DESIGN WITH PLANTS IN RURAL AND URBAN ENVIRONMENTS. THE CASE OF THE NETHERLANDS

Plant materials are the "building materials" for landscape architects. They must know how to use plants in their planting plans and must be able to rely on plants to grow and function according to their expectations as well as those of their clients. They therefore must be able to rely on criteria for quality based on research and monitoring. There is a growing tendency to combine planting plans for public parks and other green elements with management plans in which future maintenance is incorporated. The nature of planting plans however is not only dictated by functional and economic considerations: designers also rely on traditions and on an insight in contemporary needs and ideals of the urban and rural population. They are increasingly confronted with a critical public which has become very much aware of environmental issues and has become emotionally attached to nature images. They are also confronted with very negative climatic and soil conditions in urban situations.

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