Page 16 - GM Fall 2025 flipbook

u FEATURE u STEPHEN FLEISCHAUER, DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE DIPLOMA IN TURFGRASS
MANAGEMENT (DTM), UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH, SFLEISCH@UOGUELPH.CA
Smart Selections
Plants for your
Springtime pushes a White Serviceberry tree to full bloom.
A Birch tree is aesthetically appealing with its
white, textured bark.
Plant form can shape an area, such
as this weeping coniferous tree.
With so many plant varieties to
choose from, the possibilities for
landscape design are nearly endless.
While landscape/golf course
architects may have personal
preferences, plant selection should
ultimately be guided by a clear set of
qualities and characteristics.
It is important to acknowledge
that plants are one of several
components that make for an
exciting golf experience. Hard
landscape materials such as pavers,
concrete or asphalt, topography,
grass selection, architectural features
and more will all contribute to the
finished product. Effective landscape
design must consider aesthetics,
function and sustainability; therefore,
it is essential that your plant choices
help meet these three general criteria.
PLANTING WITH A PURPOSE
There are several factors to consider
when selecting either herbaceous or
woody plants for your golf course. To
start, the leaf of a plant is something
to explore. Leaf colour, shape and
texture all contribute to variety, and
therefore, interest in the landscape.
Flowering characteristics clearly
affect the landscape. Not all flowering
qualities have to be bold; some may
be more subtle and discreet yet still
have impact in landscape design.
Plan for a sense of continuous bloom
in the landscape using different
plants to provide colour throughout
the growing season.
Fruit production in plants add a
visual interest and can help attract
wildlife to an outdoor environment.
However, be cautions as fruit can drop
and cause unwanted litter resulting in
extra maintenance and other issues.
Bark appearance and branch
shape also enhance aesthetics in the
landscape; colour, texture and
pattern all invite interest from
landscape users.
SHAPING THE LANDSCAPE
Plant form is part of the selection
criteria for plants in golf landscapes.
Is the plant vase shaped or conical? Is
it low, spreading to the ground or
upright, and columnar? Is it a weeping
form? These qualities should be
evaluated to determine the desired
impact of your planting scheme.
Plant form can also impact your
maintenance efforts so make sure
your choices allow for easy access to
other features in the landscape.
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• CGSA • GreenMaster