Mark Parkes - Garden Design and Landscaping: A Simple step by step Guide about Home Landscape Design for Beginners to Create Plant Combinations for an Abundant Garden

GARDEN DESIGN AND LANDSCAPING 2020

A SIMPLE STEP BY STEP GUIDE ABOUT HOME LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOR BEGINNERS TO CREATE PLANT COMBINATIONS FOR AN ABUNDANT GARDEN

Mark Parkes

Table of Contents

When I talk about landscaping, Im thinking about something between these two extremes. Yes, you should dream a bit when planning your home garden, but of course your plans must be rooted in reality. The landscape is actually all of the above. Its the total outdoor environment. The landscape might refer to large parks and open spaces or smaller urban areas. As individuals we dont have much control over design of the larger landscape. However, we have total control over our yard or the immediate environment around our home. Why not make the most of it? Make it more appealing, more enjoyable. Make it special!

Actually, I prefer the term home garden to yard or landscape. My idea of a garden is not just a vegetable bed. When speaking of the home garden I picture images of walkways, outdoor seating areas, open views or privacy screens, interesting small spaces with eye catching features such as statuary, a novelty plant or a water fountain. Its all that and more. Its the view from the street or the view from the kitchen window. With this in mind, landscaping is MUCH more than just decoration. We can make it whatever we want. Your outdoor living spaces should be a continuation of the homes interior and should not only match, but add to the style of the home.

Our typical American style of landscaping puts emphasis on the appearance of the house from the street. The public area, the perspective from the street, is typically designed to decorate the home creating curb appeal. However, in many other countries around the world, there would be a wall near the street with the plantings inside the wall creating a garden view from inside the house. Think about it. Your home IS your castle. Its your biggest asset. It is your refuge from the jungle. Its where you relax, recuperate and entertain friends. Its where you live! Make the most of it. Make your home environment welcoming to visitors. Make it comfortable, pleasant and interesting. Make it exciting!

Ok now that were starting to see the big picture, how about this rooted in reality idea? A good designed landscape should do more than just decorate your house. Properly placed trees will cool or warm your house as needed. Well-designed beds will make mowing and maintenance much simpler. Walkways should facilitate movement around your house and welcome guests. Are you starting to get the picture? So many landscape features can either be an asset or a liability. Its all a matter of what you plant and where. I think youd agree its important enough to deserve a well thought out plan.

As mentioned above, the well- designed garden space should provide beauty, privacy, relaxation, entertainment and enjoyment for many years to come. Its not a short term proposition. Garden development takes years. Were dealing with trees here. Unfortunately, in our mobile American society many people think in the near term. We often plan on moving in a few short years for various reasons. But, even in this case, proper landscaping will provide a few years of enjoyment and a return on investment when you sell. But the big rewards come after many years of growth and development of a properly planned, installed and maintained garden. More than just increasing your property value, the right plant in the right place can truly result in an increase in your enjoyment and quality of life!

Sadly when driving down just about any residential street in America I see many cases of plantings done with little or no forethought. Often potentially large trees are positioned where they will crowd the house, walks or driveway. I see shrubs sheared into boxes and balls to keep them in bounds. But I also see shrubs growing up into the windows or plants that are colorful for only a short time in summer located in the public area where they are seen year around, even when they are dormant and not very attractive (more on this later). Or maybe its combinations of plants with no thought to their flower colors, flowering sequence or the general appearance in all seasons of the year. With better knowledge of plant material and a well thought out design, this picture could be pleasant in every season with far less maintenance. One secret to low maintenance is to strive for a natural appearance. A natural look can be a little loose on the edges and not so structured or man-made. With the right plant in the right place heavy shearing isnt necessary. The chosen plants should fill in their allotted space, choking out many weeds in the process.

As a landscape designer for over 20 years, I have run across a multitude of spaces needing attention, whether they had started as a blank slate or had become an area that was overgrown and neglected. The process of landscape design involves a series of steps that build upon one another, so I will start from the beginning with the basics. The more planning you do initially will lead to better results when your project is completed.

Function: When discussing function, consider the purpose you would like your landscape to achieve. If it is a quiet place you desire, then perhaps adding a small stone patio and or garden bench could create a peaceful retreat. If looking to attract wildlife, then the addition of a water feature, birdbath or feeder could also be part of the thought process. Of course, function may be on a wider scale, such as the desire for a patio or deck, pool, or outdoor grilling and entertaining space. Once function is determined, other factors are then considered in the process of landscape design.

Unity and Balance: When designing, the different landscape elements should look like they belong together. Areas can be tied into one another by repeating some elements such as form, color, and texture throughout the landscape. The use of similar groupings of plantings can help to achieve this effect. It is also helpful to limit the number of different types of plants you are using so that the design doesnt become too busy. Groupings of certain plants in odd numbers, such as groups of three, five, or seven create a sense of flow and simple repetition, giving a stronger sense of unity. Odd numbers also allow for variations in height and are often perceived as a single unit that is not easily visually divided.

Balance can be achieved through symmetry. Symmetrical balance is achieved when the same objects (mirror images) are placed on either side of an axis, while the asymmetrical balance is achieved by equal visual weight of non-equal amounts of form, color, or texture on either side of an axis. For example, while designing a front foundation planting, a grouping of flowering Spirea Magic Carpet can be used on one side of a stoop, while a grouping of burgundy colored Spilled Wine Weigela can be used on the opposite side. In this case the balance is asymmetrical with different foliage types and flowering times. In another example, a Hinoki Cypress with a grouping of daylilies repeated on each side of a front stoop would create an exact mirror image of symmetrical balance. The use of either symmetrical or asymmetrical balance will create the same effect of unity and flow in the landscape.

Form: The shape of an object as defined by a line is referred to as form in garden design. Form is probably one of the most important elements in designing a landscape. It is what is seen when first looking at a garden from a distance. Every plant has a distinct growth-habit and shape which develops and changes over time as the plant matures. These shapes, whether upright, weeping, columnar, pyramidal, spreading, or round, define the spaces in the garden.