Sustainable Planting and Hardscapes

This unit teaches students to integrate low‑impact hardscape construction and maintenance with sustainable plant selection and installation to create resilient landscapes. Learners practice site‑sensitive material choices, plant establishment for trees, shrubs, and smaller plants, and evaluate lower‑impact lawn alternatives to reduce water use and maintenance while supporting ecosystem services.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze site conditions (drainage, soil, microclimate, access) to select sustainable hardscape materials and design approaches that minimize runoff and increase durability, producing a documented site recommendation.
• Apply best‑practice construction and preventative maintenance techniques for common hardscape elements (permeable pavers, compacted aggregates, edging, and retaining structures) by creating an installation plan and maintenance checklist.
• Demonstrate proper selection, planting, and establishment care for native/adapted trees, shrubs, and smaller plants, producing a planting plan that specifies species, spacing, soil preparation, planting technique, and short‑term aftercare.
• Evaluate conventional lawns and lower‑impact alternatives (native groundcovers, meadow mixes, no‑mow zones, and permeable turf systems) and recommend a sustainable lawn strategy that balances water use, maintenance needs, and site goals for a sample property.