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Safety Cue
Task-specific safety guidance for ordinary inspection hazards.
Chapter 1 · LS-001 – LS-006
Inspect and Plan a Residential Landscape Project
Inspect one residential landscape area for sun, drainage, soil, utilities, and access conditions, and produce a documented planting, soil, drainage, irrigation, access, and maintenance-readiness plan that controls every later project in this book.
Field Cue System
These cues appear at the point of work. They identify safety, code, manufacturer, and measurement issues before they become drainage failures, plant loss, or unsafe conditions.
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Critical Safety Cue
Serious injury, utility strike, or major property damage is possible.
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Field Safety Cue
Practical work-area safety: footing, weather, insects, and site hazards.
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Code Alert
Local requirements vary. Verify permit, zoning, and jurisdictional rules.
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Manufacturer Cue
Follow product- or instrument-specific instructions for tools and test kits.
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Measurement Cue
Reference point, area, and pattern-recording guidance.
Job Overview
This chapter qualifies you to inspect a residential landscape area and produce one documented readiness plan covering climate exposure, drainage, soil, existing plants, utilities, irrigation, access, hazards, and prerequisites. The finished work product is a completed Landscape Readiness Worksheet, a deficiency and prerequisite list, and an issued project decision: approved, conditional, or rejected.
You will gather the plans and records that control the project, define the project area and goals, verify boundaries and restricted zones, request utility locating, inspect buildings and existing conditions, record sun and shade patterns, assess microclimate exposure, inspect grade and drainage, measure the landscape area, inspect soil, evaluate existing plants, assess irrigation and access, and issue a documented readiness decision.
This is the first chapter in the book. Every later chapter — soil amendment, vegetation removal, grading, bed edging, planting, turf work, irrigation, drainage, pruning, fertilizing, restoration, and the Chapter 20 capstone — begins from the readiness plan produced here. No later chapter authorizes work in an area that has not passed this inspection or had its deficiencies corrected and reinspected.
Skills You Will Demonstrate
- LS-001 — Inspect site conditions, including buildings, hardscape, utilities, irrigation, drains, and existing plants.
- LS-002 — Identify sun and shade patterns by time of day and season, and record microclimate exposure.
- LS-003 — Identify drainage issues, including runoff sources, ponding, erosion, and foundation-water risk.
- LS-004 — Evaluate soil condition using field indicators of texture, compaction, color, odor, drainage, organic matter, and disturbance.
- LS-005 — Measure landscape areas, including beds, lawn, slopes, paths, access routes, and grade changes.
- LS-006 — Document project readiness and issue an approved, conditional, or rejected landscape-readiness decision.
Where This Skill Fits
This chapter is the entry point for the entire book. The Landscape Readiness Worksheet you complete here becomes the controlling reference for soil testing and amendment in Chapter 3, vegetation removal in Chapter 4, grading in Chapter 5, bed layout in Chapter 6, every planting chapter from Chapter 8 through Chapter 10, turf work in Chapters 11 through 13, irrigation and drainage in Chapters 14 through 16, ongoing maintenance in Chapters 17 and 18, restoration in Chapter 19, and the complete capstone project in Chapter 20.
The sun-and-shade record, drainage findings, soil observations, and measured areas produced in this chapter are not preliminary notes to be discarded. They are the reference data every later chapter is required to use rather than re-derive or assume.
