Course Syllabus
SYLLABUS AND COURSE SUMMARY
Syllabus
LARC 5331: Planting Design
Spring 2025
Instructor: David Hopman, ASLA, PLA
Office Number: CAPPA 421
Office Telephone Number: Call me on TEAMS
Email Address: dhopman@uta.edu
Faculty Profile: http://www.uta.edu/cappa/people/faculty-staff/profiles/david-hopman.php
Office Hours: TEAMS only; Mon-Fri 9:30-10:30 AM every day except Thursday or by appointment
Time and Place of Class Meetings: Arch 405 and field trips : Tuesday and Thursday 12:00-2:50
Course Description:
The professional landscape architect uses both hardscape (paving, fences, walls, arbors, and other structures) and softscape (trees, shrubs, ground covers, vines, and other plants) to form and manipulate the landscape for human use and enjoyment, environmental services and ecological processes. Planting design enables the student to learn how to use plants to accomplish the ends desired in landscape design.
In this planting design class, we will begin with a study of the basic vocabulary of planting design utilizing The Planting Design Handbook by Nick Robinson. We will also learn how to design polycultures using design principles from the Oudolf and Kingsbury book; Planting a New Perspective. The class will continue with a series of exercises to develop a personal vocabulary of forms and plant combinations for professional practice. These studies will culminate in one major service project that the student will develop as part of a team from concept to a formal schematic design presentation for faculty, guest critics, and key community stakeholders.
Special note for the Hybrid mode of this class in 2025:
The format of the class for this spring is subject to change but this is how I expect the class to be conducted as of 12-2023 and until further notice.
The class will be hybrid/primarily in person. We will meet in room 405 and also outside for field trips to see and study projects, especially for the design projects toward the end of the semester. You will need a set of earbuds or headphones with a microphone so that we can talk outside. Make sure that TEAMS is loaded on your cell phone so you can hear my lectures as we are touring.
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If you have any of the symptoms above, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail me indicating that you will not be able to attend the activity and that you will be quarantined until you receive COVID-19 test results.
LockDown Browser Requirement
This course requires the use of LockDown Browser and respondus monitor for online Quizzes. Watch this video to get a basic understanding of LockDown Browser:
https://www.respondus.com/products/lockdown-browser/student-movie.shtml
Download Instructions
Download and install LockDown Browser from this link:
https://download.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=163943837
Once Installed
- Start LockDown Browser
- Log into to Canvas
- Navigate to the quiz
Note: You won't be able to access a quiz that requires LockDown Browser with a standard web browser. If this is tried, an error message will indicate that the test requires the use of LockDown Browser. Simply start LockDown Browser and navigate back to the exam to continue.
Guidelines
When taking an online quiz, follow these guidelines:
- Select a location where you won't be interrupted
- Before starting the test, know how much time is available for it, and also that you've allotted sufficient time to complete it
- Turn off all mobile devices, phones, etc. and don't have them within reach
- Clear your area of all external materials - books, papers, other computers, or devices
- Remain at your desk or workstation for the duration of the test
- LockDown Browser will prevent you from accessing other websites or applications; you will be unable to exit the test until all questions are completed and submitted
Getting Help
Several resources are available if you encounter problems with LockDown Browser:
- The Windows and Mac versions of LockDown Browser have a "Help Center" button located on the toolbar. Use the "System & Network Check" to troubleshoot issues.
- If you're still unable to resolve a technical issue with LockDown Browser, go to support.respondus.com and select "Submit a Ticket". Provide detailed information about your problem and what steps you took to resolve it
Student Learning Outcomes:
- At the conclusion of the class, students will:
- Produce schematic planting designs for a wide variety of vignette design problems that illustrate the student’s understanding of planting design principles studied during the semester,
- Demonstrate through written tests an understanding of the basic principles of planting design enumerated in the required texts and lectures, and
- Produce a schematic design and construction documents for a planting plan for a major service project, to the standards of a professional office.
Required Texts:
- Robinson, Nick, 2016. The Planting Design Handbook . Latest edition New York: Routledge Publishing, Ltd. Buy this book first as it sometimes takes longer to arrive and we will focus on this book first. The book cost is $57.23.
