1. RHS Level 2 Certificate
Year 1 Week 25 –
Garden planning: site
and user requirements.
Revision techniques.

2. Learning Objectives
 Site Appraisal
 1.1 Describe potential restrictions which may limit work on the site,
including financial constraints; difficulties with access for plant,
equipment and materials; topography (degree and extent of slopes);
boundary constraints; and restrictions on the time the works can be
carried out.
 1.2 State what existing garden features need to be identified, including
buildings, hard landscape features, and the trees and plants that are to
be retained.
 Plants
 2.1 Name FIVE evergreen and FIVE deciduous trees (large shrubs),
suitable for planting in a domestic garden. State details of their
decorative merits, height and spread and site requirements; describe a
situation where each could be used effectively.
 Revision
 Identify THREE active revision techniques
 Identify TWO less effective revision techniques

3. Site appraisal
 A methodical review of the site and the user’s
priorities and requirements
 Use questionnaires to gather the information
about the user’s needs and preferences,
both functional and design.
 Consideration of the views, aspect and
climate, soil, existing features and services
and a measured survey to produce a scale
plan.

4. Site characteristics
 Make a sketch plan and take notes – keep
careful records.
 Location and physical character– aspect,
climate, micro-climates, views, slope,
drainage
 Existing features – to keep or to remove?
 Soil – pH, depth, structure and texture.
Several samples needed across the site as it
will not be uniform.

5. Environmental factors in design
 Prevailing wind – where should windbreaks go?
 Aspect – where does the sun fall at different times of
day? Where should seating areas be positioned,
what need for shade is there?
 Views – borrow favourable views and hide ugly ones.
Views into the garden – creating privacy
 Soil – pH (hard to change and will therefore affect
what can be planted); depth (if insufficient then
raised beds can be used).

6. Limitations on design process
 Budget – a properly defined and controlled
budget prevents failure to complete
 Access – lack of access for machinery or
deliveries will impact on what can be
achieved; better to design with this in mind.
 Boundary constraints – ownership, planning
restrictions etc.
 Timing – for excavations and building works;
planting etc. The design process should
include a plan for implementation.

7. User requirements
 What, Why, Where, When and Who? (not
necessarily in that order).
 Need to be selective – priorities set to avoid
unrealistic use of space
 Once requirements are established the areas
of use can be plotted onto the plan (quiet
area, productive area etc) as can the
circulation routes that people are likely to
take.

8. Exam Preparation - introduction
 Registration – complete form, fee, to be
returned ASAP.
 Revision – how to get started?
 Revision planning – ‘if you fail to plan, you plan
to fail’
 Revision techniques – reading, remembering
and ‘doing’. The more active your approach the
more you will remember.
 Get started now!

9. Revision – Getting Started
 Do what you can. If you only have half an
hour a day then study for half an hour.
 Plan how you will cover the material – aim for
three reviews of each topic
 Just reading the material is not effective – try
working with the information, making
connections and using varied approaches
 Little and often is better than hours on end
and then nothing for days.

10. Learning outcomes
 Site Appraisal
 1.1 Describe potential restrictions which may limit work on the site,
including financial constraints; difficulties with access for plant,
equipment and materials; topography (degree and extent of slopes);
boundary constraints; and restrictions on the time the works can be
carried out.
 1.2 State what existing garden features need to be identified, including
buildings, hard landscape features, and the trees and plants that are to
be retained.
 Plants
 2.1 Name FIVE evergreen and FIVE deciduous trees (large shrubs),
suitable for planting in a domestic garden. State details of their
decorative merits, height and spread and site requirements; describe a
situation where each could be used effectively.
 Revision
 Identify THREE active revision techniques
 Identify TWO less effective revision techniques