Saturday, 15 January 2011

Garden Design Crouch End

Sat 15 Jan 2011

In this Section of Garden Design Crouch End, we are going to take a look at some great landscape design web sites that will help you create a beautiful North London in your back yard.

Plants and flowers for N8

Beautiful Garden Plants London

UKTV Great gardening section 

 This site has some very nice quality pictures of garden ideas; we especially like the idea of garden furniture inspiration.

Sometimes the best first start is to sketch out your garden, look at some pictures from gardening magazines that will start to spark your creativity. Also, don’t be too ambitious, bear in mind, budget, what can practically be achieved, and perhaps think of it as a more long term project.

Take your time, think it out and it may also be good to have your garden developed gradually step by step by an experienced designer over a period of time.

About.com garden design section

This is really a very well written article about garden design, work through it segment by segment, perhaps the most important though is to be on the ball early because once the warm weather starts back in after winter, people will start looking out of the window into the garden, and the work will begin. Go to your garden supply centre early, find a knowledgeable assistant, befriend him or her, compliment them on the advice, and build a relationship with them, ask them about their shifts, what days they work, nothing is worse than laying the ground work to find the person is not there the day you go to buy your supplies, or moved to another store. Establish rapport with them; ask them if it has been busy, perhaps real early during the week, or on a Saturday, before the pressures of the day kick in dealing with all the other amateur weekend gardeners. You will benefit from planning, strategy, make sure your stock is in place, and then off you go.

Institute of Garden Design

 Can you ask for better than this, the institute of Garden Design, free advice, students to respond to your questions.

They actually say, put our students to work.

Here’s how it works

Write your email address in the form at the bottom of the page. It will arrive in your inbox in a second. The form asks you about your garden.

When you email us the form, we’ll send it to our students. Some of them may email you their suggestions.

You pay nothing for this advice. It’s completely free.

 How about this, awesome, fantastic, brilliant, to help you create your beautiful London garden.

 Here are some more links for you too! 

http://www.gardeningdata.co.uk/garden-design/garden-design.php

 http://www.gardeningdata.co.uk/books/books-gardening.php    

 http://www.gardendesignadvice.com/

 http://www.allotment.org.uk/garden/software/index.php

 http://www.wildchicken.com/

 http://gardening.about.com/od/gardendesign/Garden_Design_Putting_It_All_Together.htm

 http://www.gardenmentor.co.uk/

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Sun 12 Dec 2010

Why not think about having your Crouch End London Garden designed by a specialist and creating a beautiful garden?

 Well first of all, why a web site called Garden Design Crouch End?

I wanted you to find my web site, specifically about designing gardens in Crouch End

It’s about finding the right kind of service, educating the homeowner, and bringing up some great questions to think about.

This site will help you prepare for your initial meeting with your Garden Designer, and give you some great concepts to think about by bringing some important considerations to mind.

Planted Flowers N8 Crouch End London

 Despite being  a busy and active London community, Crouch End has still been able to maintain that “villagy” feel, most likely because it does not have an underground station running through the middle of it, the lack of major heavy duty transportation has allowed Crouch End to continue to possess it’s own special charm.

As the people who live here, we  have developed an intuitive collective interest in keeping the big city at bay.

 I do not own a garden design company, but this site is designed to help home owners make informed decisions about what they are looking for in having their own garden designed by a professional garden designer, and also to provide some guidance and insight. 

What  a lot of people don’t know is that there are a lot more factors to designing a garden than you might think on the surface; there is the atmosphere you want to create, texture, color, shape or form, and how the eye moves across the space.

Landscape

 One generally finds that when a great job is done by a master gardener, or any professional, there are a lot of refinements, choices, and “tricks of the trade”  that have been made that might never initially come to mind, but, that make all the difference in he world.

Recently we decided it was time to redesign the family garden where we have lived in since the 1970′s.

Being contemporary Londoners in an urban setting, we wanted an atmospheric and peaceful place to get away from in our daily lives, to get home and be able to relax, entertain, and give our guests an experience to remember.

 We realized we needed a garden designer with an established reputation and a passion, sensitivity, and practical experience to deliver to the needs of their clients, someone who would be knowledgeable about plants, how to design a garden to fit our needs, and bring the project in on time and on budget.

 Ok, so you’re in the market for a full garden design and planting service.You want to find someone who you can trust to be considerate of your neighbors, with the knowledge and experience to create your dream design.