- Oudolf, Piet, and Noel Kingsbury, 2013. Planting: A New Perspective. Portland: Timber Press, Inc. Cost is $25.05
- Printing costs for design projects can vary from $100-200 depending upon the project and the number of printing attempts required.
The total ancillary costs for the class should be about $200.00 depending on the cost of the printing.
All the books have various electronic editions for less. However, they are books that you will find very useful in your professional practice and you are encouraged to buy them and mark them up!
Other Recommended Texts:
Arnold, Michael A., Third Edition, 2008. Landscape Plants for Texas and Environs. Champaign : Stipes Publishing, LLC.
Darke, Rick, 2008. The Encylopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes. Portland: Timber Press.
Diggs, George M. Jr., Barney L. Lipscomb and Robert J. O’Kennon, 1999. Shinners & Mahler’s Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas . Fort Worth: Botanical Research Institute of Texas.
Franz, Alan Dean, 2005. Perennial Gardening in Texas . Dallas: Taylor Trade Publishing.
Garrett, Howard, 2004 . Texas Gardening the N a tura l Way . Austin: University of Texas Press.
Garrett, Howard, 2002. Howard Garrett’s Texas Trees . Lanham: Traylor Trade Publishing.
Moore, Charles W., William J. Mitchell, William Turnbull, Jr, 1988. The Poetics of Gardens . Cambridge: The MIT Press.
Ogden, Scott, 1994. Garden Bulbs for the South . Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company.
Ogden, Scott, 1992. Gardening Success with Difficult Soils . Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company.
Oudolf, Piet, Noel Kingsbury, 2005. Planting Design: Gardens in Time and Space . Portland: Timber Press.
Ondra, Nancy J., 2002. Grasses . North Adams: Storey Books.
Sibley, David Allen, 2009. The Sibley Guide to Trees . New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Simpson, Benny J., 1988. A Field Guide to Texas Trees . Houston, Gulf Publishing Company.
Urban, James, 2008. Up by Roots. Champaign, Illinois, International Society of Arboriculture.
Van Sweden, James, 1997. Gardening with Nature . New York: Random House.
Van Sweden, James, 1995. Gardening with Water . New York: Random House.
Varney, Bill and Sylvia, 1998. Herbs . Tuscon: Ironwood Press.
Wasawski, Sally and Andy, 1997. Native Texas Plants. Houston: Gulf Publishing Company.
Wasowski, Sally, 2002. Gardening with Prairie Plants. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Whitcomb, Carl E. , 1999. Know it and Grow It III . Stillwater, Lacebark Publications.
Attendance: As the instructor of this section, I have established the following attendance policy: Attendance at all lectures and field trips is mandatory. We will work out the most convenient time for all concerned following the first class. Field trips may be on weekends or otherwise outside of regularly scheduled class time. Every unexcused absence will lower the semester grade by five points.
Beyond the time required to attend each class meeting, students enrolled in this course should expect to spend at least an additional 9 hours per week in course-related activities, including reading required materials, completing assignments, preparing for exams, etc.
Grading :
Evaluation Criteria :
Weekly assignments:
Gardens 24%
Questions 8%
Pictures 8%
total weekly assignments % 40%
Quizzes 10%
Mid-term Exam: 10%
Final Exam: 15%
Major Service Project: 20%
Reflections 5%
Individual Assignments will be graded as follows:
Meets project assignment requirements 15%
Plants adapted to project soil, climate, and site conditions 40%
Structural and ornamental design 25%
Graphics and presentation 20%
Each of the areas above is graded at:
A: Superior work
B: Above Average Achievement
C: Average Achievement
D: Below Average (poor)
F: Failure (not acceptable)
Generative AI Use in This Course
The use of Generative AI (GenAI) in course assignments and assessments must align with the guidelines established by the instructor. Unauthorized use of GenAI could result in breaches of academic integrity. Instructors bear the responsibility of clearly delineating the permissible uses of GenAI in their courses, underscoring the importance of responsible and ethical application of these tools.
