SPM Landskap dan Nurseri cheat sheet

Landscape is defined as the visible physical features of an area; horticulture is the science and art of cultivating garden plants, and landscape horticulture applies it to designed outdoor spaces.

Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2, catalysed by chlorophyll in chloroplasts; net assimilation depends on light intensity, CO2, temperature and water.

Respiration releases energy from sugars: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy; it runs day and night and rises with temperature, so high night temperature wastes carbohydrate.

Transpiration is water loss as vapour through stomata; it drives the upward water column via cohesion-tension and cools leaves, and closes under water stress through ABA signalling.

Hardscape = non-living construction elements (paving, walls, pergolas, water features); softscape = living plant material. A landscape plan must coordinate both.

Plant hardiness zoning expresses minimum temperature tolerance; in Malaysia the relevant stress factors are rainfall intensity, humidity, and lowland heat rather than frost.

Tropophytes and tropical plants show adaptations: evergreens retain leaves year-round, deciduous species shed leaves in dry spells, epiphytes use aerial roots, and succulents store water in tissue.

Macronutrients: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S; micronutrients: Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl, Ni. Deficiency of mobile nutrients (N, P, K, Mg) appears first on older leaves.

Binomial nomenclature: genus capitalised, specific epithet lower case, both italicised, e.g. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis; author citation follows the epithet.

Hierarchy: Kingdom → Division → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species → cultivar. Family names end in -aceae (Fabaceae, Arecaceae, Moraceae).

Cultivar names are written in single quotes and not italicised (e.g. Codiaeum variegatum 'Aucubifolium'); the hybrid sign × precedes a cross name.

Compound leaves: pinnate (leaflets along a rachis), bipinnate (rachis branches again, as in Delonix regia), palmate (leaflets radiate from one point).

Inflorescence types: raceme (stalked flowers on a central axis), spike (sessile flowers), panicle (branched raceme), corymb (flat top), umbel (stalks from one point), capitulum (head, as in Asteraceae).

Ovary position: superior (hypogynous flower), inferior (epigynous, e.g. Cucurbitaceae), and perigynous as an intermediate; ovary position is a key family character.

Monocot vs dicot: monocots have one cotyledon, parallel venation, scattered vascular bundles and flower parts in threes; dicots have two cotyledons, net venation and parts in fours or fives.

Landscape plant functional groups: shade trees, palms, shrubs, groundcovers, climbers, accent/focal plants, hedges and aquatic plants; each has distinct spacing and maintenance needs.

Sexual propagation (seed) gives genetic variation and is used for rootstocks and annuals; asexual (vegetative) propagation gives true-to-type clones and is used for cultivars.

Seed viability tests: float test is indicative only; the tetrazolium (TZ) test stains living tissue red, and germination percentage = (germinated seeds ÷ seeds sown) × 100.

Cuttings: softwood (fast, high humidity), semi-hardwood, hardwood (slow, mist or bottom heat). Nodes must be present; auxin (IBA/NAA) promotes rooting; leaf area is reduced to cut transpiration.

Grafting and budding require cambial alignment between scion and rootstock; the union must be protected and the rootstock selected for vigour, disease resistance or soil adaptation.

Marcotting (air layering) roots a stem while attached to the parent; a ring of bark is removed, rooting medium applied and wrapped, then the rooted stem is severed and potted.

Tissue culture (micropropagation) stages: initiation on sterilised explant, multiplication on cytokinin-rich medium, rooting on auxin-rich medium, then acclimatisation in the nursery.

Nursery stock grading: pot size, height, stem caliper, root-to-shoot ratio, and freedom from pests. Hardening-off gradually reduces shade and mist before field planting.

Nursery records to keep: batch number, propagation date, media, fertiliser schedule, pesticide applications and mortality; these support traceability and cost analysis.

Ideal growing medium: good aeration, water-holding capacity, drainage, structural stability and low salinity. Common components are topsoil, peat, coir pith, perlite, vermiculite, sand, compost and rice husk.

Soil texture triangle classifies sand, silt and clay by percentage; loam (roughly 40% sand, 40% silt, 20% clay) is preferred for planting beds.

Cation exchange capacity (CEC) is the soil's ability to hold exchangeable cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, NH4+); clay and organic matter raise CEC, sand lowers it.

Soil pH controls nutrient availability: most landscape plants favour pH 5.5-6.5; Fe and Mn become less available above pH 7, while Al and Mn toxicity can occur below pH 5.

Fertiliser analysis N-P-K is expressed as percentage by weight of N, P2O5 and K2O. Urea is 46% N; muriate of potash is about 60% K2O; rock phosphate releases P slowly.

Fertiliser rate calculation: nutrient required (kg) = fertiliser rate (kg) × (% nutrient ÷ 100). Example: 2 kg urea supplies 2 × 0.46 = 0.92 kg N.

