Principles of Landscaping

Landscaping The use of plants and inanimate materials to enhance the utility (function) and beauty (aesthetics) of an outdoor area

Value of landscaping Manipulate environmental conditions –Shade, light wind Increased property value Exercise, therapeutic More satisfying living experience –Increased privacy –Refuge for animal life –Control vehicular and pedestrian traffic –Hide unattractive areas –Reduce noise

Cost of landscaping Cost –Quality of plants, materials –Procurement & installation –Age/size of plants –Recurrent costs Water, chemicals, mulch Time –Maintenance Water, fertilizer, pest control, controlling plant growth

Landscape design Surfaces: lawns, patios, terraces Paths: materials (lawn, ground cover, stone, etc.) Level changes: steps, slopes, retaining walls Boundaries: walls, fences, hedges Structures: garden buildings, pergolas, arches

Landscape design Ornamental plants –Trees, shrubs, climbing plants, ground covers, herbaceous plants (annuals & perennials) –Specimens

Landscape design Garden features –Kitchen garden, herb garden –Water features (pond, flowing water, fountain) –Ornaments & pots

Garden styles Formal (clipped hedges, topiary, Oriental, still water, statuary)

Garden styles Informal (Cottage)

Garden styles Informal (woodland)

Garden styles Themes (color, shape, repetition)

Garden styles Modern (contemporary)

Landscape design Site Needs Landscape principles Plants Materials/objects

Site analysis soil texture & quality, drainage utility of existing plants location of underground and above ground utilities good and bad views focal points of interest negative features of buildings and landscape window locations aspects of climate (sun rise/set, sun/shade patterns, wind directions)

Site analysis - views

Needs Analysis

E W

Elements of design Features of plants that create moods –Color –Texture –Form –Line

Elements of design – color

Color principles Colors influenced by light intensity Background color important for effect of foreground plants Reds, yellows – advance Blues, greens - recede

Elements of design – texture Leaves Branches Mulch

Elements of design - form The 3-D shape of the plant canopy

Plant forms

Elements of design – line Line is a boundary element Shape & structure are defined by line

Line Curved lines vs. straight lines

Principles of design Simplicity Balance Focalization of interest Rhythm & line Scale or proportion

Principle of simplicity

Principle of balance

Balance

Focalization of interest

Rhythm & line

Scale/proportion

Landscape plan

Design in stages

Public area

Driveway –Shape, paving materials

Public area Planting beds –Trees form the backbone Placement of new trees is critical Keep large trees away from house (scale)

Public area Foundation plantings Corner plantings Line plantings

Planting bed guidelines Edging materials –Plastic, timbers, stone Mulch or groundcover Large, curved beds more attractive than small, angled beds Mass shrubs of same species, use only a few species Avoid lawn ornaments

Private area Shade –Where & when? –Dense shade trees vs. light shade trees

Private area Privacy –Fences vs. plants

Private area Deck/patio –Materials, maintenance, cost –Timing of sun/shade

Service area Screening Vegetable garden Cut flower garden

Online landscape design resources horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/homelandscape/ home.htmlhttp://aggie- horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/homelandscape/ home.html S4.asphttp:// S4.asp

Selecting plants for the landscape Evergreen vs. deciduous Categories: vines, groundcovers, shrubs, trees Size: small, medium, large Plant adaptability –Temperature, sun, soil Maintenance requirements –Pruning, fertilization, pest control NCSU Plant fact sheets

Acquiring plants Home propagation –Cuttings, seed Transplant from wild –Deciduous should be dormant –Evergreen during new growth Mail order –Large selection, cheap –Shipped “bare-root” Grown in field, dug up when dormant Shipped in moist wood shavings, wrapped in plastic Increased risk of plant death (minimal root system) Should plant ASAP –Use “Garden Watchdog” to preview vendorsGarden Watchdog

Acquiring landscape plants Nurseries, etc. –Bare-root –Balled & burlapped plants Dug and wrapped Limited soil base –Container grown plants Propagated & grown in a pot Minimal root damage May be root bound

Shopping – branches

Shopping - crotches

Crotch damage

Shopping - Trunk taper

Shopping – roots

Shopping – balled & burlapped roots

Planting landscape plants Fall in the South (Spring ok) Digging the hole –12” Wider than root ball –6” Deeper than root ball Amend Backfill Fertilize in moderation

Planting depth & soil types

Slicing the root ball

Planting balled & burlapped trees

Planting bare-root plants

Berm for irrigation

Irrigation of new plants Weekly soakings for the first year Mulch for water retention

Mulching

Tree support – staking & guying

Guying

Staking damage

Tree root growth

Root deflectors

Landscaping related careers Landscape architect Landscape contractor Landscape maintenance Nursery production