Scope and Intended Use
This chapter covers:
- gathering the site plan, property, drainage, utility, and planting information that controls the project
- verifying property lines, easements, setbacks, and prohibited work zones
- requesting utility locating before any later digging, trenching, or planting work
- inspecting buildings, hardscape, utilities, irrigation, drains, and existing plants
- recording sun and shade patterns and microclimate exposure
- inspecting grade, drainage, runoff sources, and foundation-water risk
- measuring planting beds, lawn areas, slopes, paths, and access routes
- inspecting soil texture, compaction, drainage, and organic matter using field indicators
- assessing existing plants, irrigation source, and equipment access
- issuing a documented, approved, conditional, or rejected landscape-readiness decision
This chapter does not authorize the learner to:
- dig, trench, auger, drive stakes, install edging, or plant trees or shrubs before utility locating is complete and confirmed
- begin soil amendment, grading, planting, turf, or irrigation work in an area that has not received an approved or conditional readiness decision under this chapter
- proceed with an area showing unidentified utilities, unstable slopes, contaminated soil, buried tanks, sewage, major erosion, foundation conflicts, groundwater, hazardous materials, or an unknown drainage outlet
- make final amendment, planting, or irrigation design decisions from this inspection alone where soil test results, an arborist, a landscape architect, an irrigation contractor, a backflow tester, or a surveyor is required by the conditions found
Any area that fails this inspection must be corrected, or referred to the required qualified professional, and reinspected under this chapter before any later chapter's work begins.
Reference Conventions
Establish these references before the inspection begins, and do not change them mid-inspection.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Project area | The specific landscape area defined in Step 2, measured and inspected in this chapter; not the entire property unless the site plan defines the entire property as the project area |
| Reference boundary | The verified property line, easement line, or setback line the project area is measured against |
| Low point | The lowest observed grade elevation within the project area where runoff or ponding collects |
| Foundation-water risk zone | Any area within the specified clearance of a foundation, siding, or building opening where water is observed or likely to collect |
| Microclimate condition | A localized exposure such as a heat-reflective wall, wind corridor, frost pocket, salt exposure, or sheltered pocket that differs from the general site exposure |
| Deficiency | Any condition identified in this chapter that must be corrected, or referred to a required qualified professional, before an approved readiness decision can be issued |
Project and Reference Record
Before beginning the inspection, record the project identification directly on the Landscape Readiness Worksheet:
Property address: ______________________ Project area description: ______________________
Date started: ____________ Inspector name: ____________ Reference boundary source: ______ (Survey / Plat / Site plan / Staked by owner)
Prerequisites
- Access to the site plan, property survey or plat, grading plan, utility records, drainage information, planting goals, irrigation information, and local zoning, stormwater, and water-use restrictions
- Permission to access and inspect the property, including areas near buildings, fences, and neighboring boundaries
- A blank Landscape Readiness Worksheet and deficiency-list forms sufficient for the full inspection and any reinspection
- Confirmed availability of the utility-locating service used for Step 4
- Identification of whether a surveyor, arborist, landscape architect, irrigation contractor, backflow tester, or drainage contractor may be required by conditions found during inspection
Common Field Fundamentals
Every project in this book depends on the site data gathered here. This chapter teaches four fundamentals that later chapters treat as already established: verified boundaries and utilities, a recorded sun-and-shade pattern, a recorded drainage pattern, and a documented soil and plant condition.
Boundaries and UtilitiesProperty lines, easements, setbacks, and utility locating confirmed before any later digging or planting
Sun and ShadeRecorded by time of day and season, including microclimate exposure
Grade and DrainageRunoff sources, ponding, erosion, and foundation-water risk identified
Soil and PlantsField-indicator soil inspection and existing-plant condition assessment
Measured AreasBeds, lawn, slopes, paths, access routes, and grade changes measured and recorded
Readiness DecisionApproved, conditional, or rejected, issued only after deficiencies are addressed and reinspected
Boundaries, Utilities, and Stop-Work Conditions
Verify property lines, easements, setbacks, right-of-way, septic areas, wells, and prohibited work zones before defining the final project area. Request utility locating before any digging, trenching, auguring, driving stakes, installing edging, or planting trees and shrubs authorized by a later chapter. Stop work for unidentified utilities, unstable slopes, contaminated soil, buried tanks, sewage, major erosion, foundation conflicts, groundwater, hazardous materials, or unknown drainage outlets.
LS-001 – LS-006
Site Inspection / Planning Qualification
Residential Landscape Readiness Inspection and Plan
A. Finished Project Specification
Deliverable: one documented landscape project plan for one defined project area, identifying climate exposure, drainage, soil, utilities, plant constraints, irrigation, access, hazards, and prerequisites, and concluding with an issued approved, conditional, or rejected readiness decision.
