Academic Catalog

HORT 54B: LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION: TECHNICAL PRACTICES

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2026
Units: 3
Hours: 2.5 lecture, 1.5 laboratory per week (48 total per quarter)
Advisory: HORT 54A.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade Only
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate, on manipulative examinations, the correct use of surveying tools used in landscape construction projects.
  • Demonstrate, on written examinations, knowledge of estimating techniques used in landscape construction.

Description

Technical aspects of landscape construction projects. Building codes and legal criteria. Fences and gates. Landscape plan reading. Estimating landscape materials, construction costs, and preparation of project bids and contracts. Landscape surveying and grading techniques, surface and subsurface hydraulics, landscape drainage systems, erosion control, and soil conservation.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Interpret building codes and legal restrictions related to landscape construction.
  2. Construct landscape fences and gates.
  3. Read landscape construction documents (plans and specifications).
  4. Estimate and bid landscape projects.
  5. Demonstrate the correct use of surveying tools used in landscape construction projects and as applied to slopes and grading.
  6. Identify landscape hydraulic and drainage systems.
  7. Identify erosion control and soil conservation solutions.

Course Content

  1. Building codes and legal restrictions
    1. International Building Code
    2. Permits
    3. CC&Rs
    4. Right of ways, easements, and set-backs
  2. Fencing and gates
    1. Equipment and materials
    2. Installation of fences and gates
  3. Landscape construction documents
    1. Plan reading
    2. Specifications
    3. Use of scale
    4. Architectural symbols and terminology
    5. Identification of hardscape and softscape elements
  4. Estimating and bidding
    1. Estimating landscape materials and costs
    2. Use of manual and electronic estimating tools
    3. Producing bids and contracts
  5. Surveying and grading techniques
    1. Plane and geodetic surveys
    2. Laser plane, builders level, and transit
    3. Lidar and other GPS-related equipment
    4. Taping and leveling
    5. Slopes and grading techniques
  6. Surface and subsurface hydraulics and drainage
    1. Grading practices
    2. Surface and subsurface drainage systems
    3. Drainage installation techniques
  7. Erosion control and soil conservation
    1. Biotechnical Erosion Control systems (BEC)
    2. Engineered erosion control solutions

Lab Content

  1. Surveying lab
    1. Field practice in the use of surveying equipment on a residential lot
  2. Surface drainage and grading lab
    1. Field visits to witness drainage and grading applications
    2. Installation of drainage systems
    3. The application of grading as it applies to the proper drainage of a site
  3. Plan reading lab
    1. Following a lecture on plan reading, using a variety of landscape plans, students practice interpreting plans
  4. Cost estimating lab
    1. Students use a variety of estimating equipment to develop cost estimates for a typical residential landscape

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Design lab, horticultural facilities and equipment.
2. Students provide appropriate work boots and clothing for fieldwork, leather gloves, tool belt, hammer, tape measure, screwdrivers, torpedo level, pliers, utility knife, face mask, ear plugs, architectural scale, and calculator.
3. When taught as virtual/hybrid, on-going access to computer with email and internet access.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Exams

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture
Discussion
Laboratory
Demonstration
Field trips
Speakers

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Sauter, David. Landscape Construction, 3rd ed.. 2010.

Although this text is older than the suggested "5 years or newer" standard, it remains a seminal text in this area of study.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

Reading assignments will include reading approximately 35 pages per week from the assigned text with supplemental reading from a course reader. Out of class reading/assignments is approximately five hours per week.

Discipline(s)

Ornamental Horticulture