30 MATERIALS – NATURAL STONES, BRICK, BLOCKS AND TILES. LAYING AND PAVING. SOFT AREAS-LAWN GARDEN PLANTS, CARPET BEDDING, WATER FOUNTAIN, PONDS AND POOLS

P. Sudha

Introduction:

Building materials have an important role to play in this modern age of technology. Although their most important use in construction achievies, no field of engineering is conceivable without their use. Building materials can be easily available and affordable. There are certain general factors which affect the choice of materials for a particular scheme. Perhaps the most important of these is the climatic background. Obviously, different materials and forms of construction have developed in different parts of the world as a result of climatic differences. The knowledge of different types of materials, their properties and important tool in the hands of the builders in achieving economy in materials cost. In this module we discuss the materials and soft areas of land scape

Objectives:

• To understand the different materials used in the landscape garden
•  To acquire the knowledge about the soft areas in the landscape

Materials:

Natural stones, bricks, blocks and tiles are mostly used in the landscape for constricting walls, patios, rockery, sunken garden, walk ways, roads, drives etc.

Natural Stones:

Natural stones are hard and compact, natural aggregate of mineral grains cemented by strong more or less permanent bonds. Natural rocks are classified as igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic depending upon their mode of formation.

• Igneous rocks – These are formed from the solidification of molten matter called magma, in the surface of the earth or above it. Ex granite and basalt.
• Sedimentary rocks – These stones are the result of the accumulation of weathered deposits of igneous rocks. Eq., gravel, sand stone, lime stone etc.
• Metamorphic rocks – These are either igneous or sedimentary rocks whose physical and chemical properties have been changed by the action of intense pressure or heat.

The following stones are used of various areas of the landscape.

•  Granite is hard and durable used for constriction of piers, benches etc.
•   Basalt is used for constriction of foundation.
•   Sandstone is used for ornamental carvings.
•   Granite, lime stone, basalt are also suitable for paving works.(eq)roads, drives etc.
•   Arches are mainly constructed by using stones in the landscape.
•   Stones are mainly paved for making floors, roads, drives, walkways, patio’s etc.

Stones are also used for construction of steps for and slopes , sunken garden, rockery, ponds etc.

BRICKS:

Bricks are obtained by moulding clay in rectangular blocks of uniform and then by drying and burning these blocks. Bricks are one of the oldest building material and being cheep, durable and easy to handle and work with.

As bricks are of uniform size they can be properly arranged and further, as they are light in weight. The bricks do not require dressing and the art of laying bricks is so simple

Laying and Paving of Bricks

• Begin Laying Bricks:.

A monson ’s line acts as a guide mason blocks with slots to hold a with the line pulled tight. for setting bricks in perfectly straight rows. It is made of two mansonline.Affix the blocks to either end of the row of bricks

• Guide the bricks:

A story pole is a strip of wood that acts as a guide for laying bricks. Use a pencil to mark the height of each course of bricks. Including the mortar joints on the pole.

•  Apply mortar:

Use the sharp end of the trowel to apply a generous amount of mortar to each layer of brick. Use the handle of the towel to knock each brick into place and to release any air bubbles that may be in the mortar underneath.

• Remove ExcessMortar :

Using the sharp end of the trowel scrap off any excess mortar that spreads beyond the joint. finish cleaning off any other debris with a brush. Holding spade trowel at a 30-degree angle. Carve small lines between the bricks and the mortar. The lines will help to protect the wall from the effects of precipitation.

•  Cut Bricks:

Most walls require smaller bricks at their ends. Before cutting a brick.place it in a bed of sand Use a hammer to tap the end of the chisel. Scoring lines on all four sides where the brick must be cut.

USES OF BRICK:

The bricks are used for constriction of walls, foundation, ornamental hedges and edging

Tiles:

Tiles are manufactured by moulding the prepared clay and then by drying and burning, but they are made thinner, lightness and larger in size to have for joints.

Tiles are divided into two classes.

1.  Common Tiles- they are used for roofing , flooring, paving and walls etc.,

 Encaustic Tiles- They are used for decorative purpose in floors, walls etc., Uses –Tiles are mainly layed and paved for construction of patio waiting halls, steps, decorative purpose of floors. Tiles are also used for ornamental parts of buildings, arches, columns, pillars etc.,

Soft Areas:

Lawn:

A lawn is an inseparable part of a good home garden. It provides a natural setting for a growing flowers and shrubs like a canvas for painting a picture. It is cool and refreshing in summer pleasant and relaxing in winter. A lawn is an area of closely-cut grasses in the garden. In lawns, the grasses are not allowed to grow long and are frequently cut with a lawn mower. Hence, the lawn seems to be a green carpet on the land.

