Landscaping of Educational Institute

Landscaping of Educational Institute

Compounds around our educational institutes such as Schools and Colleges are generally grossly neglected. It is a pity that the importance of landscaping in schools and colleges is not properly understood by the authorities. As a result, the campus present a bare and neglected appearance. A planned and properly landscaped school building brings a world of difference in appearance and beauty than an unplanned one. Moreover, a good garden in the campus inculcates aesthetic sense to our younger generation.

It is imperative that our administrators and citizens should take landscaping of campus seriously and while planning any architectural design for educational buildings it should incorporate in it a landscape’ design also. Instead of taking up gardening of the campus in bits, it is necessary to have a master plan of the whole area and to implement it in phases, according to the resources available.

The general recommendation is to plant large trees in the school compound. In the periphery of the school campus, along the rear and wings, a thick belt of large shady trees should be planted to bring down noise and cut down dust and storms. This plantation will also help keep down severe heat and cold. The front should be planted with medium sized flowering trees for beauty. The trees should not completely obstruct the view of the building from outside.

For enhancing the scenic beauty is also suggested to plant a row of flowering trees, with different blooming seasons, in front of the large trees along the periphery. It is difficult to give any general recommendation regarding the types of such trees as this will vary according to the architectural design, situation, and climate. The object is to provide beauty and comfort depending on convenience. A thickly planted belt of Eucalyptus (not withstanding the objections in -certain quarters against the genus especially.for the reason that these plants draw enormous quantities of ground water and release this in the atmosphere), for peripheral planting is considered ideal. Silver oak (Grevillea robttstd), Polyalthia longifolia, Futranjiva roxburghii, seedling mango, and rain tree {Samnea samari) are also very suitable for this purpose.

Shrubs play an important part in the school landscaping. Border planting of shrubbery on large grounds or at the back of the school campus serves useful purpose of filling the gaps between the trees and. lawns.

A lawn looks nice in an educational institution, but it is very difficult to maintain.  The play ground can be planted with lawn, if this can be maintained or
should be left bare.

A bougainvillea creeper trained over the wall of the building can change the whole look. Similarly, a Signonia venusta supported against a wall also looks beautiful, Creepers climging with their rootlets such as Ficus repens, Campsis radicans can also be trained over some stone or brick wall or pillars.