Landscaping designs make homes and properties more attractive, livable, lifestyle friendly and increase the resale value of the property. Landscaping includes the hardscape and the landscape.
Hardscaping is the non-living element in your landscaping design and it consists of things like concrete, rocks and pavers. Landscape is the living elements, and it consists of grass, plants and trees.
Among the most important landscape design elements is color. It can be used to highlight focal points, unify the design, and set a mood. Like a chef uses spices to add flavor to food, landscape designers use colors to create harmony and beauty in the garden.
Whether it’s a lush green or a calming blue, the use of color is important for creating a balanced landscape. The color of the house, sidewalks, driveway and other hardscapes should also be considered when choosing a landscape color scheme.
Bright colors can be used to draw attention and add interest, but it’s important to remember that they can also detract from the natural look of the landscape. Softer colors can be more calming and help to create a secluded space for contemplation.
Green, in particular, is a common color for the foliage of plants because it complements many different colors and adds contrast to the landscape. However, there are a lot of other colors that can be used for foliage as well, including gold, yellow, chartreuse, white and even variegated leaves.
Complementary colors are those found on opposite sides of the color wheel from each other, such as red and green or purple and yellow. These colors are a great choice for creating an eye-catching landscape, and they can be easily achieved by pairing flowers or plants with their corresponding foliage.
Take a drive around your neighborhood or community and pay special attention to what colors catch your eye in the landscapes you see. Try to identify what it is about those colors that make them so appealing and then work with your landscape designer to incorporate those shades into your own yard.
Form
The third element of landscape design is form. The term “form” describes the three-dimensional attributes of a plant, such as its shape and branching pattern. Form is a more permanent characteristic, unlike color, which can change depending on the weather. The shape of a tree, for example, can range from the straight silhouette of a Lombardy poplar to the drooping quality of a weeping willow.
Another important aspect of form is proportion. This is the sizing relationship between landscape elements, such as the size of a shrub or tree compared to a house. Proper proportion creates balance and harmony between the elements in a design.
Lines are also an important part of form. They can be horizontal, vertical, diagonal or curved and can be created with hardscape materials like pavers or natural stone and vegetation like trees or flower beds. Lines can control movement or draw the eye to a particular area of the garden, such as a water feature or fire pit. They can also add a sense of drama or interest to the landscape. Lines can be used to create a formal character and are often associated with symmetrical designs, while curves are more natural and informal.
Repetition is a common principle in landscaping and can be achieved by repeating the same plant shape within a planting bed, using the same edging or even sticking to one color scheme for all the plants. It creates a flow and unity in the landscape and is very effective when used correctly. Transition and rhythm are two other principles that compliment repetition, enhancing the overall aesthetic of a landscape.
Texture
Often overlooked, the importance of texture in landscaping designs should not be underestimated. While color tends to be the most prominent component of any garden, a well-planned use of textures can bring visual interest and depth to a landscape, creating an experience that appeals to all the senses.
Texture refers to a plant’s overall appearance and can range from fine and delicate to coarse and bold. The branching structure of a plant also affects its texture, with more tightly-branched plants producing a dense effect and more open-branched plants appearing lighter in weight.
As a landscaper, you have many options when it comes to adding texture to your customer’s garden. Using different types of foliage, plant materials and even hardscape elements can produce an interesting contrast to the surrounding environment.
Lines are another important element that can have a dramatic impact on the overall look of a landscape. Straight lines create a formal character and are usually associated with symmetrical design while curved lines have more of an informal, natural appearance and are generally associated with asymmetrical balance.
In addition to their directional qualities, line can be used to emphasize or de-emphasize specific elements within a landscaping composition. For example, if a landscape has a lot of straight lines, an accent like a curve or a garden ornament can be used to soften the overall feel of a design.
Once you’ve analyzed your client’s needs and the site conditions, you’ll be ready to begin putting together the design components that will form the landscape itself. The process is based on the principles of landscape composition, including proportion or scale, order, repetition and unity. Each of these concepts focuses on organizing features (plants and hardscape) into an aesthetically pleasing and functional whole.
Focal Points
Focal points are the first things people notice about a landscape design, and they can be anything from a stone bench to a tree or water feature. They may be new additions to the landscaping, such as a trellis or pergola, or they could be a part of the existing scenery that has been highlighted for added visual interest, like a statue or a wrought iron gate. Focal points are meant to catch attention and draw the eye, so they should be unique and striking in both form and color.
When creating a focal point, a skilled landscaper will consider how it will stand out in the yard and garden and the surrounding area. It is important to match it with the style of the home and other features to ensure that it fits seamlessly with the overall appearance. The size of the yard will also play a role, as a focal point should be proportional to the landscape and not so large that it overwhelms or feels out of place.
A landscaping focal point should be able to hold the eye and provide structure to the landscaping design. It should be a natural transitional point from one feature to the next, making it easy for people to navigate around the property without getting lost or confused. Focal points are also helpful in taking attention away from undesirable aspects of the landscape, such as an ugly drainpipe or utility box.
The best way to determine if you have a good focal point is to step back from your yard and take note of where the eyes are drawn. Are they being pulled toward the rose bushes or are they lingering over that rusty drainpipe? Once you know where the eyes are being pulled, you can adjust the design by adding or removing a focal point to make sure it is doing what it was intended to do.
Simplicity
A well-designed landscape is a true reflection of your home and lifestyle. It’s an extension of your living space and allows you to spend more time outside relaxing with a good book, enjoying dinner al fresco, or entertaining friends. But a well-designed landscape does more than add beauty to your property; it also increases its value. A well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing yard is highly appealing to potential buyers, which can help you get the best price when you decide to sell your home.
One of the most important aspects of any landscaping design is simplicity. Simplicity refers to the use of fewer elements and features to create an attractive and balanced landscape. This means reducing discordant elements, unifying the design with common motifs, and clustering plants to avoid a scattered look. Simplicity is a key component of many designs, including sleek modern ones, but it can also be found in effective rustic landscapes.
Another aspect of simplicity is proportion. This includes both the size of a structure and the distance between structures or plants. It’s crucial to keep these proportions in mind when designing your landscape, as they can make or break the overall aesthetic. For example, if you have a small house with large trees in front of it, the visual imbalance may make your entire backyard feel cramped and crowded.
Finally, unity is the idea that all of the design elements work together to create a cohesive whole. This can be accomplished through the use of color, creating focal points, utilizing the principles of balance and rhythm, and using repetition to create sequences, patterns, and harmony. When you have a unified design, the entire space flows together seamlessly and is easy to navigate.
