Landscape Plan Reading and Calculations

• The common elements of a landscape plan are the title block, north arrow, legend, specifications, and drawing scale
• The title block includes the project name, the client's name, sheet number, date, project location, designer's name, comsultant's name, sheet title, and sometimes the drawing scale and landscape architect's seal
• The north arrow is a graphic smybol on the plan with an arrow that indicates north
• A legend shows what each symbol on the plan indicates
• Specifications are a list of instructions and requirements that the landscape contractor must follow when implementing a design
• Specifications often include guidelines for product selection, excavation, planting techniques, grading and drainage, maintenance requirements, site preparation, mulching, cleanup, and soil preparation
• Drawing scales can be shown as an equivalence or a ratio
• The most commonly used scale is 12" long and has a triangular profile
• The three most common scales are the architect's scale, engineer's scale, and metric scale
• Architect's scales are used to measure distances on plans drawn in architectural units (often residential plans)
• Engineer's scales are used to measure distances drawn in decimal units
• Metric scales are used to measure distances on plans drawn in metric units
• To verify that a plan has not been enlarged or reduced, you can use your scale ruler to measure the drawing scale on the plan