B. Readiness Plan Section Schedule
| Section | Required Content | Source Steps |
|---|---|---|
| Project Definition | Project area, intended use, maintenance level, budget, and establishment period | Steps 1–2 |
| Boundaries and Utilities | Property lines, easements, setbacks, right-of-way, septic areas, wells, prohibited zones, and utility-locating results | Steps 3–4 |
| Existing Conditions | Buildings, foundations, siding, windows, doors, hardscape, fences, utilities, irrigation, drains, and existing plants | Step 5 |
| Sun, Shade, and Microclimate | Sun and shade by time of day and season; heat-reflective walls, wind exposure, frost pockets, salt exposure, sheltered microclimates | Steps 6–7 |
| Grade and Drainage | Existing grade and drainage, runoff sources, ponding, erosion, roof discharge, low points, and foundation-water risks | Steps 8–9 |
| Measured Areas | Planting beds, lawn areas, slopes, paths, access routes, and grade changes | Step 10 |
| Soil Condition | Texture, compaction, color, odor, drainage, organic matter, roots, debris, and prior disturbance | Step 11 |
| Existing Plants | Desirable, invasive, diseased, hazardous, or overgrown status; mature-size conflicts with buildings, utilities, hardscape, sight lines, and drainage | Steps 12–13 |
| Irrigation and Access | Irrigation source, pressure, backflow protection, controller, hose access, watering restrictions, and equipment and material access | Steps 14–15 |
| Stop-Work Review | Unidentified utilities, unstable slopes, contaminated soil, major tree hazards, disputed boundaries, or unlawful drainage | Step 16 |
| Strategy and Deficiencies | Preliminary plant, soil, irrigation, drainage, and maintenance strategy; deficiency and prerequisite list | Steps 17–18 |
| Final Decision | Reinspection of corrected conditions and the issued readiness decision | Steps 19–20 |
C. Record and Reference Takeoff
- Plans and records: site plan, property survey or plat, grading plan, utility records, drainage information, planting goals, irrigation information, and applicable local zoning, stormwater, irrigation, backflow, environmental, and water-use requirements.
- Forms: one Landscape Readiness Worksheet and a sufficient supply of deficiency-list forms for the initial inspection and any reinspection.
- Utility locating: confirmed request submitted to the required utility-location service, with markings verified present before any later digging, trenching, or planting.
- Photographic record: photographs of existing conditions, drainage patterns, existing plants, and any identified deficiency.
D. Acceptance Standards
| Check | Standard |
|---|---|
| Section completeness | All twelve sections of the Readiness Plan Section Schedule are completed with the required content |
| Boundary and utility verification | Property lines, easements, setbacks, and utility locating are confirmed before any deficiency is cleared |
| Sun and shade record | Recorded for more than one time of day where the inspection schedule allows, with microclimate conditions identified |
| Drainage record | Every observed low point, runoff source, and foundation-water risk is identified and located on the plan |
| Measured areas | Every measured area, slope, path, and access route is recorded with its dimension |
| Deficiency resolution | Every listed deficiency is corrected, referred to the required qualified professional, or documented as a condition of a conditional decision |
| Final decision | One of approved, conditional, or rejected is issued and signed with a date |
E. Preparation — Records, Project Definition, and Boundaries
- Obtain the site plan, property information, grading plan, utility records, drainage information, planting goals, irrigation information, and local restrictions. Confirm each document is current before relying on it.
- Define the project area, intended use, desired maintenance level, budget, and establishment period. Record each on the Landscape Readiness Worksheet.
- Verify property lines, easements, setbacks, right-of-way, septic areas, wells, and prohibited work zones. Compare the site plan or survey against observed conditions.
- Request required utility locating. Do not proceed to any later digging, trenching, or planting authorized by another chapter until markings are placed and confirmed.
F. Site and Condition Inspection
- Inspect buildings, foundations, siding, windows, doors, hardscape, fences, utilities, irrigation, drains, and existing plants. Record condition and location of each.