 Ideally someone with a lot of experience, and previous clients who will be happy to provide references and also, if someone has been in the business for a while, they should have a portfolio of completed and successful projects and an active list of quality plant and garden suppliers.

Garden Design North London

 You don’t want someone who will take an initial payment, work for a few days and disappear, or like many trades people, someone who does not respond to phone calls for days, and always seems to be “out” when you call.

 You need someone who will be responsive, caring, considerate of you neighbors, who will take time to? understand exactly what it is you are looking for in your Crouch End garden.

 Someone who will have the insight to be able to see what it is you want to achieve, how you want your garden to be a reflection of who you are, and the type of people you would wish to invite to your home, your friends, and possibly even professionally associates that you might bring to your home for dinner.

 I wanted you to find my web site because unlike other websites that may pop up I do not own my own garden design company but am actually an impartial consumer that was once in your shoes and motivated me to create a site that will help consumers just like you.

 Hopefully after you have spent a few minutes at my site, you will have a much more developed idea about how you would like your
Crouch End garden to be designed.

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Sat 15 Jan 2011

Garden Design Crouch End covers a range of advice about landscaping and developing your property, in this section we will discuss a water garden.

Choosing the site: The site should be ideally in part sun. This means sun preferably in the morning and shaded in the afternoon. This will keep the pond from getting too warm in the summer months. This will also help keep the algae from getting out of control.

Hard or soft liner? In my experience a soft liner works best. The hard liners are pre-formed and not easy to get level. When you are installing a pre-formed liner many of them have built in plant shelves and different levels. Dig the hole larger than the entire surface size of the pond and the total depth. This makes for a lot of digging. Once its dug and the bottom is level, install the liner and start back filling. Try to have more than one person back fill with you, so the liner does not shift. Try to pack it down as you go. Putting some water in the liner will help anchor it in place while you are back filling it. If you live in an area of the country that has freezing temps in the winter, BEWARE: Hard liners can pop out of the ground during the winter months.

A soft liner gives you more flexibility. With design, with layout and the edges are easier to hide.

When digging for a soft liner install, spray paint the shape of the pond onto the ground, then start digging. This too should be as level as possible, however the soft liner is very forgiving and will bend to any slight bumps or divets. To install shelves in the pond, you can dig the shape into the wall of the pond or use materials such as cinderblock to create shelves. A pond fabric underlayment is extremely important. This will protect the liner from roots and rough edges. If you are using cinderblock or other rough materials to create ledges or shelves pad the edges well so they will not rub against the liner itself. As you install the soft liner get the bottom set and smooth (you will have to get in the pond) and work your way up. Again adding water to the liner will add pressure and help smooth out wrinkles. If you are building a waterfall, run a soft liner under the rocks and into the pond. Make sure it overlaps into the pond a good bit. This will reduce the amount of water loss.

With a hard or soft liner you will want to cover up the edges with some type of rock border. This is for decorative purposes if you are using a hard liner, however, if you are using a soft liner a rock border is a must. This will anchor the liner in place and keep the edges from moving or sliding. You can use natural stone such as Slate or Bluestone for a natural look or for a more contemporary look, cut prefabricated concrete wall capping for a clean custom look.

Filter Systems: There are two types of biological filter systems. In the water and above ground. The in the water systems are good for smaller ponds. The pump and filter system sit in the bottom of the pond. These systems are relatively inexpensive, the down side is that when the filter needs to be cleaned (on a regular basis, at least bi-weekly) you are getting wet.

The above ground systems are more expensive, however, once installed they are easier to maintain and are good for larger ponds and ponds with waterfalls. These pumps are generally stronger than the submersible type and can push more water. The filters are easier to change and clean.

When cleaning your filter system, whether above ground or in the pond, Never clean the entire filter system at one time. There are usually more than one filter pad or chamber of filter medium. Clean half at a time. You want to keep a supply of beneficial bacteria in the filter system. The beneficial bacteria helps to filter our things like chlorine and waste. It will also keep the algae at bay.

Having Fish: If you want to have fish in your pond, it should be 24′ – 30″ deep at the center so the fish can be wintered over. It also provides a cool spot for fish in the summer. A biological filter is also a must. Start with small, inexpensive fish. The fish will grow to fit the size of the pond, and you are bound to lose a few from time to time. Unless you are an experienced water gardener, I would not recommend spending $80.00 on a special Koi. Koi are beautiful, but they are also dirty fish. They excrete more waste than a regular goldfish.

