Commercial landscaping requires people who are experienced allrounders. For landscaping public spaces the commercial landscaper needs skills and experience.

Commercial landscaping involves much more than planting trees and grasses. In the commercial world, keeping to the required timing plan is essential. This is especially the case when working with large commercial construction companies with strict deadlines and millions of dollars of materials on the commercial sites.

What is commercial landscaping?

Commercial landscaping is landscape construction primarily for commercial properties and public spaces. In some cases it may also involve landscape design or it may require working  with a landscape architect instead. Commercial Landscaping also requires many of the skills of commercial concreting.

Reds Landscaping using a boom pump to pour architectural concrete walls

What skills does a commercial landscaper need in this field?

These landscapers needs to be skilled at reading and interpreting building plans, project management, people management and material estimation. In addition to this the  landscaper needs to have a thorough understanding of horticulture, concrete construction and the principles of landscape design. It is also important to have spatial skills and artistic flair in order to convert what is seen on a 2D drawing into a real commercial landscape.

Landscaper bringing materials to the worksite to build the formwork for the insitu concrete .

To achieve the required aims in this landscaping field detailed planning is essential. This involves working with landscaping contractors such as concrete form workers, commercial concreters and horticulturist to the ensure everyone knows and meets the work schedule. Working in commercial landscaping also requires an eye for detail. When working with the local councils or other local authorities, the drawings are provided by the landscape architect. There is a great deal of skill for the landscaper to interpret the drawings and ensure an accurate high-quality interpretation of the landscape architect is brought into fruition.

Negotiating with clients is an essential part of commercial landscaping.

What are the properties commercial landscapers develop?

These landscapers work on landscaping projects as diverse as office buildings, hotels, apartment buildings, factories, and public spaces around community infrastructure. Professional landscaping is also used around freeways and railway lines.

Landscaper unloading plants. Plants arriving for a commercial landscaping Project.

What else is important in this type of landscaping?

Landscapers need to be aware of their responsibilities to protect the environment and maintain a safe workplace as well as a safe facility for clients and members of the public. The quality of materials brought onto the work site as well as disposal of material from the site is important. These landscapers need to be true allrounders. As well as the horticulture, project management and business skills, the landscaper will need to have excellent knowledge of drainage and heavy duty irrigation systems.

What is a public space?

Public spaces are often parks, and also includes streetscapes, public squares and shopping centres regardless of who owns the property. An urban or rural outdoor place designed to produce benefit for the public. Even though the space might not be owned by the public, well designed and constructed landscaping will greatly add to the public amenity of the area. This could be through the installation of well designed at attractive exposed aggregate concrete pathways, the aesthetic of the landscaped garden.

What Landscaping Materials are used?

In this field the materials used can be quite different to residential landscaping. Public space landscaping often uses soft rubber surfacing, in-situ concreting and alternating coloured exposed aggregate concrete.

Where can I study to become a landscaper?

In Melbourne landscaping can be studied at Holmesglen. A Melbourne suburb near Glen Waverley.

The Certificate 3 course in Landscape Construction provides skills in areas including building with concrete, with brick, and with block or stone. Important landscaping skills include constructing paving, installing drainage systems, and building different types of retaining walls. Students also learn about plant health and topsoil structure.

Related Commercial Concreting information from Red’s Landscaping and Civil

Commercial Landscaping of Public Spaces.

Landscaping Careers in Melbourne.

In-situ Concrete

New Home Construction Landscaping

Balwyn Landscaping – Landscaping Project

Commercial Landscaping

© 2020 Reds Landscaping and Civil – Melbourne Landscaper.

Environmental Policy aims

The aim of the Red’s Landscaping and Civil Environmental’s and Sustainability Policy is to provide effective environmental management that emphasises:

1. a planned and proactive approach
2. commitment and involvement of managers and officers at all levels
3. meaningful and effective involvement of employees and other workers
4. identification and control of potential sources of waste and pollution
5. the development of a workplace culture that recognises the importance of environmental management and sustainability.
6. appropriate provision of instruction, training, information and supervision

Environmental Protection Policy Responsibilities

The importance of environmental management requires that employees, sub-contractors and visitors take steps to safeguard the environment. Not only because of the potential legal implications, but also because it is the duty of companies to exceed the requirements of environmental legislation.

