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<title>Landscape Information and Resources | Landscape Art | Landscape Architects</title>
<link>http://www.AustralianLandscapeSource.com/article.xml</link>
<description><![CDATA[Australian Landscape Articles and Information  - Useful Articles related to Landscape: Landscape Art, Landscape Contractors and much more.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Oct 2007 20:15:20 +0000</pubDate>
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	<title>Platinum TE now available for golf courses</title>
	<link>http://www.AustralianLandscapeSource.com/info/Landscape/Platinum-TE-now-available-for-golf-courses.html</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 13 Oct 2007 20:15:20 +0000</pubDate>
<category>Landscape</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.AustralianLandscapeSource.com/info/Landscape/Platinum-TE-now-available-for-golf-courses.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[NAPLES, Fla. -- Platinum TE, the latest paspalum turfgrass from Turf Ecosystems, is now available for golf courses and other sports turfgrass venues. Developed by Ron R. Duncan, PhD, Platinum TE offers unparalleled true excellence in appearance and playability.
Platinum TE is designed to provide unprecedented aesthetics. It features a darker green color than other paspalum cultivars, resulting in superior striping capability. Plus, Platinum TE plays as great as it looks. Its fine leaf blade and tight internode spacing create a very compact canopy surface that provides exceptional ball set up and puttability. Even in low light intensity conditions, it has exhibited superior growth performance and sustainability, making it ideal for areas with persistent cloudy or rainy climatic patterns and reduced light quality.
In addition to its exceptional appearance and playability, Platinum TE offers important maintenance benefits. With proper management, this turfgrass exhibits high salt tolerance and excellent foliar disease resistance. Platinum TE establishes rapidly from sprigs and aggressively grows in from surface stolons. In response to day length/photoperiod changes or environmental stress exposure, this turfgrass shows minimal seed head exertion. A versatile turfgrass, Platinum TE tolerates a wide range of mowing heights (0.070 to 1.500 inches), making it a perfect choice for any area on a golf course or sports turfgrass venue.
&ldquo;By selecting Platinum TE, golf courses are now able to install wall-to-wall turfgrass that&rsquo;s a genetically improved step above all other paspalum cultivars,&rdquo; said Turf Ecosystems Vice President Ron R. Duncan, PhD. &ldquo;Like other turfgrass cultivars that we develop at Turf Ecosystems, Platinum TE is designed to provide our customers a new level of performance and maintenance benefits.&rdquo;
Turf Ecosytems offers a user-friendly Platinum TE Nursery Program guided by environmentally sustainable standards to ensure genetic purity and unparalleled grassing experiences for the customer. Direct consultation with Dr. Duncan is available on all aspects of the Platinum TE experience including irrigation water challenges and site-specific management programs.
Phillip Jennings Turf Farms has signed on as the first licensee grower of Platinum TE and the exclusive distributor for international orders. Located in Soperton, Georgia, Phillip Jennings Turf produces over 13 different varieties of turfgrass, including Platinum TE. With more than 3,000 acres of turf, the company has distinguished itself as an industry leader. 
Through research and science, Turf Ecosystems develops and manages new turfgrass cultivars and maintenance products that are better-suited to both performance expectations and environmental limitations. Under direction of its vice president, Ron R. Duncan, PhD, the Florida-based company offers a full range of turfgrass and irrigation water management services, including scientific research; new cultivar development; site assessment; treatment and long-term environmental sustainability strategies for recreational turfgrass; management of seashore paspalum installations; and general consulting for turfgrass and water issues.
