Landscape Design Elements

A professionally designed landscape will include the following:

Unity ties the landscapes together. Achieving unity is not easy, resist the urge to have the same plant in different color variations. Repeating the same plants in various parts of the landscape gives your project unity.

Balance can be symmetrical or asymmetrical, but it should achieve exactly what symmetry is: even distribution or equality. In symmetrical designs, the left side will mirror the image of the right side. An asymmetrical design will not be identical on each side, but do have an overall completed look.

Proportion addresses the need to keep the landscape features in scale with the house. It is critical to keep the ultimate size of a tree or shrub in mind when selecting one for planting. That 8-foot tall maple tree at the garden center may be 20 feet tall in a few short years, on its way to up to 100 feet. Proportion also applies to smaller plants. A faster-growing neighbor can easily hide smaller shrubs, perennials and other plantings.

Variety and diversity allow you to be creative and have some fun. Be careful though, too much variety can be annoying or distracting. When the best features of your landscape have to compete for attention, they may go unnoticed. If you have the space, consider having several outdoor “rooms” — each with a different theme. Empty spaces can be effective, too. Use them to draw the eye towards a focal point. Resist the urge to fill every inch.

Landscape Design Principles

Form: Plants large and small have various forms, each offering something different to the landscape. They can be weeping, round, pyramidal, spreading, oval, vase or columnar. Look at trees for example. In addition to a tree’s form during the growing season, consider how much shade it will provide and where the shade will be during the spring and summer. If it’s a deciduous tree, imagine how it will look without leaves in fall and winter.

Line: Whether curved or straight, lines are used to draw your eye towards a focal point or to separate areas of the garden. Establishing bed lines is one of the first things to do when designing a landscape.

Texture: Leaves, flowers, stems all have texture. Finding plants and features that contrast or complement is basic to a good garden design. Foliage that is lacy in appearance would highlight a plant with more rounded leaves. Consider the year-round appearance of your prospective plants.

Color: Color is the most obvious aspect of the landscape and may be the least understood. A well-designed landscape can look good without any color (other than green). Color used wisely will accent your garden, while too much color can appear harsh or grating. When deciding which plants to use, keep color in mind just as you would when painting your home. The house is almost always the dominant feature of your landscape. The color of your plantings should complement your home’s color. When choosing flowers, for example, consider the almost infinite combinations of color, the flower and foliage shapes, the timing of blooms and their duration, and the height of the plants. Decide whether you prefer the instant gratification of annuals versus the long-term investment of perennials, or a combination of both.

Form: Plants large and small have various forms, each offering something different to the landscape. They can be weeping, round, pyramidal, spreading, oval, vase or columnar. Look at trees for example. In addition to a tree’s form during the growing season, consider how much shade it will provide and where the shade will be during the spring and summer. If it’s a deciduous tree, imagine how it will look without leaves in fall and winter.

Line: Whether curved or straight, lines are used to draw your eye towards a focal point or to separate areas of the garden. Establishing bed lines is one of the first things to do when designing a landscape.

Texture: Leaves, flowers, stems all have texture. Finding plants and features that contrast or complement is basic to a good garden design. Foliage that is lacy in appearance would highlight a plant with more rounded leaves. Consider the year-round appearance of your prospective plants.

Color: Color is the most obvious aspect of the landscape and may be the least understood. A well-designed landscape can look good without any color (other than green). Color used wisely will accent your garden, while too much color can appear harsh or grating. When deciding which plants to use, keep color in mind just as you would when painting your home. The house is almost always the dominant feature of your landscape. The color of your plantings should complement your home’s color. When choosing flowers, for example, consider the almost infinite combinations of color, the flower and foliage shapes, the timing of blooms and their duration, and the height of the plants. Decide whether you prefer the instant gratification of annuals versus the long-term investment of perennials, or a combination of both.

Your Landscape Plan

Now that you’ve got the basics down, you need a plan. Decide what you want and need. What are your priorities? Is it entertaining friends, playing with the kids, growing flowers and vegetables, or simply relaxing in a hammock? How much maintenance are you willing to do?

Determine what you have to work with. There are some aspects of your landscape that you can’t or don’t want to change (driveways and large trees for example). Also, remember your budget constraints.

The landscape may have to develop in stages. Make a map of your property. Draw a “bird’s eye view” to scale on graph paper. Be sure to include:

• The house itself
• Boundaries, noting the neighbor’s landscape style as well
• Existing plants
• Exposure which way the sun is facing is really important utilities (dryer vent, air conditioner / heat pump)
• Service areas (dog kennel, storage buildings, trash cans)
• Views you wish to preserve or hide
• Downspouts and drains
• Grades / slopes / drainage
• Any existing irrigation systems

Use tracing paper to draw your ideas. These could include plants, a gazebo, a walkway, an orchard or a pond or sculpture. Lay the tracing paper over the map to get an idea of how the new landscape will look. Let the whole family do a design. You may be surprised at the ideas you get! Here are some points to think about as you plan:

• Always consider the mature size of any plantings.
• Think about the neighborhood itself, will your new landscape fit in with the rest of the homes on the street (if resale value is an issue)?
• Do you have limited space? If so, try vertical garden accents such as fences with vines. Plantings in containers also work in small areas.
• Are there steep or sloped sections in your landscape? Terraces or ground covers can help.
• Do you want your landscape to have a theme? Match your landscape to your personality — are you formal or informal, public or private?
• Are there individuals with special needs in your household that could benefit from easier access? Raised beds or wider paths may be the answer.
• What is the view from inside your house?
• Do you enjoy wildlife? There are numerous plants and features that can attract butterflies, hummingbirds, songbirds and other wildlife to your yard.