Horticulture Principles and Practices

the patio should be located on the south side of the house. The private living area
should be screened from the view of neighbors to be fully functional.
3. Service and utility area. The service and utility area may be described as the oddsand-ends
section of the landscape. Although important activities occur or structures
appear in this area, the homeowner does not want them to be in view of the public. In
fact, the service area is a second private area. This section is always in the backyard
of the house and may be fenced off. It is not meant to be aesthetically enjoyed but, as
its name implies, is a real service area for things such as a doghouse, garbage cans,
clotheslines, storage shed, and vegetable garden.
Service Area
The part of the house that
is hidden from public view
and where utility
accessories and
unflattering items are
stored.
Landscaping of Planned Residential Developments
Some modern developers purchase a large tract of land and designate it for residential
development. Streets and sewage and other utility lines are laid down. However, in addition
to the infrastructure, developers deliberately set aside portions of the land to be
developed into recreational facilities (e.g., golf course, park, tennis court, or swimming
pool). They also leave a stretch of land called a greenbelt to be an open space where no
construction occurs. This part of the land is usually unsuited for residential construction.
The development may also include walkways and bicycle paths to be utilized by the
residents. Greenbelts are used to control construction (and thus prevent sprawling) and
to enhance the neighborhood.
Greenbelt
A stretch of land that is left
construction free by real
estate developers in a
residential area for
functional purposes.
15.6 PLANNING A NONRESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE
The principles described for residential landscape designing apply to nonresidential
landscaping as well. A variety of scenarios with unique design needs occur in nonresidential
landscaping.
15.6.1 LANDSCAPING SCHOOL GROUNDS
School grounds require space in which children can roam freely. Trees often dominate
the landscape, with some functional plants (such as shrubs planted as foundational
plants) and a limited area for annuals or bedding plants. The goal of landscaping school
grounds is to achieve low-maintenance and childproof areas. Many schools operate on a
small budget and thus cannot afford expensive grounds-maintenance services. Because
children are bound to play around trees, species selected for school grounds should be
resistant to rough, mechanical treatment.
15.6.2 LANDSCAPING COLLEGE CAMPUSES
Unlike primary, middle, and high schools, college campuses can often afford groundsmaintenance
services. The goal in landscaping a college campus is to provide visual
continuity by linking the diverse structures on-site by using trees, ground covers, and
shrubbery. Since funds are available, campuses often can afford high-maintenance
landscapes. On a campus with a horticulture academic program, the campus provides an
opportunity for installing plant materials in the general landscape for instructional
purposes. In other words, the campus may be turned into a kind of giant arboretum.
15.6.3 LANDSCAPING PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS
A key goal in designing a landscape for public use such as a park is public safety. Appropriate
plants should be selected so that the park remains open, without hiding places that
may encourage criminal activities. A park may have a significant number of nonplant
materials in the landscape, including fountains, benches, playground equipment, and
15.6 Planning a Nonresidential Landscape 491