Caring for your fish: Before you put any fish in your pond, neutralize the chlorine from the water. Fish hate chlorine! I recommend letting the pond settle for a few weeks and let the filter system grow a little beneficial bacteria before adding fish. When you do add fish, let the fish acclimate to the water temperature for at least one hour before cutting open the bags and pouring them into the pond. This way the fish can change temperature slowly and reduce the chance of shock. A dose of stress coat in the water will help reduce stress. This will coat the fish and reduce stress. The other deadly problem for fish is high Nitrates. Doing some reading about water chemistry in ponds will go a long way.

Pond plants are also great for the pond. They provide a source of shade and food for the fish. There are floating plants, such as Water Lettuce, Water Hyacinth, Anacharis and Water lillies. There are also bog plants. These grow in special pots and sit in the ledges of the pond, such as Iris, Cannas and Cat Tails. There are dozens of different types of pond plants.This will add aesthetic beauty to the pond. It will also create a habitat for frogs and turtles.

I know this sounds like a lot of work, but really its just a lot of info. Once you get your pond installed and balanced, it will be a joy. Put a bench near the pond so you can sit, relax and enjoy the serenity of a pond in your own backyard.

There are many ready to install pond kits available that will make building a pond quick and easier then you can imagine. You can find a series of sizes to meet your specific needs at most Garden Centers.

This article may be reproduced and/or distributed. Please include this Author Resource. This article was written by Vera Pappas, Owner of Green Nation Gardens, suppliers of unique and eco-friendly garden supplies.

Copyright © 2007 Green Nation Gardens All Rights Reserved

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vera_Pappas

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Sat 8 Jan 2011

Now is the time to think about contacting your garden designer in the Crouch End area.

 In this section of Garden Design Crouch End, we will talk about a few areas you can take into consideration when planning to use a garden designer, or do your own gardening redesign in your Crouch End, north London garden.

Garden Path

Perhaps it is time to add a pathway, a path that you can walk along that will take you to the various parts of your garden, assuming you have a lot of space, or even a pathway along the edges of the border, can be a big part of your planting design.

Plan your garden’s growth

 Using shrubs to define the shape of your garden, will the plant survive the seasons, when planting, how to space them apart so that they will grow together.

Vertical plant growth planning

 Plants that can be trained to grow up a trellis, or fence can bring a wonderful visual quality to your garden.
Furniture and garden architecture

 Introduce an arch, gazebo, a bench or swing, even a table in a secluded corner where your family might enjoy an outside meal in the summer, or a nice glass of wine after a busy day’s work in the city.
Garden colors

 What colors would you like to enjoy in the N8 North London area this year?
Perhaps one consideration is what do you want to attract to your Crouch End garden, wandering around last year, and watching the butterflies, one thought is, what kind of plants are they attracted to?, how to match the colors of the plants you will have. When planting, will they be flowers that are low to the ground, or ones that grow a few feet?
Design your garden lighting

 Add lights to the garden, white christmas lights can be tied to the branches of trees, some types are specifically designed for trees, don’t forget to make sure they are made with outdoor use in mind. Spotlights pointing up at trees, or sofited for steps can be not only aesthetically useful, but also make your garden safer. Movement detection lights, can also help to deter criminals, or keep away pests.

And what better way to show off your Crouch End garden to friends

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Sat 8 Jan 2011

Preparing your Crouch End garden for spring in London.

 As it has passed the first of the year, in this section of Garden Design Crouch End, a web site to help you work with a garden designer, we are going to go over preparation for your spring gardening in London.

London lawns
 Lawn preparation, for a beautiful lawn, you can start your preparation steps, perhaps still a bit soon with regard to the length of the winter, but still there is no time like the present to start planning your north London garden.
Preparing to start garden design planning

  It is really a great time of year if you are in North London, to think about getting ready for the coming spring. The preparation you do now will pay off in the enjoyment you will get from your garden throughout the year. When the buds start to appear, suddenly the excitement of new growth will hopefully start your thought processes working on the way you would like your garden designed.

Composting your garden
 Composting is an area for consideration, naturally take into account animals and pests if you choose to compost.
Foxes in urban areas, rats, are the kind of pests we would probably like to discourage from our urban garden areas.

Garden pests
 Take adequate precautions against animals and pests.

Your city garden layout
  Winter weather can break down the soil, I well remember that my father would turn over the soil in the autumn, so that the rain and cold cycles would produce a wonderfully even granular soil for his spring planting. Time to redefine flower beds, plan borders and the general shape and layout of the garden.