The UTA Office of Community Standards articulates the university's stance on academic integrity and scholastic dishonesty . These standards extend to the use of GenAI. Unauthorized or unapproved use of GenAI in academic work falls within the scope of these policies and will be subject to the same disciplinary procedures.
As the instructor of this course, I have adopted the following policy on Student use of GenAI:
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Cited Use of GenAI |
This course permits the use of Generative AI (GenAI) as a resource for completing assignments. However, transparency is crucial, students are required to explicitly cite any GenAI tools they utilize in the creation of their work. This citation requirement allows for the acknowledgment of the collaborative nature of GenAI in the learning process while enabling the assessment of student learning to remain focused on the achievement of the course’s Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs). |
Statement on Texas Senate Bill 17
Texas Senate Bill 17 , the recent law that outlaws diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at public colleges and universities in Texas, does not in any way affect content, instruction or discussion in a course at public colleges and universities in Texas. Expectations and academic freedom for teaching and class discussion have not been altered post-SB 17, and students should not feel the need to censor their speech pertaining to topics including race and racism, structural inequality, LGBTQ+ issues, or diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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Mission Statement:
The mission of the program in Landscape Architecture is to educate for ultimate leadership in the landscape architecture profession. This mission requires fostering rigorous scholarly inquiry of the discipline, and the preparation of knowledgeable practitioners.
Ownership of Student Work:
All student work submitted for evaluation is under the proprietorship of the Program (Excluded are such works that may be protected by copyright or patent rules). A representative collection of student work is essential for accreditation and is to be archived on campus for a period of six years. Therefore, it is suggested that students maintain photographs or reproductions of all work submitted, displayed in a cumulative portfolio reflecting student progress while completing the MLA at UT-Arlington.
Equal Opportunity Statement:
It has been, and will continue to be, the policy of The University of Texas at Arlington to be an equal opportunity employer. The University does not discriminate on any basis prohibited by applicable law including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status in recruitment, employment, promotion, compensation, benefits or training. It is also the University’s policy to maintain a work environment free from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The University of Texas at Arlington is committed to seeking the best qualified person to fill each available position and will reward employees based on their job performance.
Final Review Week
A period of five class days prior to the first day of final examinations in the long sessions shall be designated as Final Review Week. The purpose of this week is to allow students sufficient time to prepare for final examinations. During this week, there shall be no scheduled activities such as required field trips or performances; and no instructor shall assign any themes, research problems or exercises of similar scope that have a completion date during or following this week unless specified in the class syllabus . During Final Review Week, an instructor shall not give any examinations constituting 10% or more of the final grade, except makeup tests and laboratory examinations. In addition, no instructor shall give any portion of the final examination during Final Review Week. During this week, classes are held as scheduled. In addition, instructors are not required to limit content to topics that have been previously covered; they may introduce new concepts as appropriate.
The Office for Students with Disabilities, (OSD) www.uta.edu/disability or calling 817-272-3364. Information regarding diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining disability-based academic accommodations can be found at www.uta.edu/disability .
Counseling and Psychological Services, (CAPS) www.uta.edu/caps/ or calling 817-272-3671 is also available to all students to help increase their understanding of personal issues, address mental and behavioral health problems and make positive changes in their lives.
Non-Discrimination Policy: The University of Texas at Arlington does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, genetic information, and/or veteran status in its educational programs or activities it operates. For more information, visit uta.edu/eos .
Title IX Policy: The University of Texas at Arlington (“University”) is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment that is free from discrimination based on sex in accordance with Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), which prohibits sex discrimination in employment; and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (SaVE Act). Sexual misconduct is a form of sex discrimination and will not be tolerated. For information regarding Title IX, visit www.uta.edu/titleIX or contact Ms. Jean Hood, Vice President and Title IX Coordinator at (817) 272-7091 or jmhood@uta.edu.
Academic Integrity: Students enrolled all UT Arlington courses are expected to adhere to the UT Arlington Honor Code:
I pledge, on my honor, to uphold UT Arlington’s tradition of academic integrity, a tradition that values hard work and honest effort in the pursuit of academic excellence.
I promise that I will submit only work that I personally create or contribute to group collaborations, and I will appropriately reference any work from other sources. I will follow the highest standards of integrity and uphold the spirit of the Honor Code.