Irrigation scheduling: apply water when allowable depletion is reached; drip irrigation saves water and keeps foliage dry, sprinklers suit turf, and hand watering suits container stock.

Overhead irrigation efficiency is typically 60-75%, drip 85-95%; evaporation losses rise with midday application, so early morning irrigation reduces waste.

Design elements: line, form, texture, colour, scale and space. Design principles: balance, rhythm, emphasis, proportion, unity and contrast.

Scale drawing: scale 1:100 means 1 cm on paper = 100 cm (1 m) on site; 1:200 doubles the represented area per unit of paper.

Standard drawing set: site inventory/analysis, concept plan, schematic or preliminary plan, master plan, planting plan, construction details, and a bill of quantities.

Bubble diagram shows functional zones and circulation before form is fixed; the concept plan translates the bubble diagram into shapes and spaces.

Planting plan symbols include canopy circle at mature spread, trunk position, plant schedule with botanical name, quantity, size and spacing.

Golden ratio ≈ 1:1.618 and the rule of thirds are proportion tools; odd-number groupings (3, 5, 7) of a species read more naturally than even numbers.

Line weights convey hierarchy: heavier lines for built edges and section cuts, lighter lines for planting and annotation; hatching indicates materials.

Sightline and view analysis: locate focal points along main axes, screen undesirable views with hedges or berms, and frame desirable views with trees.

Setting out uses pegs, string lines, offset measurements and a datum; check right angles with the 3-4-5 triangle method or a builder's square.

Hardscape concrete mix commonly 1:2:4 (cement:sand:aggregate) for general work; curing keeps concrete moist for about 7 days to reach design strength.

Drainage: minimum falls of about 1-2% for paved surfaces; install catch drains, sumps and subsurface drains; avoid ponding at building edges and tree pits.

Planting pit should be 2-3 times the root-ball width and no deeper than the root collar; backfill with site soil amended with compost, stake if needed, and water in to settle air pockets.

Turf establishment: soil preparation to 100-150 mm depth, levelling, then sodding or seeding; keep the surface moist until roots knit, then reduce frequency and increase depth.

Pruning types: thinning (removes whole branches), heading (shortens a branch), crown reduction and deadwooding. Standard: no flush cut, preserve the branch collar, and never top trees.

Maintenance schedule items: mowing height and frequency, fertilising interval, irrigation checks, weed control, pest scouting, mulching and replacement of failed plants.

Mulching 50-75 mm deep suppresses weeds, conserves moisture and moderates soil temperature; keep mulch clear of the trunk to avoid collar rot.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) sequence: prevention and cultural control → physical/mechanical → biological → chemical as the last resort.

Pest identification matters: sucking insects (aphids, whitefly, thrips, mealybug) cause distortion and honeydew; chewing insects (caterpillars, beetles) cause holes and defoliation.

Disease agents: fungi (leaf spot, blight, powdery mildew, root rot), bacteria (soft rot, wilt), viruses (mosaic, yellowing) and nematodes (root galls). Viruses are not cured by chemicals.

Pesticide label information: active ingredient, formulation (EC, WP, SC, WG), concentration, re-entry interval, pre-harvest interval and first-aid instructions.

Personal protective equipment: gloves, boots, coveralls, goggles or face shield, and a respirator when mixing or spraying; wash PPE separately from household laundry.

Pesticide safety rules: never eat, drink or smoke during application; spray with the wind at your back; observe the re-entry interval; store locked away from food and children.

First aid for pesticide exposure: remove contaminated clothing, wash skin with soap and water, flush eyes for at least 15 minutes, and take the label to the doctor.

Occupational hazards in landscaping: chainsaw and brush-cutter kickback, falls from ladders, heat stress, electrical lines, and manual lifting injuries; use guards and team lifting.

Business structures in Malaysia: sole proprietorship, partnership, and private limited company (Sdn. Bhd.); companies register with SSM and may need a landscape contractor licence for public work.

Project cost components: direct cost (labour, materials, plants, equipment) plus indirect/overhead cost plus profit margin; tender price = total cost + profit + contingency.

Bill of Quantities (BQ): itemised description, unit (m, m2, m3, no., kg) and quantity, priced to form the tender sum; errors in quantity are corrected by remeasurement.

Cash flow planning: progress claims follow work done; retention is commonly held (often around 5-10%) until the defects liability period ends.

Work programme: Gantt chart sequences site clearing, setting out, hardscape, softscape planting, and maintenance; critical path determines the minimum project duration.

Contract documents: letter of award, conditions of contract, drawings, specification, BQ and programme. Variations must be instructed in writing and valued before execution.

Marketing for a nursery: product differentiation (specimen trees, native species), pricing, distribution channel, and after-sales service such as planting advice and warranty.

Key performance indicators: project completion on time, cost variance against budget, plant survival rate after handover, and client satisfaction.