The shape of a lawn may be regular or irregular. The most popular regular shape is rectangular- An irregular shape will be more difficult to maintain and will require superior artistic judgement for providing a natural and beautiful setting.

LAWN –MAKING INVOLVES THE FOLLOWING MAIN STEPS;

1.            Selection of site

2.            Preparation of soil

3.            Raising of grass

4.            Mowing

5.            Watering

6.            Top dressing

7.            Tree planting

8.            Seed sowing

9.  LAWN GRASSSES

Doob or Bermuda grass is the most popular lawn grass in the plains. It is the soft, dark green, vigorous, and of trailing habit. It is shallow-rooted needs frequent watering. It is slow in germination which takes about 2-4 weeks- It does not do so well in the hills.

GRASSES USEFUL FOR LAWNS

1.  Hariyali grass.

2.  Buffallo grass

3.  Chain grass

4.  Blue grass

5.  korean grass

6.  Japanese grass

7.  Doob grass

8.  Dwarf Bermunda

9.  Fescu grass

10.  Kenya grass, Kolkutta grass Astroturf

Astroturf is a synthetic lawn made from synthetic fibres. Grass-like fibres are fixed on the surface of a polymeric sheet to make an astroturf. Lawn-like green structures found in stadia for – cricket, football and hockey are formed of astroturfs. As has been done in original lawns, the astroturfs are sprinkled with water to provide some smoothness for easy rolling of balls as they roll over the lawn. Astroturfs do not absorb heat, but it radiates heat to some extent, Therefore, water should be sprinkled over it frequently., Astroturfs cannot be damaged by pests and diseases.

ESSENTIALS OF A GOOD LAWN:

Essentials of a good lawn are that grass should be thick, good green colour, without any weeds. It should have trim edges and even. It should give the feel of a green carpet when walked upon.

Weeds are a great nuisance in a lawn and weeding is a continuous process. Normally a home garden can be managed without a weedicide if the initial preparation is good. The Indian nut grass common weed and is difficult to eradicate. The weed roots should be removed after deep digging at the time of preparation of the soil for the lawn.

Garden Plants

Plants grown in landscape gardens, parks and indoor gardens are collectively known as garden plants. Without these plants there is no garden at all. Garden plants include herbaceous annuals, biennials, perennials, shrubs, trees, climbers, creepers, succulents, cacti, ferns and orchids. The beauty of gardens is in the composition and arrangement of various garden plants in them. In fact, all these types of plants are required to establish a garden. If any one of these plant types is missing, the structure of the garden seems to be rather incomplete- Garden plants have been grown in parks, public gardens and in home gardens.

1.   Annuals

Annuals are herbaceous plants which complete their entire life cycle in one season or year. They attain full growth, bloom and die within one year. They are also known as seasonals. Annuals are grown in gardens for their quick growth, flowers with wide range of attractive colours and for their growth in wide range of climates and seasons. They are generally used for borders, flower beds and pot cultures.

   Some annuals withstand all seasonal variations and grow throughout the year. They are known as all season annuals. Eg.Cosmos, Petunia, Zinnia, etc. Some annuals withstand more rain than others. They are called rainy season annuals. They are grown to produce flowers in April-May. Some other annuals withstand cold season so that they are called winter annuals. Yet other annuals withstand vigorous heat and grow well in the summer. They are known as hot weather annuals

The annual are classified as

1.Very Tall annuals

2. Tall annuals

3 Medium annuals

4  Semi-dwarf annuals

5  Dwarf annuals

6. Lilliput

2. Biennials

Herbaceous plants that grow in one season and bloom and die in the next season are known as biennials. Canterburgbulb, Gladiolus are examples of biennials. They usually grow for 6-9 months and start to produce flowers and fruits.

3.Perennials

Perennials are plants with indefinite life span. Herbaceous perennials have succulent stems and perennial roots. They may be propagated by means of seeds, cuttings, off-sets or root stocks. Plants die in each season after flowering and then new shoots come up from the root stocks in the next growing season. Herbaceous perennials are useful for borders or pot cultures.

4.  Shrubs

• Shrubs are much branched woody perennials which have no central trunk.
• Shrubs are smaller than trees.
• Branches are grownin all sides and cover thecentre portion of the plants.
• Shrubs are planned at the corner of the garden and trimmed at regular intervals to a particulars height.
• They also form border of foot paths
• In formal gardens, the shrub border is created with of more than two kinds of shrubs, such a shrub growth is called shrubbery.
• Dense foliage and bright coloured flower shrubs are create charming, excellent beauty to the landscape garden.

