Site Inventory and Analysis for Landscape

Design: Site Inventory & Analysis

Through the process of site inventory and analysis, you can determine
elements and conditions that will impact the ultimate use and design
of your landscape. Design, when based on thoughtful inventory and
analysis, can improve the environment, by creating new features
based on the users' needs and keeping those features which are
deemed useful and desirable.

Factors Involved in Landscape Design:

Where Do We Begin?
Identify and locate all site elements on your property by size, material
and condition. Find out the history of the site, how it once was used
and if such use is still relevant today. Who will use the area and what
ideals and activities are to be incorporated into the ultimate landscape
design?
Locate Important Elements
Walk your land with a scale-drawn property survey and roughly locate
important built elements such as walks, driveways, utilities and fences,
as well as natural features such as existing trees and shrubs, rock
outcroppings, and on and off-site views.
Understand Ecological Systems
As it is best to treat natural systems with regard, discern how natural
areas can be maintained and where they are most vulnerable.
Inventory Factors That Affect Climate
It is essential to inventory the prevailing wind directions, patterns of
sun and shade, existing topography, and soil type on a site in order to
identify the different "microclimates" that exist.
Follow the Sun's Path
One of the best ways to improve certain site conditions is to
understand the sun's path across the entire area. For example, a
house with southern exposure will benefit from the strategic placement
of deciduous shade trees along the southwest corner, to lower the
amount of heat and glare received on summer afternoons.

Severe northwestern winds in winter make the areas that face north and northwest very cold
Climate / Microclimate
In southeastern New York and the surrounding area, weather systems
most often approach from the west. In summer, prevailing
southwestern winds bring cool breezes, often moderating afternoon
temperatures. The severe northwestern winds in winter make the
areas that face north and northwest very cold. Precipitation is usually
moderate and distributed more or less evenly throughout the year,
with about three inches of rain falling each month. During the hot
summer months, when the evapotranspiration rate is higher than the
amount of rainfall received, near drought conditions often occur.
Soil Composition and Classification
Soil is the result of decomposition of parent rock material. Soils are
classified by physical and chemical properties, which include grain
size and distribution as well as organic content. Soils are also
categorized by their ability to support construction. Solid rock and
boulders are the most suitable base for construction, with fine sand,
silt, clay and peat being the least suitable.
For most horticultural purposes, we try to achieve a good balance of
particles so that water will enter the soil and be held until the particles
release it to the plant roots. Generally, coarse, sandy soils are more
permeable than fine-grained clay soils, but tend to lose water and
nutrients too rapidly for plant roots to take up. Organic matter in soil
improves nutrient content and prevents leaching, even after heavy
rains.
Soil pH
In addition to available moisture and adequate drainage, the most
important property of a soil for horticultural applications is its pH level
or soil reaction. The range of a soil's acidity or alkalinity is expressed
in pH values. A reading of 7 is considered neutral. Since all plants
have specific tolerances for pH, a soil test is advisable to indicate the
pH level. With this knowledge you can determine if a soil must be
modified in order to grow desired species. Please note that most
important nutrients become available for plant growth in a slightly acid
soil with a pH of about 6.5. If a soil is quite acidic (below 5.5) then
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium become virtually unavailable to
plant roots while other nutrients such as iron, manganese, and boron
become readily available. Only acid-loving plants such as
Rhododendron and Azalea can tolerate and thrive in this type of soil.
Many plants are also intolerant of alkaline soil; this can be more of
limiting factor to growth than soil acidity.
Vegetation
Trees and shrubs in the landscape are classified as coniferous,
deciduous and broadleaf evergreen. Conifers include needle-leaf
evergreens such as spruce, fir and pines, along with ancient
species such as ginkgo and cycads. Deciduous trees such as oak,
maple, and beech compose much of our northeastern forests.
Rhododendron and holly are examples of broadleaf evergreens.
For inventory purposes, it is important to note all trees over 4" DBH
(diameter at breast height) and observe the size of their branching
canopy.
Next, locate all shrubs and inventory visual characteristics such as
form, branching habit, twig character, bark coloration, foliage shape,
texture and color, flower color and fragrance, fruit and distinguishing
uses such as wildlife and human value. Lastly, identify plants in the
understory layer including herbaceous perennials, biennials and
annuals, ferns, fern allies, vines and/or seedlings of trees and shrubs.
Noting the overall condition of the vegetation along with a thorough
inventory will help you decide what you want to keep and what needs
to be weeded out.
Analyze the Data
After you have carefully inventoried the natural and built features, you
can begin to analyze what you wish to keep, what you will remove,
what needs to be modified, and what will be added.
Interpret a Site's Limitations / Potential
Further emphasizing a beautiful existing view is a great way to begin
interpreting a site's design potential. Similarly, noting an area that
holds rainwater would limit its potential for development, unless you
want to plant a wetland garden. 
Blueprint for Success
The process of site inventory and analysis identifies and evaluates
existing site conditions to determine what can be worked with and
what must be overcome in order to accomplish the design proposal.
The key is careful review of existing space and material so that a
beautiful, functional and manageable landscape can evolve.
The warm microclimate of the Ladies Border at NYBG allows us to grow this Prunus mume 'Peggy Clark' that needs
a protected site to prosper in our climate; photo by Ivo Vermeulen
Through the process of site inventory and analysis, you can determine elements and
conditions that will impact the ultimate use and design of your landscape. Design, when
based on thoughtful inventory and analysis, can improve the environment, by creating new
features based on the users' needs and keeping those features which are deemed useful
and desirable.

