Soils for Landscape Development

Selection, Specification and Validation

Second Edition By: Simon Leake, Elke Haege

A globally applicable method to specify landscape soils using objective and measurable criteria.

This second edition of the award-winning Soils for Landscape Development provides a globally applicable method for landscape architects and designers, specification writers, landscape contractors, nursery growers, turf specialists and soil supply companies to properly specify landscape soils using objective and measurable criteria. It uses systematic, clear and practical templates. + Full description

The book links landscape design processes with sound modern soil science practices to promote better quality project outcomes by ensuring that the basis of the landscape, the soil, is suitable for the intended purpose. The authors emphasise environmental impacts through site soil reuse, promoting appropriate minimal soil intervention and using recycled products, with example compliance specifications.

Key features:

Provides 14 updated performance-based soil and compliance specifications including on ultra lightweight green roof soil, high fertility display and vegetable production topsoil and biofiltration soil.
Includes new sections on low budget landscapes, small projects and soil fundamentals for landscape architects and designers.
The authors were awarded the 2015 Australian Institute of Horticulture (AIH) Literature Award and the 2014 Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture (AILA) NSW Research and Development Award for the first edition of this book.

- Short description

News

This second edition is publishing December 2024. Need your copy sooner? The First Edition is still available to purchase as an eBook.

Sales in Australia and New Zealand only. Elsewhere, this title is available through CABI (external link).

Details

Paperback | December 2024 | $ 89.99
ISBN: 9781486318513 | 216 pages | 245 x 170 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour photographs, Illustrations

Features

Includes up-to-date improvements to the Soil Approach Method, streamlined into a hierarchy of carbon emissions and sustainable practices, and the Soil Volume Simulator.
Incorporates two additional and updated soil specifications including a biofiltration soil specification and an ultra lightweight soil media for extensive rooftop landscapes.
Features new sections on Soil Fundamentals for Landscape Architects and on small or lower budget projects suited for maintaining or installing residential or smaller gardens.

Foreword to first edition
About the authors
Preface
1: Introduction
2: Introduction to soil fundamentals for landscape architects and designers
3: Understanding soils for landscape development
4: Soil design
5: Guidance to using the soil performance specifications
6: The performance specifications
Bibliography – test methods
Appendix A: Technical information, sampling and test methods
Appendix B: Forms and templates
Appendix C: Soil rooting volumes for trees
Glossary of industry terms
Index

Authors

Simon Leake is a certified professional soil scientist with a particular interest in urban soil science. He runs a busy soil laboratory, SESL Australia.

Elke Haege is a practising registered landscape architect, consulting arborist and horticulturist. She is passionate about sustainable and regenerative development of natural systems in urban environments.