1. Designing the Landscape

2. Key Questions
What are the three major areas of a residential landscape?
What are the elements that make up the three main areas of design?
What family activities occur in the three areas of design?
What rules of landscape design apply to the public area?
What landscape design rules apply to the outdoor living area?
What are points of emphasis in the design area?

3. The Major Design Areas The public area
Portion of property that is in full view of the public
Area between the house and the road
Landscaping should improve appearance of the house and focus attention on the front door
3 main goals
Soften the architectural lines of the house
Frame the house with trees
Maintain open view areas

5. The Public Area Architectural Features
Use plant materials to soften the lines of the house
Repeat the dominant lines of the house with plant materials/”lines of influence”
Sketch the house out in elevation view
Locate the windows, doors, and porches on the drawing
Indicate the dominant lines and masses on sketch with colored pencils

9. Landscaping to meet Architecture
Dominant lines of house should be repeated in plant materials
Use trees and shrubs with horizontal branching if house has dominant horizontal lines
Use trees with pyramidal growth habits for houses with peaks and dominant pyramidal forms
Only use these type of trees to houses with peaks
Use plants to balance the house
If house has many details, then use simple plantings with neutral green colors and rounded forms

12. Walks, driveways, and parking areas
should blend into the landscape
Walks should follow a direct line, be parallel to the house and be wide enough for 2 people to walk side by side
Drives should not be excessive and detract from house
Single car- min of 10’
Double car- min of 18’
Drives that double as walk- 11’ 8” wide
Circle drives ft wide

17. The Role of Trees Frame house in public area
Select trees whose mature size match the size of the house
Can provide shade
Can mask awkward architectural features

20. Shrubs Tie house to the landscape Hide foundation of house
Use foundation plants at corners and doorways
Should not cover windows, walks and doors
Do not over prune plants
Locate plants at least one foot beyond the drip line of the house

22. Corner Plantings
Use plants with rounded forms and arrange them in group plantings
Should consist of several different plant species that complement each other
Should not grow high taller than 2/3 the distance from the ground to the eaves
Help unite the house with the landscape
Hide the foundation of the house
Helps draw attention to the front door

24. Doorway Plantings
Use different plantings on either side of the doorway
Use shorter plants for doorway plantings
Determine the height of the plants, follow a line fro the threshhold of the door to a point at the corners of the house that is 2/3 the distance from the ground to the eaves
Chose plants below this line
Should be no taller than ¼ to 1/3 the distance from the ground to the eaves
Use specimen plants to pull viewer’s eye to the door
Can create entry garden
Lawns unite all areas of the public area

28. Outdoor Living Area
Includes all property to the rear of the house except service area
View tend to be away from the house
Design focus on utility and beauty
Focus on gardening interests and entertaining
Enclosures- fences, wall, plants
Surface areas- walks, patios, decks
Plantings- shrubs, trees to enhance
Garden accessories- add interest, sculptures, pools, fountains, etc.

33. Ceiling in OLA Involves overhead features Design to view sky
Trees provide shade and overhead protection
Patio umbrellas

35. Walls in OLA Define space Screen views Provide privacy- 6ft high
Serve as backdrop for plants
Can use plants
Cheaper than hardscape but take up ground space- limit to large spaces
Use hedges
Fences- different types, top must be level, 2 types should not meet at a corner

39. Floor of OLA
Grass, ground cover plants, mulches, concrete, stone, brick
Base on function
Patios and decks serve to transition from inside to outside- put near kitchen
Put high interest plantings within view of patio
Walkways- connect public area to private area

42. Planting for OLA Provide pleasure
Borders, annual & perennial gardens (color), trees
High interest plantings to capture attention from patio and inside

44. Garden Accessories for OLA
Add interest, use as focal points
Sculptures, pools, fountains
Locate within high interest planting

49. Service Area Areas to the rear and side of house
Garbage cans, storage sheds, clotheslines, compost piles, vegetable gardens
Screen from view of public area and private area

50. Play Areas Design to blend in Place where they are less noticeable
Locate within an open line of site from patio and indoors
Use shade trees for overhead protection