Practise exam questions Flashcards
Name and describe TWO distinct plants suitable for edge planting in a knot garden
Suitable edging garden plants need to have dense foliage, small and compact, slow growing with small leaves which may be glossy
Buxus microphylla: small, evergreen leaves with compact growth habit and responds well to hard pruning, which grows slowly so doesn’t need regular pruning
Rosmarinus officinalis: dense and bushy, narrow leathery dark green aromatic foliage which are white felted underneath. Tubular purple-blue flowers are produced in mid-spring to early summer
State TWO factors that need to be recorded during a site appraisal for EACH of the following:
i. aspect
ii. exposure
Name TWO distinct plants suitable for each of the exposed situations stated in ii.
i. compass direction that the garden faces / any views e.g. to open countryside
ii. to what degree are areas of the garden exposed to the sun? How many hours does the garden receive, wind and direction. If garden located near coast, salt laden winds are to be expected
Sun: Lavandula anguistifolia, Phormium cookianum
Strong winds: Pinus mugo, Phyllostachys nigra
Salt laden winds: Griselinia littoralis, Armeria maritima
State ONE reason why trees may not be suitable for a small domestic garden
Leaf fall can create slip hazards on hard surfaces
Leaf fall may create undesirable maintenance issue on gravel
Trees may shade other plants
There is potential for roots to undermine the house or wall foundations
Describe what is meant by ‘offsets’ in relation to linear surveying of a garden (Can use diagram)
Establishment of a baseline labelled A-B
Baseline accurately set against fixed pints e.g. house wall
Running measurements along the baseline to accurately position the offsets
Measurement from feature to the baseline
Offsets to be at 90 degree angle to the baseline
State FOUR facots to be considered when selecting a site for alpine/rock garden plants
Ideally on a sloping site
Free draining soil
Sunny open site
Free from overhanging trees
Absence of invasive perennial weeds
Good site access for machinery to deliver rock
State hazard and associated risk of a name hedging plant
State two distinct herbaceous plants considered to be hazardous in gardens
Taxus baccata: leaves and fruit are toxic - poisonous if ingested and can cause stomach upset and serious illness
Digitalis purpurea: flowers, stems, leaves and seeds are poisonous if ingested
Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii: sap cna cause irritation to the skin and eyes
Describe FIVE stages involved in plotting a garden feature when carrying out a triangulation survey
Equipment required: two 30m measuring taoes, pegs, pen and paper
A simple drawn plan: showing the feature and the house with the corners of the house labelled to help identify the measurements.
Establish a fixed point: e.g. the house and identify the datum points A and B on the building. Measure the distance between the fixed points and record this on the plan
Using two 30cm measuring tapes: place one at point A and one at point B and secure one end of each with a peg
Holding each tape taut: extend them both to point C to form a triangle and measure A-C and B-C. Record all measurements on the plant
Compare TWO distinct natural materials used in the manufacture of screens
Reed roll screening: presents a natural appearance and looks good with an oriental theme. Relatively short life span and easily damaged
Softwood timber trellis: if treated it will alst longer, painted to match the colour scheme of the harden, more durable than reeeds
State TWO reasons for choosing a material for the treasd of garden steps
Mesh covered wooden treads, grooved timber, riven paving
What is meant by ‘a plant grown as a biennial?’