Garden fertilising
  Time to fertilise with a good quality compost. Prepare now, enjoy the results of your planting later.

Small garden area weeds
  Pull weeds, remove dead and non productive plants, or any you would like to change out.

Urban pruning
  You will likely still be able to prune and deadhead bulb plants, trees, shrubs, and bushes to encourage future growth.
Check with a local gardening expert knowledgeable in this area, there may still be time to safely accomplish this.

Planting herbs and vegetables for your urban garden
 Vegetables for future use, we will likely still have some cold snaps and snow, but remembering greenhouse planting will give you a nice
fast start to the growing season.

Growing herbs in your north London gardenGrowing Herbs in your Finsbury Park garden

Winter planting
 Timing is great to think about planting your more resilient plants.

A good time to find a gardener designer is now!
  Employing a gardener, a garden designer for your garden, however large or small is a great way to get ready for the coming year.

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Sat 1 Jan 2011

Garden Design Crouch End is a site about how to take care of your N8 postcode, North London garden, in this next topic, we will examine how to keep cats out of your garden…

Are you bothered by cats coming into your garden and doing their business, scaring your birds away, or getting up to other mischief? Here is a list of 30 deterrents you could try:

1. If a Tom starts to mark his new territory you could mark over it yourself although it may surprise the neighbours!

2. You can buy repellent pellets from garden centres that smell like citrus fruits, which apparently cats don’t like.

3. Or you could use the real thing lemon or citrus peels work for a bit but you have to keep replacing them every three or four days. Not good for a big space unless you really really like lemonade.

4. You could try planting Coleus Canina which emits a foul odour when a cat rubs itself against it, but I’d imagine you’d have to cover quite a large area (depending on the size of your garden) for it to be effective.

keep unwanted pets out of your North London garden

Crouch End garden unwanted visitors

5. Lion dung is said to keep them out but it may smell even worse than cats poo, but it’s good for the roses.

6. Small sticks pushed into the ground so that approximately six to 12 inches are sticking out of the ground like spikes.

They must be close enough together to prevent cats snuggling their bottoms down between them to poo.

7. Get a dog.

8. Some say Jeyes disinfectant fluid around the edges of the garden works but the fluid is actually quite poisonous to cats and will kill them in fairly small amounts.

9. Spray water at them, not from a hose, from one of those spray bottles from a garden centre or use or a super-soaking water gun for cats further away.

10. I have heard that they don’t like garlic.

11. A friend suggested moth balls worked for her.

12. Sprinkle black pepper & chilli around the garden, harmless to animals but an effective deterrent apparently.

13. Getting a cat yourself often works. Its very unusual for a cat to poop in its own garden, and other cats won’t really come near another cats area, unless it likes them, and then it wont poop ‘cos it respects the area!

14. Catch the cat and rub its nose in it (not so it smudges all over the cat, just near it) then put the cat in next doors garden, or wherever you wish it to poop from now on.

15. You can buy some pet repellent spray from the DIY stores. It is harmless to animals and children.

16. Solid toilet blocks (used in public loos usually) crumbled around.

17. Scatter citrus peel (oranges & lemons) around the garden.

18. Place pine cones around near garden borders.

19. Plant geraniums, marigolds and petunias, cats apparently dislike those plants.

20. Grow spiky plants near areas you want to keep cats away from.

21. Ask local cat owners to provide an inside litter tray for their cats to discourage outside toileting.

22. Or if the cat owner doesn’t want/can’t have inside trays…Ask them to dig a pit in their garden, several feet deep and 2 foot square and fill with peat. Then all that is needed is for this outside toilet to be dug over frequently.

23. If you have bare soil cover it with gravel or slate chippings etc, it will discourage digging.

24. Keep your lawn short. If you let your lawn get to 3″ ish high, they will poo in it and not bury it.

25. Place a small length of hosepipe in amongst your plants, cats and birds don’t like snakes!

26. Invest in a bag of coffee (grounds), and spread around the garden.

27. Plant some lavender. It works for some and smells divine and for some reason the cats hate it.

28. Olbas oil (the one you put on pillows for blocked noses) works pretty well.

29. Water ‘Scarecrow’ that squirts water at things it detects moving, including you!

30. If all the foregoing makes you despair then go the high-tech route and buy yourself an ultrasonic cat repeller.

They have a motion detector built-in, can be mains powered and emit a high decibel tone that only cats can here. Problem solved.
I use one at my house and found it excellent. Didn’t hear any noises from it and it didn’t bother the dogs next door either. I’d recommend the mains powered one rather than using batteries, they never seem to last for very long, but battery power does give more flexibility.

