Landscape construction Tree Detailing. Michael Littlewood MICHAEL LITTLEWOOD

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1 Landscape construction Tree Detailing TREE DETAILING Contents MICHAEL LITTLEWOOD BOOK INFORMATION Size: A4 210mm x 297mm Softback 214 pages, over 100 detailed drawings Published by Ecodesignscape 2013 ISBN: This is a distilled compendium of practical information on all aspects of tree care, planting and maintenance. Each chapter comprises a brief text plus a set of A4 scale drawings, ready for use by Landscape Architects, Garden Designers and Specifiers. The first edition has been reprinted but with amended Appendices containing up to date information that will be found useful and helpful. Stock and sizes Planting Pruning and Surgery Protection of new trees Protection of existing trees Tree surrounds Trees in containers & roof gardens Maintenance & Management Building, engineering & trees Survey & Evaluation Appendices Glossary Botanical Nomenclature Botanical Names Tree Roots - Article NHBC Standards Branching Out - Article Standard Graphics Bibliography Organisations Landscape Architecture Student Jamie Seymour - September 2013 This book is fantastic. It is clear and concise and packed with illustrations and the cross section drawings were able to help me no end. I believe it is the only book out there of its kind on tree detailing. I have not seen any other book like this on the subject of trees so I decided to purchase a copy. Landscape Design Annabel Downs - May 1989 This must be one of the first books to present so much compiled information on trees in the form of advice, technical information and detail drawings, and it will undoubtedly be much used by landscape architects and others, but like any other book of details, it should be used with discretion: the design details regarded as an aid to producing a good solution for a particular location, and, as the author states, British Standards and other references need to read and understood before being quoted. Enquiries for this and all other publications visit

2 Sample pages STOCk and SizeS ChapTer 1 This chapter sets out general points spacings will probably be cheaper and which need to be considered when may be adequate for a particular job, but selecting and specifying stock. The they must be regarded as second-rate main considerations are specific trees. Most trees currently produced requirements on origin, condition, form, by the nursery trade fall into this dimensions and plant handling. The second-rate category, owing to strong British Standard recommendations for competition within the trade. It is hoped nursery stock are in BS Part 1 that this situation will change in future, (1980) covers trees and shrubs, and Part for the cost of the trees is often a very 4 ( 1966) deals with forest trees. These small proportion of the total cost of a job. recommendations may not be sufficiently It would be well worth paying more for detailed for all circumstances. first-rate trees that will grow immediately, more rapidly and more successfully. Origin Polythene tunnels and glasshouses When selecting stock, it is useful to obtain information on its origin and Trees which have been grown under growing conditions. A supplier will cover should be adequately hardened off usually be required to declare whether or outside, for a minimum of eight growingseason weeks, before being planted on not plants offered for sale are UK-grown. If plants which are normally propagated any exposed or open site. Polythene vegetatively have been grown from seed tunnels can cause excessive height or vice versa, this fact should also be increment out of proportion with stem stated by the supplier. Other information girth increment. Betula species are very on the method of propagation will usually susceptible to this and are often so weak be provided by the supplier on request. they bend above the point of attachment at the top of the stake. Whenever possible, it is useful to inspect trees while they are growing in Grafted trees the nursery. An inspection of growing conditions in the nursery may also give Some cultivars need to be grafted onto an indication of the quality of stock. a closely related rootstock; sometimes this is done merely for convenience, Growing conditions because the rootstock plants are easier and quicker to grow. Trees which have been grown at too close a spacing will be spindly and Points on which to be cautious include: lacking in vigour. They will also have root systems which are small and likely to be 1. extensively damaged during lifting. As a Trees which have been grafted on to a general rule, trees in the nursery should rootstock which may cause problems, be at a spacing which is not less than e.g. Sorbus cultivars grafted on to one third of their height. For example, hawthorn rootstock, shoots from which trees 450 mm tall should be not less than will require frequent cutting. It is better, 150 mm apart, and trees 3 m tall should whenever possible, to select cultivar be not less than 1 m apart. stock grafted on to a rootstock of the same genus. Trees which have been grown at closer xii SurVey & evaluation ChapTer LANDSCAPE DESIGNER 6 George & Crown Cottages Church Street Hinton St George Somerset TA17 8SD Telephone & Fax: (01460) michael@ecodesignscape.co.uk Web:

