Landscape Design Sustainable Landscaping 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'living wall' or 'green wall' in sustainable landscape design?
- A fence made from bamboo or other fast-growing materials
- A vertical structure with plants growing on or in it, used to improve air quality and aesthetics (Correct answer)
- A hedgerow planted along property boundaries
- A retaining wall covered with climbing vines
Correct answer: A vertical structure with plants growing on or in it, used to improve air quality and aesthetics
A living wall is a vertical system of planted panels or modules attached to a wall, providing insulation, air purification, biodiversity habitat, and aesthetic benefits in urban settings.
Question 2: Which certification program is the primary standard for sustainable site development in the US landscape industry?
- LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
- SITES (Sustainable Sites Initiative) (Correct answer)
- ENERGY STAR Landscape Certification
- Green Seal Landscape Program
Correct answer: SITES (Sustainable Sites Initiative)
The SITES (Sustainable Sites Initiative) certification is the primary rating system specifically designed for sustainable landscape, site, and land design projects in the US.
Question 3: What is 'greywater' and how can it legally be used in US landscape irrigation?
- Treated stormwater collected in detention ponds
- Wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry that can be reused for subsurface landscape irrigation in states where permitted (Correct answer)
- Municipal recycled water supplied through a purple pipe system
- Rainwater collected in roof-mounted cisterns
Correct answer: Wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry that can be reused for subsurface landscape irrigation in states where permitted
Greywater is wastewater from household sinks, showers, and laundry that, where state regulations permit, can be reused for subsurface drip irrigation, reducing potable water consumption.
Question 4: What is the 'urban heat island' effect and how can landscape design mitigate it?
- Flooding caused by impervious surfaces; mitigated by detention ponds only
- The phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to impervious surfaces; mitigated by trees, vegetation, and permeable paving (Correct answer)
- Air pollution trapped in low-lying urban areas; mitigated by wind machines
- Soil erosion in cities caused by lack of vegetation; mitigated by erosion control blankets
Correct answer: The phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to impervious surfaces; mitigated by trees, vegetation, and permeable paving
The urban heat island effect causes cities to be warmer than surrounding rural areas due to heat-absorbing impervious surfaces, mitigated through increased tree canopy, green roofs, and permeable paving.
Question 5: What is 'no-mow' or 'low-mow' lawn design and what are its environmental benefits?
- Replacing all lawn with artificial turf to eliminate mowing entirely
- Designing lawn areas with fine fescues or meadow plants that require minimal mowing, reducing fuel use, noise, and emissions (Correct answer)
- Using robotic mowers that operate on solar power
- Eliminating all turf areas from residential landscapes
Correct answer: Designing lawn areas with fine fescues or meadow plants that require minimal mowing, reducing fuel use, noise, and emissions
No-mow or low-mow designs use fine fescues, clover, or native meadow plants that maintain an attractive appearance with minimal cutting, reducing fuel consumption, air emissions, and maintenance labor.
Question 6: What is 'sheet mulching' (lasagna composting) used for in sustainable landscape installation?
- Applying fertilizer in thin layers to prevent burn
- Smothering existing turf or weeds with overlapping layers of cardboard and mulch to create new planting beds without tilling (Correct answer)
- Layering different types of mulch for aesthetic effect
- A method of applying mulch to steep slopes to prevent erosion
Correct answer: Smothering existing turf or weeds with overlapping layers of cardboard and mulch to create new planting beds without tilling
Sheet mulching uses layers of cardboard and organic mulch to suppress existing vegetation without herbicides or tilling, allowing it to decompose and improve soil as plants are established above it.
Landscape Design Sustainable Landscaping 2
What is a 'living wall' or 'green wall' in sustainable landscape design?