- - AGRICULTURE CORE CURRICULUM - -

(CLF6000) Advanced Core Cluster: ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE

 (CLF6500) Unit Title: SELECTION, PLANTING, AND CARE OF ORNAMENTALS

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 (CLF6503) Topic: DETERMINING SPACING AND     Time              Year(s) 
                    PLANTING                    1 hour              3 / 4 
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         Topic Objectives: Upon completion of this lesson, the student
                            will be able to:

         Learning Outcome #:

           (I-4) - Determine spacing and depth of planting for various
                     ornamental trees and shrubs.

         Special Materials and Equipment: 

         References: Editors of Sunset Books and Sunset Magazine. (1988). 
                       WESTERN GARDEN BOOK (5th ed.). Menlo Park,
                       CA: Lane Publishing Co.
                     Ingels, Jack E. (1985). ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE: 
                       PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES. Albany, NY: Delmar 
                       Publishers.

         Evaluation: Lab and/or quiz

TOPIC PRESENTATION: SPACING OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS

A. Determining the spacing of trees and shrubs depends on several things:

   1. Instructions from the designer

   2. The future size of the plant

   3. The rate of growth of the plant

   4. The customer's needs and desires

B. There are different methods of spacing plants.

   1. Straight-line - Each plant is placed in a straight line with an 
       equal distance between each plant.

   2. Box Planting - Same as the straight-line, but all additional rows 
       of plants are planted an equal distance from the last row planted.

       Example:

                 X     X     X     X    X     X



                 X     X     X     X     X     X

   3. Triangle or Alternate - The plants in the first row are placed 
       equal distances apart. The plants in the second row are also placed 
       equal distances apart BUT they are started between the first two 
       plants in the first row. The plants in the third row line up with 
       those in the first row.

       Example:

               X     X     X     X     X     X


                  X     X     X     X     X     X


               X     X     X     X     X     X

C. The following steps help you to locate each plant's placement:

   1. Measure from a specific point.

   2. Place the plant containers on the ground at the measured spot.

   3. After all the plants are placed, review the placement and make any
       needed adjustments.

D. Other considerations in plant spacing:

   1. Place plants with future growth in mind.

       a. Planting too close can mean more pruning and maintenance in the
           future.

       b. Planting too far apart can mean more weeding and maintenance.

   2. Large plants will fill an area faster than small plants.

   3. Planting trees requires that consideration be given to future growth 
       over many years.

       a. Trees need room to grow. Do you want them to touch each other
           when they are mature?

       b. What type of effect do you want? Forest? Heavy shade? etc.

   4. There is no one rule or way to do spacing since the desired end 
       result varies from person to person and situation to situation.


1/6/91 MT/clh

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