UT Arlington faculty members may employ the Honor Code in their courses by having students acknowledge the honor code as part of an examination or requiring students to incorporate the honor code into any work submitted. Per UT System Regents’ Rule 50101, §2.2, suspected violations of university’s standards for academic integrity (including the Honor Code) will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. Violators will be disciplined in accordance with University policy, which may result in the student’s suspension or expulsion from the University. Additional information is available at https://www.uta.edu/conduct/ .
Drop Policy:
Students may drop or swap (adding and dropping a class concurrently) classes through self-service in MyMav from the beginning of the registration period through the late registration period. After the late registration period, students must see their academic advisor to drop a class or withdraw. Drops can continue through a point two-thirds of the way through the term or session. It is the student's responsibility to officially withdraw if they do not plan to attend after registering. Students will not be automatically dropped for non-attendance . Repayment of certain types of financial aid administered through the University may be required as the result of dropping classes or withdrawing. For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships ( http://wweb.uta.edu/ses/fao ).
Student Support Services Available:
UT Arlington provides a variety of resources and programs designed to help students develop academic skills, deal with personal situations, and better understand concepts and information related to their courses. Resources include tutoring, major-based learning centers, developmental education, advising and mentoring, personal counseling, and federally funded programs. For individualized referrals, students may contact the Maverick Resource Hotline by calling 817-272-6107, sending a message to resources@uta.edu , or visiting www.uta.edu/resources .
Electronic Communication:
UT Arlington has adopted MavMail as its official means to communicate with students about important deadlines and events, as well as to transact university-related business regarding financial aid, tuition, grades, graduation, etc. All students are assigned a MavMail account and are responsible for checking the inbox regularly. There is no additional charge to students for using this account, which remains active even after graduation. Information about activating and using MavMail is available at http://www.uta.edu/oit/cs/email/mavmail.php .
Student Feedback Survey:
At the end of each term, students enrolled in classes categorized as lecture, seminar, or laboratory will be asked to complete an online Student Feedback Survey (SFS) about the course and how it was taught. Instructions on how to access the SFS system will be sent directly to students through MavMail approximately 10 days before the end of the term. UT Arlington’s effort to solicit, gather, tabulate, and publish student feedback data is required by state law; student participation in the SFS program is voluntary.
Emergency Exit Procedures: Should we experience an emergency event that requires us to vacate the building, students should exit the room and move toward the nearest exit, which is located on the fourth floor near the North side of The CAPPA building. When exiting the building during an emergency, one should never take an elevator but should use the stairwells. Faculty members and instructional staff will assist students in selecting the safest route for evacuation and will make arrangements to assist handicapped individuals.
Course Schedule
The semester schedule is as follows:
Week 1: chapters 1-2 in Robinson and the Introduction on page 9 in Oudolf.
Week 2: chapter 3 in Robinson
Week 3: chapter 4 in Robinson
Design 1: A garden that blooms yellow in the spring (March through June) and transitions from short (in front) to tall.
Week 4: chapters 5 in Robinson, pages 25-61 in Oudolf
Design 2: A brown (winter) garden
Week 5: chapter 6 in Robinson and pages 121 to 130 in Oudolf.
Design 3: A fall texture garden that grades fine to course and low to tall
Week 6: chapters 7 in Robinson, and pages 131-146 in Oudolf
Design 4: contrast in texture, harmony in line or contrast in line, harmony in form
Week 7: chapters 8 and 9 in Robinson and pages 146-173 in Oudolf
Design 5: A Garden on the Blackland Prairie
Week 8: Mid-term exam
Week 9-10: chapters 10 and 11 in Robinson and pages 146-173 in Oudolf
Design 6: A typical “New Urbanist” streetscape.
Weeks 11-16: Service Project TBA
As the instructor for this course, I reserve the right to adjust this schedule in any way that serves the educational needs of the students enrolled in this course. –David D Hopman.
Emergency Phone Numbers : In case of an on-campus emergency, call the UT Arlington Police Department at 817-272-3003 (non-campus phone), 2-3003 (campus phone). You may also dial 911. Non-emergency number 817-272-3381