What is Landscape Design?

When re-imagining your landscape, you want to have a plan. After all, your landscape will grow and change as the years go by. This is where landscape design comes in. 

But what exactly is landscape design?

In short, landscape design is similar to architectural design for homes and buildings. Join me as we go over the seven elements of landscape design and how including them in your design can result in a stunning landscape you’ll enjoy for years.

Scale

When designing a landscape, scale refers to the relative sizes and distances of the plants and other features. While water features such as fountains, ponds, and pools remain the same size. Plants, on the other hand, will grow with time. How a plant grows in the garden can significantly affect how the items around it look. For example, a small bed of flowers can make a neighboring tree look much larger. Remember the growth rate of some plants and trees and their location.

Unity

In landscape design, unity is the overall design theme. Giving your landscape a sense of consistency and unity. Having too many different kinds of plants can make your landscape design seem cluttered or messy. This goes for different features and hardscapes too. As an example, if your landscape theme is meant to be modern, a rustic-style patio furniture set will look out of place.

Balance

Balance in landscaping is the idea of even distribution throughout your design. Balance can have a different outcome for every person. However, it’s typically achieved with some form of symmetry or asymmetry using the rule of thirds. Symmetrical designs are more straightforward, and both sides of a landscape should mirror each other. The rule of thirds in landscape design is similar to photography. Choose a point of view, and separate the design into different sections using rows and columns to form an imaginary grid. Typically important design aspects will take up more space.

Simplicity

Following the less is more concept, simplicity aims to remove elements that either don’t improve the design or impact it meaningfully. All items in the design should be looked over to establish what is needed for the design to resemble a clean, uncluttered, and defined theme.

Variety

Although you want to keep things simple, you’ll still want a variety of elements in your landscape design. Growing odd numbers of the same or similar plants can create mass in your landscape design. Combining different textures, colors, and shapes gives you an interesting landscape while staying within your theme.

Emphasis

In landscaping, emphasis refers to that point of focus—the location or element to which the observer’s eyes are drawn to when first looking at an environment. In the front yard, this can be the main entrance or the porch itself. While in the back, it can be some artwork, a water feature such as a fountain, pond, or hero plant.

Sequence 

In landscape design, sequences refer to how elements of the design shift and change. You can gradually change one component to another using different plant sizes, textures, and lines. This smooth transition appeals to the eyes and feels like a natural progression. One large tree between two flower beds will usually look out of place.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allow us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.

Our team of experts carefully manages your project. Fill out our Landscape Design request for your landscape to fit your aesthetic. Call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for your project.