General Info - What is Landscape Design?

Landscape design is essentially the alteration of your outdoor surroundings by implementing plants in order to meet your taste and function needs. A landscaper utilizes trees, shrubs and flower beds to build upon the natural beauty of your property as well as to form natural landscape boundaries. A veritable art form, landscape design also has a practical side--it can increase the value of your property and home considerably. With the aid of a professional landscape designer, you can generate a plan that is sure to bring your ideal landscape vision to realization.

Commercial properties can benefit from landscape design as well. Landscape design not only has a welcoming nature but can function as traffic guidance systems, natural walkway divisions and parking lot boundaries.

Hardscape and Softscape are the two major classes of landscape design. Hardscape landscaping incorporates architectural components that are inorganic (not plant derived): stone walls, wooden fences, brick paths, statuary, fountains, benches and so forth. Softscape landscaping involves organic materials such as trees, shrubs, grass and any other greenery. Within the landscape design dichotomy of hardscape and softscape there are five supporting elements that factor into any laudable landscape design--color, form, line, scale and texture work together to create a unified, functional and aesthetically pleasing whole.

An integral tool in landscape design, color brightens the whole picture. Color can significantly dictate the mood of your design, from relaxed complacence to breath-catching drama. Color allows the eye to connect one or more areas together or clearly distinguish others.

The shape of plants being implemented into the landscape design describes the second element of form. While some plants such as evergreens are stately and conical, others hover above the ground and spread horizontally rather than vertically. Various shapes fit together to layer and build up your landscape design.

The third component, line, refers to the way in which effective landscaping leads the eye according to plant placement. If your eye is drawn up the garden path and your mind consequently tugs your feet than the landscaping line design is successful.

The household term of scale denotes the size relationship, or proportion, of objects in a group. In landscaping, scale is practiced to ensure that no one single component will dominate the others and thereby disrupt the harmony of the entire landscape design.

The last element, texture, refers to the surface feel of objects. Landscapers achieve depth and exterior variety by astutely combining different textures into their landscape design.

All of these five elements blended together will form a landscape design that not only pleases the eye, but stimulates the psyche.