A landscape full of opportunities
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It's a beautiful world, if you landscape it. If you are a botany graduate or an architect with a sense of harmony, you might just be the man for the job. M.J. Prabu looks at ways to create green vistas
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LANDSCAPING and gardening are terms used synonymously nowadays. Both encompass the aesthetic integration of natural structures, constructed features and plants, but there is a subtle difference between them.
The term landscaping refers to a larger geographical area, while gardening means beautification of a particular area. But the fundamental concepts for both are the same. The only difference is in magnitude and dimension. A house built of concrete walls, windows and steps creates a sense of home only when it is harmonious with the naturalistic surrounding. A house with plants, trees and lawns around it is a home.
The landscape gardener converts a house into a home using planning skills. He is like an artist using the land as his canvas and the plants as his colours. If one wants to become a landscape gardener, he should have a love for plants and natural elements and a sense of balance. He should respect the environment.
There are various training courses on landscape horticulture and landscape architecture. The former deals with plants, living beings and natural elements and the latter offers expertise to beautify cities that are dominated by constructed features. A landscape gardener may design and develop a garden or landscape on private property, public grounds, corporate offices, playgrounds, hotels, golf courses, indoor gardens, house compounds and even rooftops.
The job involves elements of art, science and creativity. One should have learnt the concept of landscape gardening to be able to execute design ideas. The landscape designer has to consult architects, clients, nursery personnel and garden workers about the projects being undertaken. He should supervise all the activities like survey, land preparation and transplanting, besides possessing knowledge on plant growth, colour, manure and fertilizers, pesticides and weedicides. Most of the established gardens require expert advice on maintenance and improvement from landscape gardeners.
Maintaining a landscaped garden:
Choosing the right variety: Choose the plants that grow well in local conditions. Plant sun-loving species in the sun and shade-lovers in the shade. Some plants adapt well to several locations, while others depend heavily on local conditions.
Selecting the toughest plants: Select the toughest plant for the site, not those that have the bright flowers. Eliminating problems by picking the best plant for the site keeps work and problems to a minimum. Look at what nature grows. Native plants can work, but are not the only answer. Find out what does well around the neighbourhood. If native species that attract birds and butterflies can do well, give them preference.
Knowing soil chemistry: Keep in mind the Ph value of the soil, its type and the water requirements of the plants.
Allowing plenty of room: Do not crowd plants in a limited space. This increases problems and pruning. Know how big they will get and give them enough room to grow.
Universities offering the course
* The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University offers courses on B.Sc. (Horticulture), a 4-year undergraduate programme and M.Sc. (Horticulture), a 2-year postgraduate programme with specialisation in floriculture and landscaping. The eligibility is 10 +2 with Physics, Chemistry and Botany as major subjects for under-graduation, and B.Sc. (Hort) or B.Sc. (Agri) graduates are eligible for M.Sc. programmes.
* A new course, B. Tech (Horticulture), offered by the Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore, imparts more on the technical and applied aspects of horticulture. The college is organising a five-day training course on Landscape Gardening in which entrepreneurs are taught concepts and principles of landscape gardening. * The Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh; the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka; the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka.
* A PG diploma in Interior and Landscape Design is offered by NISIET, Hyderabad.
* A diploma in Floriculture and Landscape Gardening through correspondence is offered by the Yashwantrao Charan Maharashtra Open University, Nasik, Maharashtra.
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