Employers and self-employed persons should be proactive and take all reasonable measures, to ensure a high standard of environmental protection;

Employers and employees should exchange information and ideas about risks to the environment and measures that can be taken to eliminate or reduce those risks;

Employees encouraged to submit ideas regarding waste minimisation, continuous improvement, health and safety and environmental protection. These are agenda items for the tool box meetings.

Environmental and Sustainability Policy Mission Statement

Environmental Policy

Red’s Landscape Gardening will comply with, and exceed, all local, state and federal laws and regulations on:

• disposing of hazardous waste (including EPA’s list of prescribed industrial waste), trade waste (i.e. waste added to the sewer) and waste water.
• safe handling, storage and transport of hazardous waste and dangerous goods
• noise
• land use
• air pollution and carbon emissions

Procedure

Red’s Landscape Gardening will set targets each year to increase energy and water efficiency and seek opportunities for reducing and recycling waste. To do this, we will:

General

• investigate ways to reduce consumption or recycle waste. E.g formwork recycling.
• give preference to maintenance and other contractors using green products

Energy

• buy electrical and lighting systems rated as energy efficient
• use accredited GreenPower, either in part or whole

Water

• buy appliances rated as water efficient
• install irrigation systems that are designed to save water and minimise losses due to evaporation.
• Select drought tolerant plant indigenous to the area where possible.

Waste

• look for opportunities to improve waste management. Sustainability Victoria has tips on good waste management. Regular site inspections to identify potential safety and environmental hazards as well as potential waste reduction opportunities.

Eco friendly recycling must be used were practical.

Environmental Policy –Soft Landscaping

• We are committed to conservation and protection of trees, especially large canopy trees that take many years to mature.

• effective mulching to reduce losses due to evaporation.
• Use natural fertilisers where possible.
• Identify and report any noxious or problem weeds.

• The application of garden chemical shall supervised by suitably qualified and experienced personal. The supervisor must hold a recognised chemical handling license. All chemicals must be clearly labelled and food containers must not be used for chemicals.
• Chemicals must be stored under lock and key with appropriate measures for spillage or leakage. An MSDS must be on site with any chemicals.
• Materials brought into the worksite must be certified to the appropriate Standard.

• • eg Topsoil to Australia Standard AS 4419:2018 Soils for landscaping and garden use.
  • Only clean topsoils and sands with no contamination shall be brought on to site.

Environmental PolicyConstruction and Demolition Waste

Building and construction sites create pollution, including different types of waste, noise and dust. Measures must be taken to minimise the impact of our work on the health of people and the environment.

Responsible Waste removal. Waste receipt dockets from an approved waste disposal facility are the only guarantee that waste from the site is going to the right place.

EnvironmentalWaste generators

As a waste generator, Red’s Landscaping and Civil is responsible for ensuring waste is taken to a facility that can lawfully accept it. Waste receipt dockets from an approved waste disposal facility are the only guarantee that waste from the site is going to the right place.

Construction and demolition (C&D) activities generate a wide range of industrial waste materials including:

• excavated material such as rock and soil
• waste asphalt, bricks, concrete, plasterboard, timber and vegetation
• asbestos and contaminated soil.

If not managed responsibly, these waste streams can pollute the environment, pose a public health risk (particularly asbestos and contaminated soil) and pose amenity issues.

How to dispose of Construction and Demolition waste

“Under section 27A(2) of the Environment Protection Act 1970 (EP Act), any person (including a waste generator, transporter or receiver) who dumps or permits the inappropriate disposal of industrial waste at a place that cannot lawfully accept that waste type faces a fine of more than $7500, or up to $777,300 (5000 penalty units) if prosecuted. EPA can require the waste generator, transporter and receiver to clean up and pay for waste to be taken to a lawful place.”

