Page 99 - GRIHA Manual Volume II - Introduction to National Rating System
P. 99
Sustainable site planning 91
Planning and design
When planning for landscape, various climate conditions should be evaluated to help determine
where different plants will thrive. The design should be planned with locations of existing structures,
trees, shrubs and grass areas. After this the landscape budget, appearance, function, maintenance
and water requirements should be considered. Implementation of the landscape design can be
done gradually over several years. any native vegetation that is growing on the site should be
retained if possible.
Soil analysis
Before planting, it is advisable to have soil in different sections of the proposed area analysed to
determine if it needs improvement. To increase plant health and conserve water, organic matter
should be added to the soil of shrub and flower bed areas. This increases the soil’s ability to absorb
and store water in a form available to the plant. For trees, however, incorporating organic matter is
not necessary; for large lawn grass areas, it is not economically feasible.
Appropriate plant selection
Native and drought tolerant plants work best in most xeriscape plans, but almost any plant is a
‘xeriscape plant’ if it can thrive in the proposed landscape. While selecting plants for the proposed
landscape its growth rate, mature size, light, water and temperature requirements, should be
considered. It is critical to match these requirement with an appropriate location in the proposed
landscape design.
Trees, shrubs and groundcovers should be collected based on their adaptability to the site’s soil
and climate.
Grass selection
Grass is a hardy plant that should be placed where it is practical, such as play areas for children, or
in a swale to control erosion. Grass is often a landscape’s largest consumer of irrigation water, so
separate it from other plants. When considering a landscape’s water requirements, it is important to
note that lawn grasses require more frequent watering and maintenance than most other landscape
plants. Carefully select grass according to its intended use, planting location and maintenance
requirements.
Planting the lowest water use lawn grass adapted to the region is an effective way to reduce
landscape irrigation requirements. Achieving a significant reduction in water consumption and
landscape maintenance may also involve reducing the size of water-sensitive lawns through the
use of patios, decks, shrub beds and groundcovers. Also, when designing or evaluating lawn grass
areas in the landscape, consider the ease or difficulty in watering the proposed area. Long narrow
areas and small odd-shaped areas are difficult for any irrigation equipment to efficiently water. Try
to eliminate long, narrow areas and maintain more blocky, square areas and consider alternatives to
grass, such as mulched walkways, ground covers or beds of drought-tolerant plants in the narrower,
smaller pockets.
Use of mulches
Mulch is a layer of nonliving material covering the soil surface around plants. Mulches can be organic
materials such as bark, compost and woodchips; or inorganic materials, such as rock, limestone.
Use mulch wherever possible. Good mulch conserves water by significantly reducing moisture
evaporation from the soil. Mulch also reduces weed population, prevents soil compaction, and
Planning and design
When planning for landscape, various climate conditions should be evaluated to help determine
where different plants will thrive. The design should be planned with locations of existing structures,
trees, shrubs and grass areas. After this the landscape budget, appearance, function, maintenance
and water requirements should be considered. Implementation of the landscape design can be
done gradually over several years. any native vegetation that is growing on the site should be
retained if possible.
Soil analysis
Before planting, it is advisable to have soil in different sections of the proposed area analysed to
determine if it needs improvement. To increase plant health and conserve water, organic matter
should be added to the soil of shrub and flower bed areas. This increases the soil’s ability to absorb
and store water in a form available to the plant. For trees, however, incorporating organic matter is
not necessary; for large lawn grass areas, it is not economically feasible.
Appropriate plant selection
Native and drought tolerant plants work best in most xeriscape plans, but almost any plant is a
‘xeriscape plant’ if it can thrive in the proposed landscape. While selecting plants for the proposed
landscape its growth rate, mature size, light, water and temperature requirements, should be
considered. It is critical to match these requirement with an appropriate location in the proposed
landscape design.
Trees, shrubs and groundcovers should be collected based on their adaptability to the site’s soil
and climate.
Grass selection
Grass is a hardy plant that should be placed where it is practical, such as play areas for children, or
in a swale to control erosion. Grass is often a landscape’s largest consumer of irrigation water, so
separate it from other plants. When considering a landscape’s water requirements, it is important to
note that lawn grasses require more frequent watering and maintenance than most other landscape
plants. Carefully select grass according to its intended use, planting location and maintenance
requirements.
Planting the lowest water use lawn grass adapted to the region is an effective way to reduce
landscape irrigation requirements. Achieving a significant reduction in water consumption and
landscape maintenance may also involve reducing the size of water-sensitive lawns through the
use of patios, decks, shrub beds and groundcovers. Also, when designing or evaluating lawn grass
areas in the landscape, consider the ease or difficulty in watering the proposed area. Long narrow
areas and small odd-shaped areas are difficult for any irrigation equipment to efficiently water. Try
to eliminate long, narrow areas and maintain more blocky, square areas and consider alternatives to
grass, such as mulched walkways, ground covers or beds of drought-tolerant plants in the narrower,
smaller pockets.
Use of mulches
Mulch is a layer of nonliving material covering the soil surface around plants. Mulches can be organic
materials such as bark, compost and woodchips; or inorganic materials, such as rock, limestone.
Use mulch wherever possible. Good mulch conserves water by significantly reducing moisture
evaporation from the soil. Mulch also reduces weed population, prevents soil compaction, and
