1. Landscape design principles
BDHS 2014

2. Landscape Design
The art of developing property for its greatest use and enjoyment
Involves understanding the environment around the structure and selecting plants that perform well in that environment.
©iStockphoto.com

3. Landscape Value Determinants
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Landscape Value Determinants
Good design results in adding value to property and enhancing quality of life.
Aesthetic appeal
Economic value
Functional value
Environmental effects
©iStockphoto.com
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Copyright 2007

4. Aesthetic Appeal Add visual beauty Hide undesirable features
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Aesthetic Appeal
Add visual beauty
Hide undesirable features
Emphasize desirable features
Appeal to all five senses
Sight
Hearing
Touch
Taste
Smell
©iStockphoto.com
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

5. Economic Value Increase property value 6 to 15 percent
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Economic Value
Increase property value 6 to 15 percent
Reduce energy costs
Buffer wind
Control solar heat gain
Planting trees and shrubs strategically can reduce energy costs by sheltering a structure from cold winter winds (as shown in the image on the left) or shading a structure and pavement from the hot summer sun (as shown in the image on the right).
Courtesy USDA
©iStockphoto.com
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Copyright 2007

6. Functional Value Aesthetic value Enhance livability
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Functional Value
Aesthetic value
Enhance livability
Conservation and environmental protection
Solar heat control
Wind control
Sound control
Slope stabilization
©iStockphoto.com
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Copyright 2007

7. Environmental Effects
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Environmental Effects
©iStockphoto.com
Landscaping can
Moderate temperatures
Reduce glare and wind
Use water more efficiently
Clean the air
Provide wildlife habitat
Bird and Butterfly habitat
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8. Presentation Name
Course Name
Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name
Rules and Regulations
State, local, and/or community regulations may control landscape design.
Storm water drainage
Tree ordinances
Street trees
Street yard
Buffer yards
Street wall
Parking screen and islands
Trash screen
Often regulations control certain aspects of the landscaping of commercial properties.

9. Rules and Regulations Storm water regulations Presentation Name
Course Name
Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name
Rules and Regulations
Storm water regulations
Storm water drainage – Local codes often limit the post-development quantity of runoff to pre-development levels, and landscaping can have a major impact on the quantity of storm water runoff.
©iStockphoto.com

10. Rules and Regulations Tree Ordinances Presentation Name Course Name
Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name
Rules and Regulations
Tree Ordinances
Tree ordinances typically protect trees of specific species and sizes. Cutting of these trees is prohibited.
©iStockphoto.com

11. Rules and Regulations Street Trees Presentation Name Course Name
Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name
Rules and Regulations
Street Trees
Tree ordinances are often enacted to control the destruction or cutting of trees.
Street Trees. In some communities, the owners of properties are required to plant and maintain trees along public roadways.
Street Yard. A street yard is an area within the property line between the property line and the

12. Rules and Regulations Street Yard Presentation Name Course Name
Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name
Rules and Regulations
Street Yard
Street Yard. A street yard is an area within the property line between the property line and the

13. Rules and Regulations Buffer Yards Presentation Name Course Name
Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name
Rules and Regulations
Buffer Yards

14. Rules and Regulations Parking Screens and Islands Presentation Name
Course Name
Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name
Rules and Regulations
Parking Screens and Islands
Parking islands are often required to break up vast areas of pavement in parking areas. Screening, which can involve vegetation or man-made screens, are often required to hide the negative aesthetics of a parking lot from nearby streets and properties.

15. Rules and Regulations Trash Screen Presentation Name Course Name
Unit # – Lesson #.# – Lesson Name
Rules and Regulations
Trash Screen
Regulations often require unsightly elements, such as trash receptacles, loading docks, and mechanical equipment, to be screened from the view of adjacent properties.