Tips for managing Construction and Demolition waste

• Know what types of waste will be generated during excavation, demolition and construction.
• If a quote for managing waste is low, find out why. The company may be avoiding costs by taking the waste to a place that cannot lawfully be used as a waste facility.
• While not a requirement, preparing and implementing a waste management plan ahead of demolition is an effective way of managing lawful waste disposal. A good plan would include:
  • details of each type of waste that will be generated, and the management action proposed for each type of waste
  • procedures that ensure the waste is dispose of at a lawful place
  • a description of the roles and responsibilities of everyone who manages the waste, including the site supervisor and subcontractors.

Remember:

• The level of detail in the waste management plan should reflect the size and complexity of the project’s waste issues.
• Regularly update the waste management plan to record how waste is managed and audit where waste is taken.
• Provide adequate supervision to ensure waste management plans are implemented and complied with, and regularly audit everyone who manages waste on your behalf.
• Provide training about the waste management plan and protecting the environment.

• Keep accurate written records such as:
  • who transported the waste (company name, ABN, vehicle registration and driver details, date and time of transport, description of waste)
  • copies of waste receipts from the waste facility (date and time of delivery, name and address of the facility, its ABN, contact person)

Drainage and runoff

Melbourne has many beautiful waterways that are very sensitive to the effects of pollution.

During construction rainwater may flow into onsite or nearby drainage systems as well as nearby creeks and river systems. This can lead do contamination of the water from the worksite or clogging of drains or waterways from picked up sediment or litter. Appropriate measures such as bunding must be taken to mitigate against this. Potential contamination of groundwater must also be considered.

Wetlands require environmental protection during landscape construction.

Environmental Protection Agency – Works Approvals

Works approvals are issued by EPA Victoria under the Environment Protection Act 1970 .They are required for industrial and waste management activities that have the potential for significant environmental impact.

A works approval permits plant and equipment to be installed, the operation of which will result in one or more of:

• the discharge of waste to the environment
• an increase in, or alteration to, an existing discharge
• a change in the way waste is treated or stored.

CO2 emissions

To minimise CO2 emissions Red’s Landscaping and Civil has introduced the following strategies.

• Car-pooling amongst employees.
• Selecting vehicles that run on alternative fuels. Such as;
  • 30% Ethanol.
  • PHEV (where feasible.)
• Keeping the vehicle in good condition and getting the longest possible life out of them.
• Use local suppliers as close as possible to the worksite.

Clinker

The construction industry is one of the largest contributors of atmospheric carbon dioxide, with concrete alone responsible for up to 8% of all anthropogenic carbon emissions. Carbon dioxide is released as a by-product when limestone (calcium carbonate) is heated to produce cement.

To minimise CO2 from the use of concrete Red’s Landscaping and Design has the following strategies.

• Very accurate calculation of required concrete.
  • A professional estimator is used to accurately estimate quantities.
  • Accurate surveying of the worksite to drawing.
  • Accurate control of formwork dimensions.
  • Thinking ahead with form work to create a use for leftover concrete.
  • Checking drawings for excessively large foundation sections etc.
  • Issuing Purchase order with the correct quantity and grade of concrete.
  • Working with concrete suppliers on low clinker mixes when they become available.

References

This policy references following legislation in the State of Victoria;

• Environment Protection Act 1970

• Environment Protection Act 2017 (the 2017 Act)

• Pollution of Waters by Oils and Noxious Substances Act 1986

• National Environment Protection Council (Victoria) Act 1995

Additional Environmental Protection Regulations – Queensland Government

Environmental protection regulation 2019

Related Environmental Landscaping news from Red’s Landscaping and Civil

4 types of Eco-Friendly Concrete

Eco garden: Gardening Made Easy

Eco Pools: Nature pools for the eco conscious

Romsey Eco Therapy Park Development

© 2020 Reds Landscaping and Civil quality commercial landscaping Melbourne