Page 11 - Landscape SA 97

PROJECT

The modular benches, designed by
Laker, comprised precast concrete and a
modified wood seating surface. Litter bins
from brushed stainless steel, designed to
complement each of the mall’s entrances,
which are colour-coded.

Installation and maintenance
Installation was undertaken by Elton
Fohren of FSG Landscaping, and his
team. Their scope of work comprised soil
improvement, plant installation, irrigation
and all hardscape installation. The fully
automated irrigation system was designed
by Controlled Irrigation and is fed by
borehole to large underground storage
tanks. It comprises 75% drip irrigation and
uses no municipal water.
Fohren says that soil moisture conditioning
played an important role for plant growth,
and topsoil from the site, a stockpile of
2000 cubic metres, was used. “It was
best practice to use topsoil that was on
the site, stripped and stored by the civils
contractor. It is also very cost-effective.”
FSG Landscaping was also able to harvest
15 Celtis africana trees from the site, and
A pocket park used for relaxation. It helps to soften the expanses of hard re-planted them in the designated places.
surfacing from the vast parking area. Maintenance is currently being done by

plants that have been used, ensuring that
colour is provided throughout the seasons.
At the main entrance, material comprises
Agapanthus planting, Crassula ‘Campfire’,
Carissa macrocarpa and Tulbaghia sp.

Trees for the parking areas were selected
for their non-aggressive root systems
and their ability to provide shade when
fully grown. They comprise Harpephyllum
caffrum, Combretum sp. and Celtis africana.
Green screens, created by a wire cable
system, have been installed in several
places, some of them fronting onto the
parking area. Planted up with Jasminum
multipartitum as well as J.angulare for
their pleasant scent, they provide a further
softening of the overall site.

Hard landscaping
Red clay brick paving forms the major part
of the hard landscaping, and is enhanced
by inlays that add decorative interest from
the point of view of their different colours
and irregularly-shaped rectangles. The
burgundy colour of the brick is especially
attractive when wet, when the colour
emerges.

Street furniture comprises wide, two-
seater benches, in the middle of which Modular benches for seating, with a Harpephyllum caffrum tree in the middle.
is a single Harpephyllum caffrum tree, They will provide good shade when mature.
underplanted with Asparagus densiflorus.

Landscape SA • Issue 97 2020 9