Shrubs are always resistant to pest and diseases .

5. Trees

Trees are large woody plants with a central trunk. Trees with attractive flowers are used in landscaping of garden, for roadside planting, public parks, etc. They give a mass effect and beautiful look to the localities. Trees require minimum care while growingthem in gardens. The cultivation of trees h known as arboriculture. Dense growth of trees in the garden reduces the entry of noise and dusts into the garden from the outside city environment.

6. Climbers

Plants which climb on the support by their rootlets, hooks, tendrils or stem are called climbers. They may be annuals or perennials with specialized structures to climb over the support. For example, Bougainvillaea has hook-likethrons, Indian ivy has root lets and Morning glory has tendrils. Pretty ornamental climbers display their dazzling beauty while blooming. They are usually trained on walls, trellises, arches, pergolas, arbours and pillars

Climbers which require strong, supports are called heavy climbers. They maybe allowed to climb on arches, pergolas, walls, pillars and large trees. Some climbers are weak-stemmed plants and are suitable to grow on wire netting or trellises. They are often called light climbers.

Important Ornmental Climbers

A list of ornamental climbers useful to grow in gardens is given below:

An ever green climber with luxurious growth bunches of terminal flowers. Flowers are bell-shaped and pale to bluish coloured.it blooms during March-July.

2.  Different species of Attamanda

3.  Antigonanleptopus

4.Dutchmans’ pipe

5.Bougainvillaea

6.Different species of Jasminum

7.Passifloraceae

8.  Verbenaceae 9.Money plant

10.Goose-foot plant

Uses of Climbers

• Some climbers with attractive foliage are ideal for indoor deco-rations. Climbers such as Antigononleptopus is suitable to grow over fences and green houses to reduce light penetration in the room.
•  Some climbers are suitable to train on arches, towers and pergolas. Eg- Allamanda, Antigon.

Heavy climbers such as Bougainvillaea can be trained over arches, pergolas, buildings and trees.

7. Succulents and Cacti

Plants with fleshy stem and leaves are called succulents. These are xerophyticplants that can withstand drought conditions. Succulents are world wide in distribution. Flowers of some succulents are very attractive and appear in a wide range of colours to bring a natural beauty to gardens. Succulents are best suited for pot cultures, rockeries and greenhouses.

The cacti are stem succulent plant that have no true leaf. They are xerophytic plants withstanding high heat and drought. Cacti preserve much water in their succulent stem which is green and photosynthetic. At present, about 2000 species of cacti and 3000 hybrids are grown in gardens throughout the world. They are particularly useful for window boxes, pot cultures and rock gardens.

Cacti are characterized by swollen stems, thick waxy coat, various shapes and spares. They are grown in gardens for variously shaped stems and attractive flowers. Cacti require minimum care while it is grown in gardens.

8. Ferns

Ferns are non-flowering vascular plants growing in moist shady terrestrial habitats. They have been grow in gardens for their fascinating evergreen fronds. They usually grow as terrestrial plants in humid natural forests. Most of the ferns are perennial plants with underground rhizome and dissected leaf-like fronds. They neither produce flowers nor seeds.

They are grown in pots to decorate interior of houses, steps, verandah corners and borders.

Epiphytic ferns are useful for hanging baskets.

The most common ferns in Indian gardens are

1.      Maiden hair fern

2.      Bird’s nest fern

3.      Mother fern

4.      Rabbits foot fern

5.      Climbing fern

6.      Hedge fern

Table fern

9.Palms

Trees with a central trunk and fanor feather-shaped leaves arc called palms. The trunk is straight and unbranched. The leaves are arranged in the form of a crown. Palms are grown in definite lines in the gardens. Some palms are miniaturedby growingthem in pots. These potted plants can be kept on verandahs and staircases because of their slow growth. Besides this, the pots can be shifted to any other place in the garden.

There are about 4000 species of palms in the world. Of these, only 40 species are grown in Indian gardens. All species of palms are included under the family Palmae. Palms are propagated through seeds. The seeds are sown in nurseries and then the seedlings are grown in the field.

10.Orchids

Orchids are afamily of flowering plants with a unique structural morphology and beauty. They belong to the family Orchidaceae. Orchids are considered to be flowers of’romance and mystery. Orchid flowers have an unforgettable fragrance and matchless beauty to attract people.

They exhibit a wide range of colours, size and shapes. Therefore, orchids have been grown in indoor and outdoor gardens to increase the aesthetic value of the localities.

There are about 20,000 species of orchids the world, of which 1250 species are growing in India- Beside these, thousands of hybrid varieties are also evolved in India by gardeners for attractive flower colours.

