Table of Contents

SECTION 1: BEFORE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS. 1. The Landscape Construction Process. 2. Legal Requirements. 3. Interpreting Construction Documents. 4. Construction Math. 5. Project Pricing. 6. Safety in the Workplace. 7. Basic Construction Techniques and Equipment Operation. 8. Construction Staking. SECTION 2: SITE PREPARATION. 9. Preservation of Existing Site Elements. 10. Removing Unwanted Site Elements. SECTION 3: GRADING, SITE DRAINAGE, AND EROSION PROTECTION. 11. Site Grading. 12. Site Drainage. 13. Erosion Control. SECTION 4: SITE UTILITIES. 14. DC Site Lighting and Related Electrical Work. 15. Water and Irrigation System Installation. SECTION 5: LANDSCAPE RETAINING WALLS AND STAIRS. 16. Materials and Installation Techniques for Retaining Walls. 17. Timber Retaining Walls. 18. Segmental Precast Unit Retaining Walls. 19. Dry-Laid Stone Retaining Walls. 20. Gabion Retaining Walls. 21. Stairs. SECTION 6: LANDSCAPE PAVING. 22. Materials and Site Preparation for Paving. 23. Concrete Paving. 24. Unit Pavers. 25. Dry-Laid Stone Paving. 26. Mortared Paving. 27. Granular and Open Cellular Paving. SECTION 7: WOOD LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES. 28. Materials for Exterior Carpentry. 29. Wood Decks and Platforms. 30. Wood Stairs, Railings, Seating, and Skirting. 31. Overhead Structures. SECTION 8: FENCES AND FREESTANDING WALLS. 32. Fencing. 33. Freestanding Walls. SECTION 9: SITE AMENITIES. 34. Water Features and Bridges. 35. Site Furniture, Signage, Prefabricated Playground Equipment, Outdoor Kitchens, and Patio Amenities. 36. Edging, Planters, and Plant Protection Equipment. SECTION 10: PLANTING. 37. Plant Material Installation. 38. Establishment of Turf and Meadows.

About the Author

David Sauter is currently an instructor at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California and is a registered Landscape Architect in the State of California. Prior to his teaching career, Mr. Sauter practiced as a consulting landscape architect in the Midwest. He has additional experience in plant maintenance, plant installation, landscape construction, masonry, carpentry, paving, and landscape management and has presented seminars for the nursery industry, master gardeners, extension services and public service organizations. David Sauter earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Landscape Architecture at Iowa State University and his Master of Arts Degree in Higher Education from The University of Iowa.