Landscaping

Landscaping involves manipulating the natural environment in an area to improve its aesthetic appeal and/or functional use. Landscaping is heavily dependent on gardening but also involves both residential and commercial landscape maintenance services such as branch removal, line clearing, chemical lawn care, tree services, and landscape installation such as the placement of walls and irrigation systems.

In recent years there has been an increase in landscaping companies that employ only organic methods in an effort to disturb the environment as little as possible; certain companies also use only hand tools rather than power tools.

The need for landscaping services is especially driven by the construction of new residential and commercial properties. 

In the U.S., the landscaping industry is comprised of about 50,000 companies. When combined, these companies generate about US$40 billion in annual revenue.^[1] The industry includes a few larger companies that capture about 15 percent of the total market. The remaining part of the market consists of smaller companies generating annual revenues usually under US$2 million.^[2] Larger businesses may offer the entire gamut of landscaping services but typically focus on one area of expertise. The bulk of the revenue generated by the industry stems from landscape installation and maintenance. During the slower winter months landscaping companies may provide snow removal services.

[edit] History

Landscaping has existed for centuries; it first rose in popularity during the Roman era. The Romans built elaborate and lavish gardens inside the inner courtyards of their homes, some with elaborate moasics and fountains. During the Middle Ages, landscaping, along with other cultural arts forms, disappeared completely. It resurfaced during the Renaissance period. By the 18th century a new crop of landscapers were creating vast parklands and remodeling the large grounds on the stately homes of the country’s elite class.^[3]

[edit] Lancelot "Capability" Brown

The most famous landscaper in England to emerge during this period was "Capability Brown." It is said that Capability Brown—whose actual name was Lancelot Brown—would look at a property and instantly see its capability and potential. During his lifetime he designed over 170 gardens, 44 of which still exist today.^[4] He was renowned for introducing England’s noble class to a more natural garden design incorporating elements of grass, groups of trees, pools, and lakes, moving away faltogether from the more formal gardens they were accustomed to.

[edit] Frederick Law Olmstead

One of the most important landscape architects in the U.S. in the 19th century was Frederick Law Olmstead, born in 1822. He attended Yale to study agricultural science and engineering. In 1853 he was contracted with his partner Calvert Vaux, an English architect, to design Central Park in New York City. Olmstead referred to the project as an opportunity to create a "greensward."^[5] The park was created, but resulted in the displacement of scores of low-income people from their homes.

Olmstead built a successful career out of designing city parks, and over 355 school and college campuses.^[6]

[edit] The Rise of Urban Planning

By the 19th century the role of urban planning became more important, giving way to a more modern approach to landscaping: modern planning was blended with traditional landscaping methods. The term landscape architecture was also coined in a book by Scotsman Gilbert Laing Meason in 1928 called The Landscape Architecture of the Great Painters of Italy.^[7] It would become the catchphrase to describe the landscaping professionals responsible for planning and drafting landscape designs.

[edit] Process

Landscaping is usually confined to a set area like the property around a home, office, or other building or structure. A landscape architect is the person hired to design and plan the built environment. A landscaping design project starts by drawing a blueprint of building and its context. With a map of the area to be landscaped, the landscaper drafts a design that sets out the pathways and then adds in structural elements such as fountains, pools, benches, and stone retaining walls. After the basic groundwork has been established, the gardening is done by a landscaper: vegetation is selected and planted to achieve a certain look.

Once a landscape has been completed, it must be maintained on a regular basis by a landscaper or landscaping crew.

[edit] References

1. ↑ Landscape Services Industry Profile. First Research. 31-03-2009.
2. ↑ Landscape Services Industry Profile. First Research. 31-03-2009.
3. ↑ History of Landscaping. Landscaper Register. 31-03-2009.
4. ↑ The History of Landscaping. Ezine. 31-03-2009.
5. ↑ The History of Landscaping. Ezine. 31-03-2009.
6. ↑ The History of Landscaping. Ezine. 31-03-2009.
7. ↑ History of Landscaping. Landscaper Register. 31-03-2009.