[Daniel Kovach]

SITES is specific to the site (from the building skin out) and can apply to projects that would not be certifiable in LEED such as parks, streetscape and similar.  Go to sustainable sites to find out more.  Especially review the pilot certified projects.

[Daniel Kovach]

Find your passion and pursue it with passion.  Susan Hatchell, ASLA

In this “New Normal” we need to all be seeking how we can make a living in ways that feed our interest so we can endure the down times.  While working the auto parts store may be needed to pay the rent, keep an eye on the goal.  I was fortunate during another recession in the 80’s to still be working for a licensed landscape architect while painting the inside of the commercial nursery building one winter (just another form of graphics!)

Try and distill your interests and (always) pursue continuing education in that direction, wether it leads to a masters or not.  Be flexible; instead of “resort design,” perhaps restoration ecology may be the trick.  Find the strength to be persistent in pursuing the goal.

[Daniel Kovach]

Thanks for the links!

[Daniel Kovach]

June,

Thank you for the information!

[Daniel Kovach]

Thanks for your comment.

Those plants are also good performers in the western Great Basin, WITH irrigation, of course with our normal 7-10″ annual precip.  Good thing we have some local ordinances that require a certain amount of growth AND irrigation for these things…  Do you any mulch on the ground surface to protect plants from foot and shopping cart traffic??

[Daniel Kovach]

Les,

I certainly appreciate the use of landscape in umique and multiple ways as you mention, but how does one educate the user about the porpose of the landscape?  (I once saw a couple rabbits feet and some fur in a parking area; with a very satisfied looking Great Horned Owl perched in the adjacent London Plane.)  I’ve generally found, along with you, that the prevailing attitude seems to be annoyance at the native plant getting in the way of disposing the shopping cart in the planter…

[Daniel Kovach]

I am, in fact being called on to deal with an existing parking lot; I’m afraid that I will find “buckets” in compacted soils where plants are “installed”…  While a monoculture is not highly desireable, the use of proven plants has a place.  Do you see any push back from using Tuckaroo ALOT??

[Daniel Kovach]

Jeffrey,

Thank you for your response with regard to goat trails and nature paths.  While shade is an important element to any large paved area, I’m more interested in the ground surface in this case.  I have also leaned toward ornamental grasses and barriers.  If established, they seem to work well.

Silva Cells were installed about 3 years ago in a pedestrian plaza of a local shopping center; I’ve been taking note of the tree growth and will post some photos.

[Daniel Kovach]

Good suggestions, all!!  However (play dramitic musical theme…) this project is located on an Air Force base outside Las Vegas, Nevada.  Not too many trees being felled down the road, and we are dealing with federal specifications that are quite… specific.  Materials are not specified except for a few to be used on a wood deck to be made of composite.  Interestingally, even in this dry environment, wood products are prohibited except where specifically allowed (ie: structural lumber…)

 

Thank you for the different supplier suggestions!  I did find Landscape Structure and Nature Explore.

Happy Monday

[Daniel Kovach]

Tanya,  It’s great that you have a client willing to expend the effort necessary for proper maintenance of even sparse planting.  We run into situations where commercial project incorporates large site areas and the local governing authority mandates 90% coverage of plant material within three years.  We have very successful native plantings in the area with temporary or even no additional irrigation, but the situations described above generally demand a permaent irrigation system to get the growth rate needed to satisfy the code.

What were some of the plant material you used on the project you mentioned?

[Daniel Kovach]

…somewhat densely planted …xeriscapes … 

Interesting play on words, but I get what you mean.  Isn’t it interesting how the magnitude of water us is affected by the quantity of plant material.

 

Thanks all for the conversation; I’ve worked with most of these options at one time or another and pretty much agree with everyone.

[Daniel Kovach]

In an arid area (10″ annual) precipitation…  There are some riparian zones and the occasional shallow water table.

[Daniel Kovach]

Doug,

Thanks for the response.  I too have used RWS tubes; where do you locate them in relationship to the root ball and do you have any concerns about getting water to the actual root ball during plant establishment?

Do you arrange drip emitters on loops (circles) of drip tube around the tree?

[Daniel Kovach]

Ernst; Yes, I’ve been to this site.  Good information, but I didn’t find much direction on manufacturers there.  Thanks

[Daniel Kovach]

Are there no US manufacturers of these products out there??

[Author]

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