Short-lived perennial which are is discarded after its first season of flowering, as they lose vigour and do not perform well in successive years
How can some named features in an English landscape garden contribute to the cohesiveness of the design
Greek or Roman temple: reinforces the theme of a classical story which is illustrated by a walk around the garden
Palladium bridge: provides classic architectural links to the house and other features
Features like a Ha Ha can provide a practical contribution e.g. as a barrier to anmals entering th garde. It can also provide cohesiveness to the landscaoe by providing uninterrupted views or vistas
Describe design responses to rainshadows and frost pockets
Rainshadows: areas with raindshadows could be sued for patios or deckings or a seating area in a sheltered spot. The area could be used for plants that thrive in dry conditions
Frost pockets: To avoid frost pockets, openings in hedges can be created tot allow frosty ar to escape. If walls are being built across a slop, it is essential that they are angled to allow frost to roll down past the wall
Describe THREE reasons for excluding a high quality lawn from a garden design
- unsuitability of the site, it could be too shady, wet or sloping
- Client may not have time for that level of maintenance
- Unsuitable if have children and dogs
- Client may prefer a more wildlife friendly lawn
List FOUR distinct features which should be included in a garden survey
Structures: e.g. garden shed or summerhouse
Hard landscape surfaces: e.g. paths or patios
Boundaries: e.g. fences and walls
Existing trees, shrubs or other plants in the garden
Underground/overhead services
Describe THREE distincnt ways of overcoming the problems of severely restricted site access when constructing a garden
Plant to re-use waste material from the clearance of structure son site to avoid the need to move bulky waste through a narrow access or through the hosue, e.g. using old slabs as a base for a shed
Negotiate with neighbours
Specify use of young plants and trees instead of mature ones and sow the lawn from seed instead of laying a new lawn from turf
Plan construction to use manual methods of digging, suing hadntools and a wheelbarrow in stead of a digger, rotavator or dumper truck. May need to alter plant or extend construction time
Use hard landscaping materials that can be put together on site
Remove fence panels and return once work is complete
How can Movement/Direction be used when planning a domestic garden that is pleasing to the eye?
Achieved by placing focal points at the end of an avenue of trees, or path e.g. a classical statue, to move and direct the eye toa view or ‘picture’ of the garden.
Inclusion of drifts of plants in sweeping borders create movement of plants and draws the eye around a sweeping curve
Describe TWO characteristic features of a knot garden
Intricate patterns formed from clipped hedges which interweave are are designed to replicate Elizabethan embroidery
Coloured infill between the hedges either in the form of gravel/crushed brick or planting. Thi is traditionally herbs or medicinal plants e.g. Lavandula anguistifolia
The use of low and tightly clipped evergreen hedges of a single species e.g. Buxus microphylla
List FOUR sustainable practices to reduce the use of mains water which can be integrated successfully during the planning and design stage for a domestic garden
Select drought-tolerant plants / gravel garden with low water requirement
Water-butss
Grey water collection system
Compost bins to create organic mulch to reduce water evaporation
water efficient irrigation systens e.g. seep/drip hoses connected to timers
water at night or early morning to reduce evaporation
What is balance?
The weight and mass of elements of the deisgn are intrinsically in balance with each other and the garden. This may be achieved through symmetrical balance e.g. identical plant forms placed either side of a central path. It may also be asymmetrically balanced around a central feature e.g. a large tree one side can be balanced with a pergola of a similar size/mass on the other side
What is rhyth?
Is the sens eof motion that is created through the placing of repeated elements in the garden and the flow of continuous lines. Rhythm moves the eye through the space by repeating hard landscape elemtns or plants through the garden or creating flowing lines.
State ONE distinct method for minimising or eliminating the risk for
i. overhead and underground cables
ii. open water e.g. ponds
iii. Steps under deciduous trees
iiii. steep grassed paths on slopes
i. Appropriate placing of signage to alert users of risks e.g. electrical cables and unsafe buildings
ii. installation of secure fencing arounf the ponds and unsafe buildings
iii. provision of non-slip coating on steps, ramps and slippery surfaces
iiii. Provision of handrails on steep paths or steps
Describe how FOUR distinct materials could be re-used or recycled in a new garden scheme
Pallets used to deliver garden materials can be used to construct the sides of a compost bay
Clay bricks from a demolished wall can be used to build the walls of a cold frame
Broken concrete slabs from an old patio can be broken up and used as a sub-base for a new patio
Timber boards from a dismantled deck area can be used to create border edging for vegetable beds
State TWO hazards associated with the use of recycled materials
Splinters from reclaimed timber boards could pierce the skin and cause infection
Crumbling clay bricks or sandstone could have sharp edges causing skin abrasions
Lifting/carrying heavy materials e.g. statues could cause strains and sprains
Rusty nails which pierce the skin could cause tetanus
State TWO reasons why EACH of the following existing garden features should be included in a risk assessment:
i. stone fountain
ii. speciment tree
iii. garden wall
i. check for condition, any damage, cracks, fractures, any maintenance issues causing a hazard / risks associated with electricity to power the pump
ii. Evidence of disease, fungal growth e.g. honey fungus, causing future problems / roots from mature trees growing above ground in areas where people are walking
iii. evidence of instability due to poor foundations / crumbling mortar, loose or missing bricks
iii.