Turf Ecosystem&rsquo;s focus on global environmental stewardship has led to the effective ecosystem management of alternative irrigation sources for recreational turfgrass, including recycled or reclaimed water, stormwater, brackish water and blended water containing variable salinity levels. A former professor of Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia, Dr. Duncan is developing revolutionary turfgrass cultivars at Turf Ecosystems, including Platinum TE. This paspalum turfgrass offers golf courses and other sports venues unparalleled playability and cosmetic appearance. ]]></description>
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	<title>Home Landscape Lighting</title>
	<link>http://www.AustralianLandscapeSource.com/info/Landscape/Home-Landscape-Lighting.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:49:03 +0000</pubDate>
<category>Landscape</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.AustralianLandscapeSource.com/info/Landscape/Home-Landscape-Lighting.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Have you ever been downtown at night, maybe attending a concert or sporting event and were impressed with the lighting along a park walk or on a fancy office building? Most of us, at one time or another, have experienced awe, comfort, serenity or relaxation at the sight of well-designed landscape lighting. Sometimes lights pointing up at the side of a tall building or low profile lights under plants along a downtown walkway can have a very powerful effect on you. Beautiful lighting can completely changing your mood and experience of events around you. As far as our homes are concerned we tend to think about outdoor lighting in strictly practical terms. We have a light outside at the front and back doors and maybe a motion detector triggered light above the garage door. They are attached to the house or garage and are there just so you can safely see where you are going when outdoors at night. But your homes outdoor lighting can be so much more than that. It doesn't need to be just for seeing things at night. Properly done outdoor lighting can have a beauty and charm all its own and at the same time provide nighttime safety for your walkways and garden. For many years savvy homeowners have tried to duplicate this beauty with landscape lighting in the yard around their homes and in their gardens. For the most part it has not worked out very well for the average homeowner. In the past most dependable landscape lighting systems were powered by standard household electricity (120 volt). It had to meet a strict electrical code and you had to have an electrician do all the installation and hookup. The connectors, fittings and bulbs all had to be heavy duty, waterproof and weatherproof. It was too expensive and outside the budget for the average homeowner. Those homeowners that followed through with all of that often ended up with a system that didn't look right. A common mistake is to use too many lights, or put them in the wrong place. You don't want your sidewalk or garden path to look like an airport runway. So doing it properly often meant hiring a landscape architect or a contractor who specialized in landscape lighting. Of course, that pushed the price up even further; and usually outside the reach of all but the wealthy. Low voltage landscape lighting (12 to 18 volt), however, has several distinct advantages. Electrical codes are much less strict and because it is low voltage you don't need an electrician to install it. You can buy an inexpensive kit and often install it over the weekend. Because it is easy to install and setup you can spend more time working on the light locations and lighting design and not worry so much about hiring a landscape architect to do all that for you. If you don't like the light locations, you can change it yourself without too much trouble. You don't need an electrician or designer to move it. One common problem with low voltage systems 20 or 30 years ago was the durability of the components. Back then low voltage outdoor lighting systems were often little more than toys. But today all of that has changed. The do it yourself low voltage lighting system you buy at your local hardware store is usually not only affordable, but durable as well.]]></description>
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	<title>Poolside Landscape Design</title>
	<link>http://www.AustralianLandscapeSource.com/info/Landscape/Poolside-Landscape-Design.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:48:43 +0000</pubDate>
<category>Landscape</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.AustralianLandscapeSource.com/info/Landscape/Poolside-Landscape-Design.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[A pool round the corner of the garden can really make a lot of difference in enhancing the beauty and look of the landscape. However, the correct positioning and the factors crucial to the design of a poolside landscape, have to be kept in mind while opting for a decorative pool. The space chosen as the area to build and design a pool is very important and thus, should be chosen carefully keeping in mind the right proportions and the overall area of the house. This spacing and designing again may vary depending on the look and styles such as formal, radical, classical or simple. The materials chosen to use as the border of the pool should be water friendly. The plants and herbs chosen to decorate a poolside landscape are usually the sort that do not grow tall or spread