Garden Design Principles
Style is a matter of taste, design a matter of principles. ~ Thomas Church
The summer-like weather we’ve recently experienced has overwhelmed the sensitive early spring flowers resulting in an abruptly shortened their show. The forsythia, which last year bloomed into the second week of May quickly looked tired and spent. The Amelanchier (Shadblow or Serviceberry) trees had their usually short flowering season cut in half. Saturday the trees were filled with their ephemeral white flowers and by Sunday the flowers were gone and the tree was well into leafing out.
Even the home-landscaping procrastinators were moved to realizing that the time has come to plan and plant their gardens. Therefore, to provide some guidance here are a few basic design principles.
Garden Design Principles
Establish general lines in the garden before selecting plant types. Take into account house colors, existing trees, and fences as a starting point. Plan gentle flowing curves. Use backgrounds to obscure objectionable views and emphasize nice ones. Keep in mind the year-round effect and incorporate both evergreen and deciduous plants. Avoid planting shrubs in rows; let them weave in and out.
A focal point attracts the eye; it should be interesting and fairly obvious. However do not use more than one focal point in a field vision. Lesser focal points can be put along the path to the main one, i.e., sculpture, furniture, fountains, ponds, a distinctive plant or grouping.
Flowers can be divided into two color groups; blue/red through blue, and orange/red through yellow. By sticking to one color family you can create a harmonious effect. Consider leaf color in summer and fall, the fruit, even the bark.
Keep texture in mind when you plan your plantings. Coarse plant texture (oak tree, hydrangea, native hibiscus) is strong and moves toward the viewer and holds her attention. Fine texture (maidenhair fern, many ornamental grasses) is less obvious—it is least noticed and first to be lost in design. Medium plants should predominate to provide unity and transitions between coarse and fine textures. Contrast provides interest.
Sunlight affects your selection of plants, but it can also mean much more. Many plants look their best when backlit by the sun. Consider planting ornamental grasses with airy inflorescences to the west of your main sitting area for most dramatic showing.
The sound of trickling water will attract wildlife and charm your visitors. By providing habitat, you’ll benefit from the songs of birds, frogs, and insects. A covered porch will let you watch and listen to the rain. And then there is fragrance … the bouquet of individual flowers or the sweet blend of a whole meadow in bloom.
Provide sanctuaries and safe travel corridors for sensitive wildlife. Disturbance to wildlife can be lessened if areas with human activity are clustered and kept small. Well-established trees are valuable. Avoid putting new features or structures where they will damage trees. Roots extend far from the trunk, and construction close to the roots may harm the tree. Some species cannot tolerate soil applied over their root zone; as little as one inch can kill some oaks. Upright dead trees (snags), large logs and stumps serve as sculpture and provide food and shelter for many organisms. Locate patios and decks for wildlife viewing. Also consider views from inside the house.
Plant Selection
The most exciting part of the process is selecting the plants. Collect lists of plants and plant communities for sun, shade, wet, bird-attracting, etc. from which to make your selections. Remember: — Suit the plants to the region, plant community, soil conditions and microclimate.
- Think in three strata—canopy, shrub layer, groundcover.
- Place shrubs, forbs, grasses in groups of three, five, or more. Avoid planting in pairs—the eye jumps back and forth between the two. The exception is trees; you may have space for only one or two.
- Avoid planting in straight lines or perfect circles.
- Do not use too many species in small areas.
- Use repetition of groups of plants and colors to allow the eye to flow through the landscape.
- Be aware of each plant’s ultimate height and spread at maturity. Do not over plant nor plant too close to structures. Enjoy the growth process.
For best results, water deeply after planting and during dry spells. Fertilize with organics such as fish-emulsion, cottonseed and soybean meal, malt-sprouts, compost, leafmold, and bonemeal. Deep-mulch to feed, insulate, control weeds, and hold moisture. Hand-weed diligently, especially in first and second years.
Another Warning on Invasive Plants
Invasive plants shade or crowd native plants out of existence. The impact that invasive weeds have on our quality of life can be staggering. Allowing them to proliferate has many consequences. High quality woodlands, normally bursting with springtime beauty and diversity, are being quietly and sadly transformed into jungles of burning bush, Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, honeysuckle, and garlic mustard. The amazing springtime arrangement of diverse wildflowers that delight so many is being lost in the process. Invasive weeds destroy wildlife habitat and food sources. Having evolved with native plant species, our wildlife often relies on native plants for survival. If invasive weeds cause the diversity and quantity of native plants to diminish, the diversity and quantity of native wildlife will diminish as well.