3 LANDSCAPE DESIGNER FLI FSGD TREE DETAILING MICHAEL LITTLEWOOD REVIEWS 6 George & Crown Cottages Church Street Hinton St George Somerset TA17 8SD Telephone & Fax: (01460) michael@ecodesignscape.co.uk Web:

4 The Hegarty Webber Partnership Churchill, North Somerset There can be no reputable garden design course which does not mention the name Michael Littlewood. And there are few students, or indeed design professionals, who do not, at some point, gratefully crib from the scaled drawings of hard landscape features found in his Landscape Detailing series Surfaces, Enclosures, Water and Structures. These they can use to indicate clearly to clients and contractors precisely how they want that path, terrace, or bridge etc to be constructed. But in the field of landscape architecture, softscape is very much and quite unfairly seen as the poor relation, despite the fact that plants are very much the icing on the cake in most gardens. And certainly as students we were not made aware of the Tree Detailing volume of his series. Of course, since we were trained gardeners before we were trained designers, much of this is second nature to us. But there will be many a practice that is at least initially not so knowledgeable or experienced in this field and for them this updated edition will, quite frankly, be a godsend. There has never been a time when trees have been more important as a landscape issue. We understand now their pivotal role in our fragile ecosystem, their relationship with wildlife. There is a widening recognition beyond the gardening cognoscenti of the importance of planting structure within the garden landscape. And television has created an impatience for the instantly mature landscape of those show and make over gardens. Also more larger trees are planted it is increasingly important to 'get it right'. An expensive semi mature tree is not idly planted without some thought to its initial support and long term care, and with this book mere good intentions can be backed up by hard facts. In his customary, easy to read style (and to scan quickly for the facts you need) there are sections specifying stock sizes, planting techniques, staking, pruning techniques and protection of existing trees. As welcome are sections on trees in containers and roof gardens, distances needed from buildings, tree roots, aftercare, and much much more. This book may be one to consult for specific drawings or facts. As far as the drawings are concerned these are, of course, as clear as ever and far from cribbing them as we suggested at the outset, it is the author s stated intention that you should trace, photocopy and amend as you choose. So you can plunder with a clear conscience! And the drawings will make your expectations entirely clear to the contractor who is working to your specification. Michael acknowledges that other sources of information must be consulted, such as British Standards, but there are handy lists of organizations and books to consult amongst the many appendices. Robert Webber and Lesley Hegarty Garden Designers November 2013

5 Port Talbot South Wales I am a landscape architecture student and I was given an assignment to complete on the subject of construction detailing. This assignment required me to design a site using a large number of trees along with contemporary surface materials utilising CAD software. Being that trees are not my strong point, I decided to research book stores on the web regarding information on this discipline. After reviewing a number of sample books I came across Tree Detailing. This book is fantastic. It is clear and concise and packed with illustrations and the cross section drawings were able to help me no end. I believe it is only book out there of its kind on tree detailing. I have not seen any other book like this on the subject of trees so I decided to purchase a copy. The book helped me (a novice at tree and construction detailing) so much that I passed my assignment with quite a high grade, where as if I did not use it I believe my grade would have been lower. I recommend Tree Detailing definitely along with the other landscaper detailing books that Michael has published. Thank you Michael for your expertise on this subject. Jamie Seymour Landscape Architecture Student September 2013

6 Acres Wild Billinghurst West Sussex s Tree Detailing book is another very welcome addition to his landscape detailing volumes. Aimed at professionals working in the disciplines of landscape architecture, garden design and landscape construction, it will also prove invaluable to students of those disciplines. Its comprehensive content makes it a useful single point of reference, impressively including every aspect of detailing with trees and providing a high level of detail to an area of specification that is often given less vigorous attention than hard landscape detailing. Sections in the book include not only those that might be expected such as choosing stock and sizes, and planting and protecting new trees, but also sections on survey and evaluation, pruning and surgery, and protecting existing trees. I found the information on the management, maintenance and protection of existing mature trees particularly valuable, as are the appendices, which contain much additional very informative and useful material. Information of this depth is often hard to find in an easily accessible format that can be communicated between designer and contractor. This book goes a long way to addressing this issue with its clear illustrations that can be easily adapted to the most difficult situations, such as those on roof gardens, in containers and adjacent to buildings. Upon looking through its educated content it becomes apparent how important it is to plant and maintain new trees and to retain mature trees successfully for future generations to enjoy. Ian Smith BA (Hons) MSGD Landscape & Garden Designer January 2014