themselves too much. Leaves falling from these branches may make the water dirty and make the cleaning process more difficult. In case of big plants and trees, it is advisable to place them at a considerable distance from the pool water, to keep the water unaffected from leaves or droppings of the birds. Also, the roots of some plants may affect the foundation of the pool border and destroy it. A poolside landscape can be adorned with plants with glossy leaves, and fixtures of bright colors complementing the blue color of the water to extend a glamorous look to the landscape. Too many flower plants are not recommended to decorate the poolside landscape, as they can attract birds and insects making it dirty and troublesome to clean. Apart from plants, statues, fountains, wooden benches, swings also provide an exotic look to the landscape. Nevertheless, proper positioning and suitability with space and landscape can be considered to maintain the beauty of it. Various books, online courses, and professional outdoor designers can be found, to help carry out the job.]]></description>
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	<title>Landscape Design Plans</title>
	<link>http://www.AustralianLandscapeSource.com/info/Landscape/Landscape-Design-Plans.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:48:23 +0000</pubDate>
<category>Landscape</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.AustralianLandscapeSource.com/info/Landscape/Landscape-Design-Plans.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[Landscape design plans help you visualize the end result of any landscaping project. Landscape design plans can be drawn using paper and pencil, design-planning software, or through a landscape design professional. One must be very clear about what is needed to be able to draw an aesthetically pleasing and practically viable plan. The first and foremost task is to measure the land area that needs to be landscaped. After conducting a survey of the land, draw what features already exist on the land and decide if you would like to retain them. Take into consideration natural factors and features of the land, its slope, elevation, soil characteristics and climatic conditions. Then comes the designing part. Study all shapes, styles and themes that are of interest to you, and then choose what you like best. The whole land area can be divided into four main sections: open spaces, plant areas, paths and features. Incorporate the selected shapes, styles and themes in each of these areas. For example, if you are planning a circular landscape, are you going to have circular ponds, flower beds and pathways as well? Be aware of water inlet and outlet points on your land since you will need to install irrigation systems. Now draw these drainage, irrigation and lighting systems on the layout. Since it is difficult to visualize the design so easily, you can get help from software or draw it on paper. Once the design is finalized, it is better to list what materials are required and the cost of each item. Then plan how much time you can devote for creating this landscape. In case you plan to get it done by professionals, this plan can serve as a base to start work. Since you know your needs the best, it is advisable that you plan the landscape design personally.]]></description>
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	<title>Basics of Landscape Design</title>
	<link>http://www.AustralianLandscapeSource.com/info/Landscape/Basics-of-Landscape-Design.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:48:04 +0000</pubDate>
<category>Landscape</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.AustralianLandscapeSource.com/info/Landscape/Basics-of-Landscape-Design.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[All design inevitably comes down to a few basics that may help you to make of sense of it, including frames, lines and flow. It is these three bits that work in concert to become the composition of a design, whether it is architectural designs or the way an advertisement is laid out. The concept of design being made up of frames, lines and flow are no less true in landscaping design than in any other type of design. There are, of course, a few details that must also be considered in landscape design since results are not at all immediate and may require several years before becoming what you imagine. Frames Design is reliant on its boundaries; it helps a designer create a unified piece rather than many disparate pieces. A designer must be aware of the borders (frames) that continue a work in order to use the space they are given effectively. Every element must be considered not just for its particular physical appearance, but also for the space around it. Before you even think about plants or planting think about the space you are going to be using and divide it into usable sections based on the conditions of the land itself. There may be areas of your yard prone to flood or areas that remain in the shade all day. Each of these little factors will make shape your overall design. If you try to ignore the details of your land they will still alter your overall design, but probably negatively by refusing to grow or requiring a great deal of constant maintenance. Remember, often times the space you don&rsquo;t use is as important as what you do use. In graphic design, this is referred to as &ldquo;white space.