The following presentation

has been rated PG. PGPractical Gardening

Viewer Discretion Advised

As practical as it is, planting design is an art.

It is the designer’s task to apply the principles of planting design to form an

artistic composition.

Plants and materials have sensory qualities.

We must coordinate the functional uses of plants with our sensory perceptions.

Basics of Design

In the following slides we will look at the steps necessary for a landscape design.

Conceptionto

Completion

Site EvaluationLightSoil

MoistureTemperature

WindContour of the LandExisting Elements

LightSoil

MoistureTemperature

WindContour of the LandExisting Elements

LightWhat conditions does our site have?

Full Sun, partial sun, partial shade, light shade, full shade, dappled

shade, deep shade

Soil

What is the soil type;

clay, sandy, loam

pH

How much organic matter exists?

Drainage

LocationDetermine the best

location.

Where is the garden best viewed?

Are you trying to block a view?

How does it relate to other areas?

StyleGardens should reflect your style

Will they be formal, informal, naturalized, or none

Reflect who you are and “where” you are

Create a mood

Mood is created by color, form, plant selection, light and shadow, movement of the line,

structural elements and art.

Evoke emotions – refinement, graceful, tranquility, wild and free spirited

Scale & Proportion Scale is the relative size of an element or area.

Proportion is the relationship of the

elements’ sizes to each other.

Proper scale and proportion create balance between

positive and negative spaces in gardens.

What sets the scale?House, arbor,

trees…

FunctionWhat will be the function of the garden?

Cut flowers?

Attract birds? Butterflies? Wildlife?

Fragrance?

Privacy?

Meditation and tranquility?

Color is everywhere, not just in the flower.

Foliage, Fruit, Bark, Soil, Grass

Color Palette – monochromatic, polychromatic, pastels or bold

Colors change with the season

Peak season of interest

Special time of the year

Special event

The Color WheelPrimary colors red, yellow, blue

Secondary colors orange, green, violet

Tertiary colors red-violet, red-orange, blue-green, etc.

Color results from light penetration, absorption

and reflection off an object.

Analogous colors are adjacent

Complementary or contrasting colors are

opposite

Complementary

Red

Orange

YellowGreen

Blue

Violet

Warm colors – yellows, oranges, and reds are bright, lively and inviting. They feel closer to us.

Colors are either

warm or cool

Cool colors – blues and violets are restful. They give depth. As objects are farther away their colors cool.

Color ValueValue is the colors luminosity.

Light colors or tints contain more white.

The contrast between light and shade creates depth.

Tints add lightness.

Shades add weight.

Tints are pastels.

Bright pastels are more prominent

Pale pastels are better blenders

Tints to the back of the garden with finer texture will give depth.

Planting shades with warmer tones, and coarser texture will shorten the depth.

To balance you need more shades than light color

Phlox paniclata ‘Tracy’s Treasure’, Picea pungens ‘Thomsen’

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, Picea pungens ‘Thomsen’

IntensityIntensity refers to the tone or saturation of a color

Added to a pure color:

White will give a tint

Black will give a shade

Gray will give a tone

Affecting ColorLight

During the day red, yellow, and orange are most prevalent

In the evening the colors turn more cooler and blues and violets are stronger

Bright sun will wash out pastels and are better viewed in the shade

Distance

Distance makes colors appear cooler , neutral, or faded

Color CombinationsBrighten a color by surrounding it with its complementary color.

Brighten a color by surrounding it with neutrals or grays.

Purple with gray.

Decrease brightness with analogous colors or more saturated colors.

Color value (luminosity) can be lighten with darker backgrounds or foliage.

Darken a value with lighter background.

Amsonia tabernaemontana and Euphorbia griffithii ‘Fireglow’

Lilium ‘Apricot Brandy’ and Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’

Kniphofia ‘Primrose Beauty’ and Picea orientalis ‘Skylands’

Cerinthe major ‘Purpurascens’ and Stachys macrantha

Galium odoratum, Betula utilis var. jacquemontii

Perovskia atriplicifolia, Clematis ‘Elsa Spath’, Nepeta sp.

Texture & Form in ColorVivid colors in soft airy textures have less impact than bolder, heavier textures.