- Record sun and shade conditions by time of day and season where possible. Note which project-area zones receive direct sun, partial shade, and full shade.
- Identify heat-reflective walls, wind exposure, frost pockets, salt exposure, and sheltered microclimates. Mark each condition's location on the plan.
- Inspect existing grade and drainage. Walk the full project area and note slope direction and low points.
- Identify runoff sources, ponding, erosion, roof discharge, low points, and foundation-water risks. Photograph each observed condition.
- Measure planting beds, lawn areas, slopes, paths, access routes, and grade changes. Record each dimension on the Landscape Readiness Worksheet.
- Inspect soil texture, compaction, color, odor, drainage, organic matter, roots, debris, and prior disturbance. Use the soil probe or trowel at multiple points across the project area.
- Identify existing plants as desirable, invasive, diseased, hazardous, overgrown, or unresolved. Record species where known and location for each plant assessed.
- Assess mature plant conflicts with buildings, utilities, hardscape, sight lines, and drainage. Note any existing plant whose mature size already conflicts, or is approaching conflict, with a fixed feature.
- Identify irrigation source, pressure, backflow protection, controller, hose access, and watering restrictions. Record what is present and what is missing.
- Inspect equipment and material access. Note gate widths, slopes, overhead clearance, and any obstruction that would restrict later material delivery or equipment routes.
G. Deficiency Review and Readiness Decision
- Stop work for unidentified utilities, unstable slopes, contaminated soil, major tree hazards, disputed boundaries, or unlawful drainage. Refer any such condition to the required qualified professional before continuing.
- Prepare a preliminary plant, soil, irrigation, drainage, and maintenance strategy. Base the strategy only on the conditions recorded in Sections E and F.
- Prepare a deficiency and prerequisite list. List every condition that must be corrected, or referred, before later chapters may proceed.
- Reinspect corrected conditions. Confirm each deficiency has been corrected or referred before issuing a final decision.
- Issue an approved, conditional, or rejected landscape-readiness decision. Record the decision, the date, and the inspector's name on the Landscape Readiness Worksheet.
Common Inspection Review
Review every completed Landscape Readiness Worksheet using the same checks regardless of the project area's size or intended use.
- Completeness check: confirm all twelve sections of the Readiness Plan Section Schedule are completed with the required content.
- Boundary and utility check: confirm property lines, easements, setbacks, and utility locating are verified and recorded.
- Sun, shade, and drainage check: confirm sun and shade patterns and every drainage finding are recorded with location.
- Measurement check: confirm every measured area, slope, path, and access route is recorded with its dimension.
- Deficiency check: confirm every listed deficiency is corrected, referred, or documented as a condition of a conditional decision.
- Decision check: confirm one of approved, conditional, or rejected is issued, signed, and dated.
Complete the Inspection Checklist in the section below before beginning Chapter 2.
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Failure Points and Troubleshooting
Cleanup
This chapter ends with a completed, signed worksheet retained for use by every later chapter, not filed away unused.
- Remove all temporary stakes and flags placed only for this inspection unless they mark a condition later chapters must still reference
- Return borrowed plans, surveys, and utility records to their source or designated storage
- Organize inspection photographs by section to match the Readiness Plan Section Schedule
- Store the completed Landscape Readiness Worksheet and deficiency list where every later chapter's work can reference them
- Confirm the utility-locating markings remain visible and within their valid period before Chapter 2 begins
Field Terms
- Project Area
- The specific landscape area defined for this inspection and plan.
- Reference Boundary
- The verified property line, easement line, or setback line the project area is measured against.
- Low Point
- The lowest observed grade elevation where runoff or ponding collects.
- Foundation-Water Risk Zone
- Any area within the specified clearance of a foundation or building opening where water is observed or likely to collect.
- Microclimate Condition
- A localized exposure that differs from the general site exposure, such as a heat-reflective wall or frost pocket.
- Deficiency
- Any condition identified during inspection that must be corrected, or referred to a qualified professional, before an approved decision can be issued.