It has a PIR which means that it is only emitting ‘noise’ while the cat is in range so the cat cannot ‘learn’ to tolerate it. This also saves batteries (if you use them). There is an alternative of purchasing a mains connector if the battery option doesn’t work out well.

They only activate when a large enough object passes by, humans included , and only go for a short time so small mammals are OK. There has been no reduction in bat activity where we live and no signs of them being mis-directed either. The cat repeller is fantastic. Not a single cat in the garden at the moment, and when they appear they skulk along the wall and don’t stay. I really recommend this investment.

Are you bothered by cats coming into your garden and doing their business, or scaring your birds away? First read these 30 tips, the last one really works, then http://petthings.googlepages.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cliff_Harvey

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Fri 31 Dec 2010

In this page of Garden Design Crouch End, a site offering thoughts to share with a garden designer for your North London garden, we will discuss small garden ideas for your N8 postcode urban garden…

The best small garden designs are always simple but elegant, no complicated arrangement and mixing different garden style on it. In other words, the key factor for successful small garden design is simplicity and yet elegant. Designing a garden in a small space is challenging and yet has many advantages compare with larger one. For example, since the area is small, less effort is needed to maintain the area; and also we can concentrate on very detail accent and accessories that will apply to our small garden. Planning is the first and crucial aspect in any garden design. For designing a garden the following steps are considered: – Creating a list of essential things we want to apply on the garden – Good planning of placement of plants and other things – Drawing a rough sketch on available space – One more important thing is efficiently using a vertical space; not only apply for garden furniture and accessories- but also for the plants itself.

Beautiful London Garden

Use plants that grow upwards. The small garden ideas should be planned in a manner so that it provides a complete look to the home without being overly populated. These gardens compliment and dress up the entire house without being acting as a separate entity. They also prove to be an apt location for having a cup of tea in the evening or for relaxing in cool and cozy environment. One of the important factors that play a role in small garden is texture. Various textures of our choice can be used to give a unique and interesting look to our garden. For the patio area we can use the bricks whereas for the walking area natural stone will be a good option and the rest of the surrounding area can be covered with crushed rock. Proper selection of plants is also very important in small garden design so that they do not give a messed up and crowded look. It will be a good idea to plant decorative pots and planters in these small gardens. The pots will prove to be a good choice as they can be moved easily from one place to another and they also do not grow very large. The container is also an important factor in small garden, so that digging of the garden is not necessary and the garden space can be utilized efficiently. Various optical illusions can also be used in order to make the garden appear bigger. Using a professional weed barrier will keep our garden protected and safe. Letting our imagination fly high brings good garden design. By planning each and every feature perfectly we come out with good designs. Thus a good garden design will be a good place for us and our plants. The author of this article has expertise in Garden designs. The articles on Garden designs reveals the author’s knowledge on the same. The author has written many articles on Garden designs as well. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Coooper

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Sun 26 Dec 2010

In this section of garden design in Crouch End N8, we will discuss the difference it might make to add a patio especially if you might like to eat out in your North London garden.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a garden then it makes sense to try and make good use of it. Unfortunately, many of us take this outdoor space for granted. Instead of taking advantage of it, we may spend too little time on ensuring that it really adds to our lives.

This is real shame, especially when so many people in the world are not in such a fortunate position. So what’s holding you back from making more use of your garden? It may be that you don’t like the thought of weeding and other mundane tasks. As a result, your garden may not be as neat and tidy as it should be.

Peaceful garden

Your garden could look like this.

If this sounds familiar then you might like to think about whether you could improve the situation. Could you make some basic changes in order to ensure that your garden is in a better state? One option that you may not have considered is the installation of a patio.

This has a number of advantages. It’s clear that a patio can be used to reduce the amount of lawn that you have in your garden. Such a change could be useful if you want to reduce the amount of maintenance that’s required.

But it’s certainly not the only reason for thinking about a patio. Having a solid surface will have a real benefit if you like to eat outdoors. You could easily position an outdoor table on the patio, meaning that you could enjoy meals outdoors. You’ll even be able to invite friends over to share those meals with you.

That may sound particularly tempting. You’ll no longer need to feel concerned about the state of your garden space. Instead, you’ll feel like spending time there. This is what a real transformation is all about.

No matter what you decide, there can be no doubt that you’ll feel happier once your garden gets more use.

