Annuals and Perennials - What Constitutes a Good Design

Basic Landscape Design Principals

Regardless of the type of garden you are designing, there are several principles that should be followed:
I. Site Inspection - Observe the lay of the land, wind/sun/and shade exposures. Inspect the site for surface and subsurface drainage. Prepare a soil sample in advance of planting. Conduct a walk through and discussion with the client. Learn about the temperature range for that location.
2. Prepare a design based on the client's demands. Establish in the initial interview their desires for : Overall theme or design. Likes and dislike of colors, fragrances, and textures.
Types of plants - evergreen/deciduous, bulbs, etc. Level of maintenance they are committed to. Their needs such as cut flower, herbal, fragrance.
3. Provide follow through and post plant assistance by: Assisting the client with information regarding a plant. Selecting plants at a nursery by yourself or with the client. Provide information on maintenance, precautions, liabilities.

What Constitutes a Good Design ?!
When you see a yard or garden that really grabs your attention, try to analyze what makes it above average, pleasing to the eye, memorable, and exciting. Chances are the designer has used the following concepts in a responsible manner.
Texture
Texture can refer to the size or shape of a leaf. An interesting design will feature a combination of textures throughout the garden. Texture can be defined as: FINE, usually small & delicate. MEDIUM, usually shrubs and other plants. COARSE, large or bold foliage.
Scale
Scale refers to the size of the mature plant material in relation to the size of the home, garden, and/or other elements of the garden. Tall buildings, tree beds, and large estate gardens will require plants that mature to four feet or taller. These gardens can accommodate smaller plants near entrances, and in front of larger plants as border or mass plantings. Smaller homes, gardens, and containers should feature plants that mature to less than four feet. Smaller plants can be used near entrances, in small beds, and containers.
Balance
Balance is achieved by using the same plants, flower/foliage color, and/or texture throughout the design. This creates a sense of "flow" or continuity. The eye sees a sweep of materials in a harmonious flow instead of individual clumps of plants. Lack of balance creates a feeling of tension, disorientation, and "hodge podge". Some avant-garde designers like this, calling it "New Age" or some other b.s..
Formal-Informal
Formal gardens are beautiful in their organization, balance, and simplicity. Many of the historic gardens of England, France, and Italy are renown for their precision plantings. Formal gardens feature plantings of clipped hedges, sheared evergreens, and flower gardens that are often monochromatic ( one flower color). Some of our historic gardens in the U.S. were patterned after European gardens.
Formal gardens are high maintenance, and should reflect the nature of the client, and style of the home.
Informal gardens such as the " English country flower garden" still have order and precision, however it is much more relaxed and natural. Maintenance is shifted from shearing and pruning to replanting, deadheading, and staking. Our California lifestyle and ranch style homes generally work best with informal plantings.
Contrast
Similar to texture in that a garden needs contrasting flower and foliage colors to be interesting. Even in monochromatic gardens, variations of a color add interest. Contrast can be achieved by using gray, burgundy, or green foliage plants and flower colors that work well together.
Fragrance
Be careful with this one. Some people are allergic to heavy fragrances, others enjoy it. Fragrance differs from one person to the next as to its intensity and aroma. Place fragrant plants near windows, doors, and patios for best use. Areas where the wind pools such as fence corners, side yards, and enclosed atriums are also a good location. Fragrant plants should be used throughout the garden, away from each other so that the gardener can enjoy each for it's unique aroma.
Color Themes
One of the reasons we use annual and perennial plants in the garden is for the wealth of color they provide. There are monochromatic gardens that feature one flower color, and polychromatic gardens that feature more than one color. Pastel shades go best with pastels and provide a calming effect. Bold colors enliven a garden and set a festive mood. Cool colors such as blue, purple, pink tend to fade if used in the background. Warm colors tend to standout, and dominate a bed if used towards the front. Mother Nature combines colors randomly, and so can we, however there are a few combinations that work best.

Next : Colors

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