16. Unintended Results of Landscaping
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Unintended Results of Landscaping
Air Pollution: Gasoline-powered landscape equipment (mowers, trimmers, blowers, and chainsaws) account for more than 5% of our urban air pollution.
Chemical Toxins: Residential application of pesticides is typically at a rate 20 times that of farmers per acre.
Solid Wastes: Yard wastes (mostly grass clippings) comprise 20% of municipal solid waste collected. Most still end up in landfills.
Flooding and Water Pollution: A lawn has less than 10% of the water absorption capacity of natural woodland – a reason for suburban flooding.
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17. Environmentally Friendly Landscaping
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Environmentally Friendly Landscaping
Protect natural areas
Reduce turf
Mulch planted areas
Use native plant species
Reduce energy consumption
– Low maintenance landscaping
Environmentally friendly materials
Use Xeriscape techniques
Courtesy EPA
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Copyright 2007

18. Xeriscape 1. Proper planning and design
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Xeriscape
Landscaping philosophy that seeks to minimize the need for water.
1. Proper planning and design
2. Soil analysis / improvements
3. Appropriate plant selection
4. Practical turf areas
5. Efficient irrigation
6. Use of mulches
7. Appropriate maintenance
The xeriscape landscaping in the picture uses several species of hardy native plants that use little water.
Xeriscape in Colorado
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

19. Group plants by water use zones
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Water Use Zones
PLANTING TYPE
WATER USE
Native Plant
Low
Cactus Garden
Herb Garden
Moderate to Low
Fruit Trees
Moderate
Flower Garden
High
Vegetable Garden
Moderate to High (depends on crops)
Wildflower Meadow
High (germination)
Low (once established)
Lawn
Moderate to High
Group plants by water use zones
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20. Principles of Design Repetition Balance Emphasis Unity
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Principles of Design
Concepts used to organize the elements of a design
Repetition
Balance
Emphasis
Unity
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21. Principles of Design Repetition Use of the same element over and over
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Principles of Design
Repetition
Use of the same element over and over
Repetition is achieved when the same line, shape, color, texture, plant, or material is used throughout the landscape
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22. Repetition Which elements are repeated? Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Repetition
The same red color, shrub species, curved lines, and decorative curb are repeated throughout the landscape.
©iStockphoto.com
Which elements are repeated?
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23. Principles of Design Balance
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Principles of Design
Balance
A sense of equality that can either be symmetric or asymmetric.
Formal Balance – A symmetrical design in which the design can be divided into two identical halves.
Informal Balance – An asymmetrical design that can not be divided into identical halves but that provides an overall sense of equilibrium.
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24. Balance Formal Balance Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Balance
©iStockphoto.com
Formal Balance
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25. Principles of Design Emphasis
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Principles of Design
Emphasis
The result of focusing attention on one aspect of a design.
Emphasis is constructed by creating a visual path from at least one vantage point to the focal point.
Focal Point – The object of attention
Vantage Point – The place from which the focal point is viewed
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26. Emphasis What is the focal point? Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Emphasis
Image by the Environmental Protection Agency
What is the focal point?
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27. Principles of Design Unity
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Principles of Design
Unity
The impression that the separate parts of the design belong together or are part of a whole.
Unity is created by
A consistent style (Japanese, formal, etc.)
Visual pathways
Consistent color scheme
Repetition of lines, plants, and hardscape
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28. Unity Is the design unified? Why? Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Unity
©iStockphoto.com
©iStockphoto.com
Is the design unified? Why?
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29. Landscape Design Process
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Landscape Design Process
Concept (Master) Plan
Delineate spaces
Hardscape
Planting beds
Turf areas
Use straight lines or smooth curves
Locate plants by broad classification
Deciduous or coniferous
Tree or shrub
Groundcover
Turf
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30. Concept Plan Landscape Design Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Concept Plan
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Copyright 2007

31. Landscape Design Process
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Landscape Design Process
Hardscape
Driveway, walks, patio, deck, walls, and fences
Garden structures – Gazebo, trellis, arch
Garden ornaments – fountains, sculptures birdbaths, etc.
Furniture
©iStockphoto.com
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007

32. Landscape Design Process
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Landscape Design Process
Plant Material
Height
Spread (width)
Deciduous or coniferous
Form or shape (columnar, cone, round)
Growth rate
Growing conditions
Sun, moisture, soil conditions
Hardiness zone
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Copyright 2007

33. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Landscape Design
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
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Copyright 2007

34. Landscape Design Process
Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Landscape Design Process
Planting Plan
Indicates the location and species of plants
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Copyright 2007

35. Planting Plan Landscape Design Civil Engineering and Architecture TM
Unit 4 – Lesson Landscaping
Planting Plan
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Copyright 2007

36. Image Sources
Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Ariel Rios building south courtyard perspective. Retrieved at htm.
istockphoto. (n.d.). Retrieved at
United States Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Conservation practices that save: Windbreaks/shelterbelts. Retrieved at