Whether you are just moving into a new home or you’re looking to create a backyard oasis, there are some important considerations to apply when deciding how to landscape your yard.
The first concept most people consider is how to establish a plan.
For some, the landscape should compliment the home, where the style and character of the home are what inspires the design of the yard.
Other people feel that the exterior landscape should make the home blend into the landscape; and the home looks as if it is in it’s proper environment.
And still there are other views as well, where the actual lay of the property is also taken into consideration.
No matter what opinion you may have, in order for a landscape design to be both aesthetically pleasing and functional, the structure of the home is an important aspect in the design.
Homeowners most often purchase their homes already built, and the landscape is usually already established by the builder and landscaper.
Learning a few basic elements of landscape design can greatly enhance your experience in designing your own yard and your communication with others in the field of landscaping.
Two Camps of Landscape Design Thought Processes
1. Formal
Like the heading above mentions, there are two broad groups of landscape design; one style is formal, consisting of straight lines, neatly manicured edges and sets an aura of extreme order.
These types of landscapes require a high level of maintenance and work best with formal style homes and homeowners who want to maintain the upkeep of a formal landscape. The formal landscape highlights architecture and the crisp clean lines of a home.
2. Natural Form
The second style of landscape highlights the natural form and shape of plants and the home appears more so to be nestled into the landscape.
Plans are placed to enhance existing shrubs and trees and there is rarely a crisp straight line. An important consideration in choosing this style is to be aware of how large the chosen plants are at maturity and the possible spreading of particular species.
Obviously, there is much less maintenance with a natural landscape than as with a formal.
To summarize, the important considerations in landscape design are establishing the structure style of your home, deciding how much time you want to invest in maintaining your yard and finally what style of landscape will work best based on your choices.
In planning your landscape, start with any preexisting beds or planting boxes around your home, or design your own. It’s helpful to sketch out ideas on paper complete with measurements to assist you in knowing what materials and plants to purchase.
A simple garden hose works wonderfully to experiment with different shapes for beds. If you’re attempting a natural feel, opt for curved beds that give flow to the landscape.
In formal planning, plan on straight lines and symmetrical plantings. For inspiration, travel around your local neighborhoods or visit garden centers and landscape supply stores.
The more you learn about landscape design and plant species the more fun and rewarding this project will be.
