Plant Talk |
CAUTION:The information and recommendations in this article are applicable to Harnett County, NC and may not apply in other areas.
THE ART OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN, 08/01/97
Many people start their landscape projects by thumbing through magazines or books with pretty color pictures. The method I suggest is less glamorous, but may lead to better results. It starts with plain old pen and paper.
DRAW A SITE MAP
The first step is to draw a site map that includes property lines, existing trees, driveways, and other permanent features. The map should also note slopes, prevailing wind direction, and orientation (north, south, east, west).
LIST FAMILY NEEDS
Step two is to make a list of your family needs and desires. This might include a childrens play area, a fenced-in area for pets, a vegetable garden, a deck, or a goldfish pond.
DEFINE USE AREAS
The third step is to define the three use areas (public, private, and service). The public area is what folks see when they drive up to your house, and should have a strong visual appeal.
The private area is used for entertaining and childrens' play areas. This is your personal refuge, preferably shielded from public view.
Next is the service area, which might include your logpile, compost pile, and storage building. A visual barrier between the service area and the other two areas is desirable. Draw a line around each of these areas on your map.
ADD THE DETAILS
Now you are ready for the fourth step, which is to define the specific characteristics of each use area. You are ready to decide what goes where. Decide where in the public area to put flower beds for strongest visual effect. You can also begin to decide what features will be needed to accomplish your objectives. For example, some type of screen, such as a fence or hedgerow, may be needed for privacy.
SELECTING PLANTS
Plant selection is the last step. This is where many mistakes are made, because people naturally want to choose plants first. A better method is to define the plant characteristics needed for a given objective or location. For example, you may have a spot in the front yard where you need a specimen, a striking plant that stands alone and attracts the eye. Define the size, shape, and other desired characteristics, and then select a plant that fits. Of course, it is critical to consider the exposure (sun/shade) and soil conditions of the spot. At this point you will need a large piece of paper to draw in the details.
Landscape design is complicated because it is four dimensional. Plants have length, width, and height, and they also change over time, from season to season and year to year. The ideal is year round beauty, by using plants that bloom at different times, and plants with evergreen foliage or interesting forms for winter interest.
Obviously, this is not a one-evening activity, and you may prefer to hire a professional. Even then, going through some of these steps first could save you time (and money) when you meet with a designer. But if you are patient, willing to make mistakes, and do some research, you can have the satisfaction of a do-it- yourself landscape plan.
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