Embrace the Serenity of a Beautiful Landscape

The Master of Landscape Architecture is a STEM-designated degree in an innovative and action-oriented school where sustainability underlies all that we do. The program teaches students to transform ecological principles into forward-thinking functional and experiential landscapes through design, planning and management.

Biology professor Jason Hoeksema is collaborating with the team at Landscape Services on a project focused on native plants on campus. He hopes the effort will educate students and make the campus more beautiful and sustainable.
What is a Landscape?

Landscape, from Middle English landschap and Dutch landschap, means region or tract of land with its distinguishing characteristics, both natural and man made. It is also a picture, sketch, etching, photograph or other representation of such scenery. The term originated as an artistic term in the 16th century and was later used to describe the field of painting, photography and other art forms that deal with the depiction of landscapes.

Whether it’s a sandcastle on the beach that recalls Dutch windmills, or an antebellum home and its gardens on the campus of Ole Miss, each landscape conveys an emotional message that communicates solace, spiritual grandeur, space for solitude and more. The beauty of a landscape is often attributed to its cultural, historical, environmental, economic and religious contexts.

The meaning of landscape has been debated and contested, as in the two established approaches to landscape. The first is the modernist ‘progressive movement toward the purification of the visual field’, in which the landscape becomes a channel through which cultural and social constructions are ‘naturalized’ and decoded. The second, post-modern interpretive approach is that of the landscape as a medium itself in which messages and meanings are embedded and can be extracted from the landscape.

At U-M SEAS, we offer a unique graduate program in the field of landscape architecture that is positioned at the intersection of these two established interpretations. It’s a program that offers students an opportunity to explore the full spectrum of these perspectives and enables them to become change-driven leaders in their fields. To learn more about this program and how you can be part of it, contact us today! Our team of experts are here to help. https://umgcllc.com/landscaping
UM Landscaping’s Five-Step Design Process

The first step in any landscape design process is to create a base plan for the property. This allows the designer to discover any problem areas and decide on a procedure for implementing the desired landscape features. The base plan also notes utility placements and architectural layouts for existing structures.

After the base plan is created, a more detailed design is drawn up. This phase determines budgetary requirements, area use and maintenance issues such as soil and drainage problems and labor costs. This phase also defines planting themes, horticultural preferences and rock or mulch needs.

A style theme can be formal or informal, based on the architectural styles of the building and yard. Planting themes can be naturalistic or geometric, depending on the types of plantings used. For example, a geometric shape might be chosen for the hardscape and curvilinear lines used for the plantings.

The research of UM with urban studies and design is focused on the development of tools and systems for managing the spatial impacts of CE on the landscape, including wastescapes, in order to facilitate looping actions. It also focuses on a reasoning of socio-environmental regeneration of the wastescape as an innovative resource for the city and the territory.
UM Landscaping’s Design Process

UM Landscaping is a full-service landscape design company that uses a five-step process to create beautiful and functional outdoor spaces. This process includes conducting a site inventory and analysis, creating functional diagrams, developing conceptual designs and drawing a final design plan.

The first step in the landscape design process is the interview or needs assessment, where the client defines how they will use their space and explains their aesthetic goals. The designer then helps them discover their needs and desires and creates a plan that will meet those requirements. This step also includes determining the budget, maintenance costs, and labor skills required for the landscape.

Next, the designer develops a concept plan, which allows them to visualize the placement of hardscape features and landscaping plantings. Depending on the theme of the landscape, this may include formal architectural and garden styles or more naturalistic themes such as tropical, desert, meadow, woodland, or marsh plantings. In addition, the landscape designer may incorporate a color palette or a specific material that will be used throughout the project.

The final step in the design process is the creation of a detailed landscape design, which includes the blueprints for any existing structures, utility placements, and general types of foundation plantings and horticultural preferences [source: UM]. This step also includes a 3D rendering to show clients how their new landscape will look from various perspectives and viewpoints. It is important that the landscape design reflects the client’s personality and taste. For example, a formal landscape would be characterized by symmetrical shapes and straight lines, while a naturalistic landscape is more reminiscent of the environment surrounding it.
UM Landscaping’s Maintenance Methods

UM Landscaping uses environmentally friendly maintenance methods to promote the health and vitality of your landscape. We use reclaimed water to protect existing landscapes during drought conditions and use drip and low precipitation rate nozzles to control irrigation rates. We also regularly sanitize landscape tools to prevent the spread of pests and diseases between plants. We use resistant plant species and proper spacing when planting to prevent overcrowding. We also control weeds and invasive plants, and we encourage the growth of native predator insects that naturally prey on insect pests.