Fine texture on flowers and leaves will mix colors better.

Bolder textures will show more color at a distance.

An energizing color.

Lighter color symbolizes affection and sensuality.

Darker color desire and anger.

In a large mass has very strong impact.

Green is complementary color.

Orange or purple will decrease brightness.

Gives a sense of well-being, optimism and joy.

Blue is its complement.

Warmth and power. An inspirational color.

Violet or blue is its complement.

A feeling of relaxation and tranquility.

Inspires patience and calm.

Rarest of all flower colors.

Suggest distance.

Increases space.

Blends well.

Orange is complement.

Glows at dusk.

Inspires creativity and fosters self-worth, and an inner calm.

Saturated color associated with royalty and wealth.

Too much is depressing.

Yellow is complement.

Purity and cleanliness.

Crispness, class, sophistication, and formality.

Doesn’t clash with any color.

Brightens shady areas.

Has a high value and is bright and prominent.

Other colors deepen and increase in contrast.

Reflects other colors around it.

Makes pure colors stronger.

Gray is versatile and neutral.

Makes intense colors more intense.

Makes soft tinted colors more delicate.

Grays with silver in it have higher value and are more prominent.

Muted grays are better blenders.

Texture refers to the surface quality of a plant.

We can actually see and feel texture.

Fine texture gives depth or increases space.

Bolder textures stop the eye.

For balance you need more fine textured plants to equal a bold one.

Te x t u r e

There are three types of texture; fine, medium, and

coarse.

Can be found in foliage or branching structure.

Thick tight foliage will have finer texture.

Distance of view should be considered. The farther

away from a plant the finer the texture.

The Physical Properties of Plants

F o r m

Form is the physical habit of the plant’s growth.

Most plants are rounded and more horizontal in shape.

Rounded or horizontal shapes are less dramatic because they are expected.

Vertical forms demand attention.

Plants with strong lines make excellent structural elements.

Design PrinciplesIt is the designer’s objective to create order in the garden.

It is the underlying structure of the garden.

Formality or informal, natural, etc.

Order through symmetry, asymmetry, and balance.

Unity

Unity in a landscape design describes the harmonious combination of all the various elements to create a feeling of oneness.

An elusive quality bringing aesthetics and functionality in a whole.

It is achieved by successfully

combining six ingredients:

Simplicity – Variety - Emphasis

Balance - Sequence - Scale

Simplicity Simplicity breed elegance.

Simple lines, forms and functional designs are always more interesting than complex, hard-to-digest designs. They are easier to focus.

The most important factor for simplicity is repetition - allowing the eye to move through the landscape.

Restrain repetition to prevent monotony.

Variety

Variety can be applied to form, color, or texture.

Adds spice and allows the designer to control the mood of the design. Prevents boredom while adding interest.

Too much variety creates confusion.

Strong variety creates contrast, becoming “emphasis”.

Emphasis

Emphasis draws attention to important features.

Less important plantings take a subordinate role.

Accent plants usually have strong features.

Balance

Subconsciously, we look for balance in everything we view.

Balance can be symmetrical or symmetrical.

Asymmetrical has elements with the same weight.

Symmetrical elements are exact.

Balance is not only seen but felt.

Color and texture can also influence balance.

Balance is 3 dimensional.

Balance can also apply to the depth of view, it must be preserved between the foreground, middle ground, and background.

If unbalanced one view will predominate.

Sequence

or Rhythm

For the viewer’s eyes to move over a landscape in an orderly fashion, a sequence must be established.

A progression of form, texture or color should be gradual, abrupt changes create emphasis.

Site AnalysisA quick, on-the-site diagram provides the designer the measurements and informational notes needed for work at the drawing board.

Bubble PlanBubble plans are general notes and ideas from initial thoughts, criteria,

and demands.

While not detailed, they help

organize ideas into a cohesive

plan.

Plan View DesignThe final presented

design.

The plan shows placement of lot dimensions, any

structures, hardscaping, plants, and labels.

The final design with all objects

labeled.

All useful information such as scale, planting

instructions, revision notes,

materials list, are also

incorporated.

A color rendering is

ideal for professional

presentation.

It is also very useful for easy identification of different objects

in the landscape.