2nd Edition. Soils for Landscape Development; Selection, Specification and Validation, CSIRO Publishing
Second Edition             By:  Simon Leake and Elke Haege

This 2024 2nd Edition of the award-winning Soils for Landscape Development provides a globally applicable method for landscape architects and designers, specification writers, landscape contractors, nursery growers, turf specialists and soil supply companies to properly specify landscape soils using objective and measurable criteria. It uses systematic, clear and practical example specifications.

The book links landscape design processes with sound modern soil science practices to promote better quality project outcomes by ensuring that the basis of the landscape, the soil, is suitable for the intended purpose. The authors emphasise environmental impacts through site soil reuse, promoting appropriate minimal soil intervention and using recycled products, with example compliance specifications.

The revised, expanded and updated 2nd Edition of “Soils for Landscape Development, Selection, Specification and Validation, CSIRO Publishing” by Simon Leake and Elke Haege was released in December 2024.

Key features:

The revised, expanded and updated 2nd Edition of “Soils for Landscape Development, Selection, Specification and Validation, CSIRO Publishing” by Simon Leake and Elke Haege was released in December 2024.

This 2 x  award winning book was first published in 2014, reprinted in 2018 and now the new revised, expanded and updated 2024 2nd edition.

Ten years on, Simon and Elke’s award-winning industry publication has been adopted across the industry in both private practice, by local and state governments (including in case law), and education institutes teaching horticulture, landscape design, and landscape architecture contains:

– 16 x performance-based soil specifications including new specifications for

  • –   Ultra-Lightweight green roof media, and
  • –   Biofiltration and Raingardens.
  • –   The Soil Volume Simulator available here through Elke’s website,
  • –   A low budget landscape section and small project section,
  • –   A Soil Fundamentals chapter for landscape architects, designers and students to get up to speed or have a quick refresher on landscape soils,
  • –   A section on Soil Design, landscape soil bioremediation, and soil contamination,
  • –   The Soil Approach Method including soil amelioration, soil improvement, drainage types, growing media, mulch specifications and recommended soil volumes for trees,
  • –   Updated all important soil validation specifications and compliance specifications.

 

 

AWARD: 2014 Australian Insitute of Landscape Architects, NSW Award for Research and Literature.
AWARD: 2015 Australian Insitute of Horticulture award for Literature.

 

The editable .pdf example soil specifications are also available for purchase through CSIRO Publishing e-books.

Follow this link to the CSIRO Website (Australia and New Zealand)  

Sales in Australia and New Zealand only. Elsewhere, this title is available through CABI (external link).

The Landscape Soil Performance Specifications include:

Part I Site investigation/analysis
–   A1 Site soil investigation and characterisation
–   A2 Site subgrade investigation and characterisation for disturbed sites

Part II Preparatory soil works
–   B1 Stripping and stockpiling
–   B2 Site subgrade preparation
–   B3 Imported subsoil
–   B4 Soil schedules (profiles, volumes and depths)

Part III Product specifications
C Soils for turf and lawns
–   C1 Passive amenity turf
–   C2 Active high-traffic turf
–   C3 Sports field turf

D Soils for gardens and mass planting
–   D1 Mass planting soil
–   D2 Garden bed planting soil
–   D3 High fertility display and vegetable production topsoil
–   D4 Advanced tree and vault soils

E On slab media
–   E1 On slab soil media ‘A’ horizon
–   E2 On slab soil media ‘B’ horizon
–   E3 Low-density container and green roof
–   E4 Ultra lightweight growing media ‘A’ only horizon (for extensive rooftops with shallow growing media profiles)

F Specialist soils
–   F1 Structural support soils
–   F2 Raingardens, biofiltration and stormwater filtration soils
–   F3 Wetland soils

Part IV Validation specifications
–   G1 Quality assurance and control
–   G2 Hold points and ‘fit-for-purpose’ statements
–   G3 Compliance certification ‘fit-for-purpose’ statement and test method references