Majority of orchids are perennial herbs which lead either epiphytic or terrestrial life. The epiphytic forms grow on trees and theirroots are hanging down from the tree branches- The terrestrial species are found rooted in the mud.

Uses

·         Orchids are grown in hanging baskets and used in indoor decoration

·         Orchid culture under shades of trees brings an extra beauty to home gardens.

Rare orchids can be grown and sold for high prices

l3. Bulbous Ornamentals

Attractive plants reproducing by bulbs and tubers are collectively called bulbous ornamentals. They are excellent pot subjects for indoor decoration and home gardens. They are grown for their attractive foliage, beautiful flowers and fragrance.

WATER GARDEN – PONDS AND POOLS

A water body in which attractive aquatic plants are introduced and managed well to beautify it, is known as water garden, Such water gardens have been maintained in the formof pools, tanks, ponds, rivers, buckets, etc.

Occurrence of a water garden in a landscape garden gives some natural beauty to that landscape. True aquatic plants, marsh plants and moisture-loving plants are grown in such water gardens. It is important to note that water gardens occupy the key position in most of the Mughal and Japanese style gardens to attract the visitors Makingof water gardens is one of the ancient arts of gardening in India. In those days, water gardens were created in the premises of the King’s place and near temples as temple ponds. But they were neglected in home gardens where the available area is too small. In recent years, water gardens occupy the central position in the layout of big hotels, large buildings and apartments. Lilypool or lilypondis the best example of water garden.

A lily pool is a shallow pond, which may be natural or artificial, with water lily andlotus. This is also known as lily pond. The lily ponds are of two types. They are informal pools and formal pools.

Informal Pools

Informal pools are natural ponds of irregular shape in which aquatic plants are grown for the aesthetic value. Any natural pond having adequate supply of water round the year can he converted into an informal lily pool. The pond should be in a low-lying areas of the garden. The pond however should not dry up during the summer or overflow too much during rainy season. The water level should be maintained at more or less constant level Such ponds can be made into lily pools by planting suitable plains in them without changing the natural relationships between the plants,

•  Weed species growing in the naturalpond are rooted out manually by hand picking.
• In the centre of the pond, lotus andgiant water lilies are planted.
•  In the marginal soil, water-loving plants such as grasses, ferns, Colocasia, etc. are planted
• Beyond the water-loving plants, moisture-loving trees and giant grasses such as Bamboo

Water level of the pool should be maintained by providing suitable pipe connections.

Formal Pool

The formal pool is a small pool showing a definite symmetry.     It is an artificial lily pool. It need not be located in a low-lying area, but it should be located in a prominent place of the garden. The shape and size of the formal pool depend upon the space available inthe garden and thegarden designer.

It mayberectangular, square-shape round,kidney shaped in outline. Formal pools may be created in front ofthe main building or in between large buildings.

The pool is constructed as a tank with 10-15cm thick concrete floorand brick side walls to 45-60cm height. Interior ofthe tank is plastered suitably with cement to make it water-proof to avoid leakageofwater. Thetankis filledwithwateruptoitstop.

Water liliessuchas White flowered blue flowered yellow flowered red flowered etc. are kept in the centre ofthe tank- These plants produce large oval or cordate leaves with wavy margins. The floating leaves and colourful flowers givean attraction to the pool.

Fountain

•   Fountains are usually connected to springs or aqueducts.
•    Until the 19th century moist fountains operated by gravity, and needed a source of water higher that the fountain.
•  By the end of the 19th century as indoor plumbing became the main source of drinking water, urban fountain became purely decorative.
•  Mechanical pumps are used instead of gravity and allowed fountains to recycle water and to force it high into the air.

Main purpose of fountain in olden days was to provide water for drinking,bathing and washing. In addition to provide a drinking water now – a – days it is used for decoration Fountain is constructed with Rock garden and pool with attractive water plants

Conclusion:

Different materials and soft areas in landscape are used to attract the viewers comfort. Materials like brick, stone and tiles are used to construct paths, walls, walkways, drives, patio and so on. Soft areas include water garden, fountain, garden plants, pools and ponds, lawn are increasing the beauty of the garden.

Web links

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landscape_design
• https://www.indiaagronet.com/horticulture/CONTENTS/LANDSCAPE.htm
• https://www.gardendesign.com/landscape-design/ www.bhg.com/gardening/landscaping…/landscape
• gardeningjones.com/blog/2011/02/27/5-basic-components-of-landscape-design
• https://prasathgarden.blogspot.com/2012/02/components-of-garden.html