Factors Involved in Landscape Design:

Where Do We Begin?
Identify and locate all site elements on your property by size, material and condition. Find
out the history of the site, how it once was used and if such use is still relevant today. Who
will use the area and what ideals and activities are to be incorporated into the ultimate
landscape design?
Locate Important Elements
Walk your land with a scale-drawn property survey and roughly locate important built
elements such as walks, driveways, utilities and fences, as well as natural features such
as existing trees and shrubs, rock outcroppings, and on and off-site views.
Understand Ecological Systems
As it is best to treat natural systems with regard, discern how natural areas can be
maintained and where they are most vulnerable.
Inventory Factors That Affect Climate
It is essential to inventory the prevailing wind directions, patterns of sun and shade, existing
topography, and soil type on a site in order to identify the different "microclimates" that exist.
Follow the Sun's Path
One of the best ways to improve certain site conditions is to understand the sun's path
across the entire area. For example, a house with southern exposure will benefit from the
strategic placement of deciduous shade trees along the southwest corner, to lower the
amount of heat and glare received on summer afternoons.
 Severe northwestern winds in winter make the areas that face north and northwest very cold

Climate / Microclimate
In southeastern New York and the surrounding area, weather systems most often approach
from the west. In summer, prevailing southwestern winds bring cool breezes, often
moderating afternoon temperatures. The severe northwestern winds in winter make the
areas that face north and northwest very cold. Precipitation is usually moderate and
distributed more or less evenly throughout the year, with about three inches of rain falling
each month. During the hot summer months, when the evapotranspiration rate is higher
than the amount of rainfall received, near drought conditions often occur.
Soil Composition and Classification
Soil is the result of decomposition of parent rock material. Soils are classified by physical
and chemical properties, which include grain size and distribution as well as organic
content. Soils are also categorized by their ability to support construction. Solid rock and
boulders are the most suitable base for construction, with fine sand, silt, clay and peat being
the least suitable.
For most horticultural purposes, we try to achieve a good balance of particles so that water
will enter the soil and be held until the particles release it to the plant roots. Generally,
coarse, sandy soils are more permeable than fine-grained clay soils, but tend to lose water
and nutrients too rapidly for plant roots to take up. Organic matter in soil improves nutrient
content and prevents leaching, even after heavy rains.
Soil pH
In addition to available moisture and adequate drainage, the most important property of a
soil for horticultural applications is its pH level or soil reaction. The range of a soil's acidity
or alkalinity is expressed in pH values. A reading of 7 is considered neutral. Since all plants
have specific tolerances for pH, a soil test is advisable to indicate the pH level. With this
knowledge you can determine if a soil must be modified in order to grow desired species.
Please note that most important nutrients become available for plant growth in a slightly
acid soil with a pH of about 6.5. If a soil is quite acidic (below 5.5) then nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium become virtually unavailable to plant roots while other nutrients
such as iron, manganese, and boron become readily available. Only acid-loving plants such
as Rhododendron and Azalea can tolerate and thrive in this type of soil. Many plants are
also intolerant of alkaline soil; this can be more of limiting factor to growth than soil acidity.
Vegetation
Trees and shrubs in the landscape are classified as coniferous, deciduous and broadleaf
evergreen. Conifers include needle-leaf evergreens such as spruce, fir and pines, along
with ancient species such as ginkgo and cycads. Deciduous trees such as oak, maple, and
beech compose much of our northeastern forests. Rhododendron and holly are examples of
broadleaf evergreens.
For inventory purposes, it is important to note all trees over 4" DBH (diameter at breast
height) and observe the size of their branching canopy.
Next, locate all shrubs and inventory visual characteristics such as form, branching habit,
twig character, bark coloration, foliage shape, texture and color, flower color and fragrance,
fruit and distinguishing uses such as wildlife and human value. Lastly, identify plants in the
understory layer including herbaceous perennials, biennials and annuals, ferns, fern allies,
vines and/or seedlings of trees and shrubs. Noting the overall condition of the vegetation
along with a thorough inventory will help you decide what you want to keep and what needs
to be weeded out.
Analyze the Data
After you have carefully inventoried the natural and built features, you can begin to analyze
what you wish to keep, what you will remove, what needs to be modified, and what will be
added.
Interpret a Site's Limitations / Potential
Further emphasizing a beautiful existing view is a great way to begin interpreting a site's
design potential. Similarly, noting an area that holds rainwater would limit its potential for
development, unless you want to plant a wetland garden. 
Blueprint for Success
The process of site inventory and analysis identifies and evaluates existing site conditions
to determine what can be worked with and what must be overcome in order to accomplish
the design proposal. The key is careful review of existing space and material so that a
beautiful, functional and manageable landscape can evolve.

https://libguides.nybg.org/siteinventory