- Landscape Readiness Worksheet
- The document recording every inspection finding, the deficiency list, and the final readiness decision.
- Readiness Decision
- The issued outcome of the inspection: approved, conditional, or rejected.
Skill Check
- Why must utility locating be requested and confirmed before any later chapter authorizes digging, trenching, or planting in the project area?
- What is the difference between recording a sun-and-shade pattern at one time of day and recording it across multiple times of day, and why does this chapter require the latter where the schedule allows it?
- What conditions require the inspection to stop work entirely rather than continue to a deficiency list?
- What field indicators are used to evaluate soil condition in this chapter, and why does the chapter not require a laboratory soil test at this stage?
- What areas must be measured and recorded in this chapter, and why do later chapters rely on these measurements rather than remeasuring?
- What is the difference between an approved, a conditional, and a rejected readiness decision?
- Why must every deficiency be corrected, referred, or documented as a condition before a readiness decision is signed?
- What must the inspector check about an existing plant beyond its current size and condition?
- Why does this chapter require a photographic record in addition to the written worksheet?
- What must happen before Chapter 2 work begins if a deficiency identified in this chapter has not yet been corrected?
Competency Rubric
| Competency | Independent Pass Standard | Not Demonstrated | With Assistance | Independently |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LS-001 | Inspects buildings, hardscape, utilities, irrigation, drains, and existing plants and records their condition and location on the worksheet | |||
| LS-002 | Records sun and shade patterns by time of day and season where possible, and identifies applicable microclimate conditions | |||
| LS-003 | Identifies runoff sources, ponding, erosion, roof discharge, low points, and foundation-water risks across the full project area | |||
| LS-004 | Evaluates soil texture, compaction, color, odor, drainage, organic matter, roots, debris, and disturbance using field indicators | |||
| LS-005 | Measures and records planting beds, lawn areas, slopes, paths, access routes, and grade changes accurately | |||
| LS-006 | Prepares a complete deficiency and prerequisite list, reinspects corrected conditions, and issues a signed, dated readiness decision |
Mark one column per competency. Only Demonstrated Independently awards the competency; Demonstrated with Assistance authorizes additional supervised practice but does not complete the requirement.
Inspection Checklist — Landscape Readiness Worksheet
| Section | Completed (Y/N) | Deficiencies Found | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Definition | |||
| Boundaries and Utilities | |||
| Existing Conditions | |||
| Sun, Shade, and Microclimate | |||
| Grade and Drainage | |||
| Measured Areas | |||
| Soil Condition | |||
| Existing Plants | |||
| Irrigation and Access | |||
| Stop-Work Review | |||
| Strategy and Deficiencies | |||
| Final Decision |
Readiness decision declared: ______ (Approved / Conditional / Rejected) Date: ____________ Inspector name: ____________
Performance Check
With all twelve sections of the Landscape Readiness Worksheet completed, review the finished plan against the Acceptance Standards table and confirm every section contains the required content, boundaries and utility locating are verified, sun and shade patterns and drainage findings are recorded with location, every measured area is recorded with its dimension, every deficiency is corrected, referred, or documented as a condition, and one final readiness decision is issued, signed, and dated. If any deficiency remains unresolved, correct or refer it and repeat the affected section review before issuing the final decision.
Project Closeout
You have completed the first chapter in the landscaping project sequence: inspecting and planning a residential landscape project. This chapter required you to inspect site conditions (LS-001), identify sun and shade patterns (LS-002), identify drainage issues (LS-003), evaluate soil condition (LS-004), measure landscape areas (LS-005), and document project readiness (LS-006).
You now have a documented landscape project plan that identifies climate exposure, drainage, soil, utilities, plant constraints, irrigation, access, hazards, and prerequisites. That plan carries directly into the next chapter: setting up a controlled landscaping work area and material staging plan built on the exact conditions and constraints recorded here.
Store your completed Landscape Readiness Worksheet, deficiency list, and photographic record where every later chapter can reference them. Chapter 2 begins from the project area and conditions documented in this chapter.