&rdquo; Often times, the most simple and elegant designs make use of the white space to give the visual elements greater impact. You can extend this same principle to landscaping. Don&rsquo;t forget when looking at an entire yard that different portions of it may be used for different things. Parts of your yard may be used for activities and play while others are intended for relaxation and dining, Try to position them in ways that make use of natural transitions in your yard. Lines The pieces of design, the individual shapes and images that work together to make a final composition create lines between them. This is true in landscaping as well. The pieces of design or, in landscaping, the flowers, shrubs, hills, alcoves, rocks and statuary are inevitably connected to one another by short straight lines, much like connect-the-dot games that we play a children. During the design stage of landscaping it is important to arrange your &quot;dots&rdquo; in such a way that they create a single image or visual flow. Also remember, you are not dealing in a single dimension. Imagine how your lines will appear from a birds eye view. Then imagine how they will look when you view the straight on. There are different lines that will be created, and it is important to remember to pay attention to all of them. Flow Discussion of visual flow can sound a bit abstract, but the essentials behind it are very concrete. If the elements of design work together to create visual flow this usually just means that their points of visual interest that serve to lead the eye from one place to another over the entire canvas. Among the shapes most commonly used as a base for flow are simple curves like the number 6 and the letter S. Color plays an important role in creating interest and helps visual flow. Certain colors create visual difference that can be used to help you shape and refine the flow of your work. Warm colors like red and yellow appear to be nearer than they are while cool colors like blue and purple recede into the background. Planning visual flow is especially hard in landscaping because you may not know exactly what height a particular plant might reach nor can you guarantee that every planting will bloom as desired. Annuals that fail to bloom can leave a dearth of color in one place while your perennials glory and flood their patch vividly, upsetting the balance of your garden with their wealth of color. However, if you do break your landscape apart into manageable sections, creating frames within frames you will have greater flexibility as your land evolves into landscaping.]]></description>
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	<title>Landscape Design Tips</title>
	<link>http://www.AustralianLandscapeSource.com/info/Landscape/Landscape-Design-Tips.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:47:23 +0000</pubDate>
<category>Landscape</category>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.AustralianLandscapeSource.com/info/Landscape/Landscape-Design-Tips.html</guid>
	<description><![CDATA[As winter turns to spring and spring turns to summer a popular topic starts to seep into the mind of homeowners everywhere; I need to start working on a landscape design ! Although your head might be full of the flowers and plants that you envision around your yard I am going to take this opportunity to discuss the tools that will help you throughout your whole project. Whether they are stored in the garage or the shed most people have a small stockpile of gardening tools. These stockpiles might include rakes, shovels, ground claws and most likely a pair of old gardening gloves. It is time for you to ask yourself, do I have the tools I will need to keep my lawn healthy and beautiful? If you have some of the above tools then you are definitely on your way to a great landscape design! Along with the standard tools there are some new and improved gadgets that you might also like for your yard work. Let us take a look at some new apron designs that are now available. There are two that I particularly like, one is similar to a wearable trash bag, and the other has pockets and loops to hold many tools. If you are familiar with yard work then you can immediately see the benefit these two items bring. Imagine going down your row of bushes and clipping off dead branches, then just popping them into your apron instead of bending down each time to put them in a bag. Very easy! When you are done, simply unzip the bottom of the bag and dump the trash, perfect! As with this design the other apron is equally user friendly; once you have hooked all your tools to the apron you have everything with you as you move around the yard. Extremely useful, and sure to be a popular item for people as they create and nurture their landscape designs. While the aprons are relatively new items you may want to think about replacing those old dusty tools with their new and improved replacements. As you move forward with your beautiful landscape design you want to make sure your tools are up for the work ahead of them. Shovels and rakes now come with cushiony handles and are designed in bright, friendly colors. Pruning shears are designed with easy slide handles and sharper edges for close work. Gloves, the item you will use the most, come in so many colors and shapes it is almost impossible to choose only one pair! I have provided you with a small scope of thought on the vast market of garden and yard tools that are available. As you move forward with your landscape design I wish you the very best for a&nbsp;beautiful landscape !]]></description>
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