LANDSCAPE AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE
Good separation of turf and ornamentals in the sports turf landscape. All photos provided by John C. Fech
RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT PLACE Once separated, either through renovation or initial design, choosing plants that are well adapted to the specific site is a foundational step. Right plant, right place( RPRP) has many components:
Plant type— The best implementation of RPRP starts with a wide funnel approach, with phrases such as“ evergreen shrub,”“ large shade tree,”“ low deciduous groundcover” and“ sunny perennial.” This method provides structure, but leaves the selection process open to many options. Specific choices can be made as selection develops.
Sun and shade preference— Plants may grow best in full sun, half sun, filtered sun, part shade or full shade. Plants that are chosen and installed in locations that are contrary to their preference usually struggle to establish and thrive. Fortunately, sun requirement is commonly noted on the plant care tag or easily found on local university or nearby botanic garden websites.
Site limitations— Soil characteristics, adequate space for rooting, prevailing winds, slope and the scale of nearby buildings or other plantings create certain limitations on the planting area. These all need to be considered when choosing specific plants.
Purpose— The functional aspects of ornamentals are often overlooked, characterizing them as“ therefore” plants. To have success in the sports turf and / or campus landscape, the question of purpose( a. k. a., what’ s it there for?) must be answered. If the answer is not easily answered or obvious at first or second glance, it’ s important to consult with the original designer of the space to determine function or purpose.
Eventual size and shape— Directly related to purpose, desired size and shape are often omitted from the selection process. For example, if the purpose of the plant is to provide shade for a small picnic area or for sportsfieldmanagementonline. com April 2025 | SportsField Management
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