Landscaping ideas and design

Venturing into the land of landscaping design may seem a bit overwhelming. With so many options, including types of plants and flowers, deciding between concrete and stone patios, or trying to incorporate lighting features, it is easy to lose sight of what you want. In order to get a handle on what many do as a profession, let's talk a little about design.

There are five basic elements of landscape design, each of which serve as a learning tool which you can put into practice in your own backyard.

• Color refers to color theory, which states that there are 4 categories in the color spectrum: primaries are reds, yellows and blues; secondaries are greens, purples and oranges; tertiaries are mixtures of primaries and secondaries; neutrals are whites, grays and silvers. Some combinations of colors are pleasing to the eye, while others are considered unattractive.

• Form refers to the shape of a plant or tree and its structure. For example, trees come in many shapes, such as columnar and globular. They can have upright branches, or droop, such as the weeping willow. The form of a plant determines how it looks and where it might be placed.

• Scale refers tp the size of one component relative to adjacent components. For example, a tall palm tree next to a small flower island. Ideally, landscaping design calls for balance between symmetrical and asymmetrical objects.
• Line refers to the way in which a viewer's eye movement perceives the arrangement of plants and trees. This can be likened to perspective in a piece of artwork, such as a painting.

• Texture refers to the texture of plants. The form of the plant often dictates its texture. Think of the difference in texture between an aloe plant and a prickly pear cactus. You don't have to touch them both to know that aloe is soft and flowing, while cactus is rough and prickly. This is something the eye perceives.

Once you begin to put these principles into practice, they will become second nature. There are two basic categories of landscape garden design, and most people incorporate elements of both.

Landscaping and formal gardens

A traditional formal garden, also called a French garden, incorporates elements such as geometrically shaped planting beds, hedges, topiaries, walkways, and walls. It is laid out on a grid, and has a central point running down the center. Since this style of landscaping is very labor intensive, it is somewhat uncommon.

Landscaping and informal gardens

Informal style means that just about anything goes. Some popular ideas include makeshift meadows, where wildflowers can grow free, wooded areas, where flowers and plants are grown under large, shady trees, and curving flowerbeds, where bulbs, perennials, annuals and small trees are mixed together.

Some do's and don't of landscape design

Here are a few tips that can help you ensure your landscaping design plans are on the road to success.

• Do plant flowers in the same area that have the same light and soil requirements. This is a great landscaping design practice.

• Don't plant on a hillside that is prone to erosion. Build a retaining wall before you begin to add plants.

• Do use plants that are native to the area. Trying to incorporate foreign or exotic plants into landscaping is expensive and not overly successful.

• Don't forget about functionality. Many people want stunning landscaping, and there's nothing wrong with that, but make your landscaping design is user friendly to children and pets (if you have them).

• Do stick to your landscaping budget and plan accordingly. Taking into account the cost of design maintenance will help you get a good idea of future costs.