat. Our approach to landscape implementation takes a specific ‘design with nature’ approach. We call it our ‘green’ garden strategy and process.
Our Approach to Sustainable Landscapes:
- Start with regional issues that affect the design
- Understand macro-climatic effects: wind, rainshed, solar aspect, drainage…
- Consider your place in the watershed
- What is the geology
- Break down the site into micro-climatic zones
- Respond to the physiographic region
- Group plants by hydrological association
- Group plants by soil association
- Use plant associations that mimic natural systems
- Use native and adaptable species
- Provide habitat
- Work with and not against slopes
- Understand solar movement, solar aspect, sun, shade and plant suitability
- Introduce biological and natural transects
- Design to the intrinsic suitability of the site
- Understand the urban realities and modify accordingly
- Introduce water efficiencies, water harvesting, water reuse and irrigation
- Put it all together into a cohesive and expressive plan
- Metrics for success
- Plant lists
- Native Plant
- Plants that contribute to clean wate
- Plants that contribute to clean soil
- Ornamentals and non-native
- Grasses, not Turf
- Invasive Species
