Updating Landscape Specifications

Changes in nursery growing practices, combined with an increasing number of untrained people entering the landscape contracting industry, has necessitated the development of landscape specification guidelines so detailed that individuals with minimal horticultural skills should be able to complete a landscape project successfully. Emphasis in guidelines must be placed on shallow planting, the cutting of outside roots of container grown plants to minimize root girdling and to encourage rapid establishment, soil pH requirements of plants, soil drainage specifications in relation to planters and in special landscape situations, mulching materials and problems associated with over-mulching, stem girdling by ties and marking tapes, emphasis on root hardiness especially in relation to raised outdoor planters, learning to recognize properly dug large plants and the importance of plant nutrition.