Landscaping 101

Each time you bring home a plant from the nursery you are engaging in the design process, either intentionally or unintentionally.

Although an overall plan is a valuable tool, there's nothing wrong with designing on the fly. Experienced gardeners do it all the time, usually with great delight. Whichever method you choose, here are a few tips for creating a landscape that stands out from the crowd and minimizes future headaches.

Plan for equipment access.

"It's important to anticipate future access, whether it be mowers or stump grinders, or future building projects such as a porch or patio." At some point in the life of your home, you will be faced with a project or repair that requires access to your backyard. Plan for it in advance, or be faced with having to tear out some of your plantings.

Start with (and maintain) the focal points.

Stated simply, a focal point is something that makes you look. Although we typically think of using a specimen tree or statue as a focal point, there are many other possibilities. The key is to find something that is slightly to very different from the rest of your landscape--in form, texture or color. It could be an architectural feature of your house or even a borrowed view. The trick is to make them stand out, yet not stick out. It should be somehow connected to the rest of the landscape, either through a repeated shape or color, or a connection to the overall style of the landscape. Scale is also important. If your landscape is several acres with broad

vistas, then perhaps an ancient oak would play the role quite well. In a small urban lot, an ornate garden bench or small statue might be the perfect size.

Keep curves in check.

Incorporating curves will add interest to your garden, but don't overdo it. A collection of amoeba-shaped beds would be overkill, as would a curvy path that takes you far out of the way of your destination. Long, subtle curves are often best. If you incorporate curved lines in beds and walkways, for example, repeat those shapes in the third dimension with the shape of the plants you

choose and the way you arrange them.

Add movement.

A landscape without movement is like a painting. Paintings are fine for hanging on a wall, but a garden needs movement to add life and interest. No garden is complete without some ornamental grasses to sway in the breeze. Add flowers to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, and several berry producers for the birds.

Right plant, right spot.

On the outside chance that someone reading this has not heard the old adage "right plant, right spot," I urge you to adopt it as your personal gardening mantra. The phrase should be repeated constantly during each visit to the nursery. In addition to knowing the full-grown size, consider growth rate as well. Since they get large more quickly, fast-growing plants may seem like a bargain. In the end, however, time and money spent on pruning and other maintenance may outweigh the initial savings.

Also, proper spacing allows air circulation to prevent fungal and insect problems. After reading this, one might ask: “But won't the finished landscape look sparse?” The answer is easy, simply fill in the gaps for the first year with beautiful annuals.

Finally, keep in mind that you needn't have a five-figure budget to achieve an exceptional landscape. Whether your landscape venture is a two-month multiphase project, or a Saturday trip to the greenhouse, the key is to select your plants purposefully and place them thoughtfully. The result is sure to bring you years of enjoyment.