Find out how picnic benches and tables can help to improve your garden, as discussed by Simon Barnett. This article may be used by any website publisher, though this resource box must always be included in full.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Barnett

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Sat 25 Dec 2010

In this section of the blog I created about Garden Design Crouch End,
we have an article about garden design books. 

You can learn a lot from garden design books. Garden design books show you how to lay out various types of gardens and can give you creative ideas as well as technical advice. Every gardener should build a library of garden design books by various authors, although there are websites and online books where you can research, too.

 

Garden design books and websites can give you suggestions and “secrets” for starting and cultivating fruit gardens, vegetable gardens, herb gardens, flower gardens, mixed gardens that include trees, and even container gardens, kitchen gardens, Winter gardens, French raised bed gardens, gardens that are based on color themes, and “butterfly” gardens (that is, they are specially set up to attract butterflies).

These books allow you to learn from the thoughts and experiences of other gardeners and will be able to provide you with measurements, dimensions, suggested tools, suggested varieties and types of seeds, instructions for composting and mulching, and so forth.

What are some of the key ideas that you’ll learn from quality garden design books?

  1. How to have the “just right” soil for what you want to grow. You’ll learn how to get your local soil tested, or perform the DIY testing, for pH balance and how to adjust it with either lime or sulfur in accordance with the needs of the plants you intend to grow. You’ll also learn about proper and efficient methods of mulching, composting, and fertilizing.
  2. Layouts. Yes, layout of the garden is quite important. You need to know how much space certain plants, bushes, herbs, and trees need for their runners and roots. Furthermore, you’ll want a layout that is a mixture of efficiency, aesthetic appeal, and weeding/watering convenience.
  3. What rocks to get rid of and what rocks to keep. Some rocks and stones go well with particular garden designs. Others will just be in the way or hinder growth. And some will just be aesthetically displeasing. You’ll learn what to throw away and what to keep.
  4. What you should try to grow in the area where you live. Growing regions are divided up into “zones” according to climate. Each zone has its weaknesses and advantages for different plants and trees. Knowing what will flourish and what will flounder in your zone is essential to healthy and bountiful gardening.

 

What’s enumerated above is just a small sample of the ideas you’ll find in garden design books. For even more ideas about garden designing, just follow the link below.

Absolutely everything you need to know to set up a garden that produces many times more than a traditional vegetable garden that only requires 8 hours of light easy effort per year at http://www.foods4wealth.info/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Ducceschi

 

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Sat 18 Dec 2010

In this section of Garden Design Crouch End we talk about the principles of landscape design.

Landscaping Design – The Primary Principles

Principles refer to standards or prescriptions for working with or arranging various elements to produce the intended landscape design. Good landscape design follows a combination of seven principles: unity, balance, proportion, focalization or emphasis, sequence or transition, rhythm, and repetition.

Unity refers to the use of elements to create harmony and consistency with the main theme or idea of the landscape design. Unity gives the landscape design a sense of oneness and interconnection. Unity in landscape design can be achieved by using plants, trees, or material that have repeating lines or shapes, a common hue, or similar texture. However, too much unity in landscape design can be boring. Therefore, it is important to introduce some variety or contrast into the landscape design.

Balance gives the landscape design a sense of equilibrium and symmetry in visual attraction. There are three ways by which balance may be presented in landscape design. Symmetrical or formal balance is achieved when the mass, weight, or number of objects both sides of the landscape design are exactly the same. Asymmetrical or informal balance in landscape design suggests a feeling of balance on both sides, even though the sides do not look the same. Asymmetrical balance in visual attraction may be achieved by using opposing compositions on either side of the central axis. Landscape design with radial balance has a center point. A sunflower, a wheel, and the cross-section of an orange all have radial balance.

Proportion describes the size relationship between parts of the landscape design or between a part of the design and the design as a whole. A large fountain would cramp a small backyard garden, but would complement a sprawling public courtyard. Additionally, proportion in landscape design must take into consideration how people interact with various components of the landscape through normal human activities.

Focalization or Emphasis directs visual attention to a point of interest or

prominent part of the landscape design. This could be a hanging earth-forms sculpture, a stone-finished Corinthian garden fountain, a mass of architectural herbaceous perennials, or an elegant spruce. Emphasis in landscape design may be achieved by using a contrasting color, a different or unusual line, or a plain background space. Paths, walkways, and strategically placed plants lead the eye to the focal point of the landscape without distracting from the overall landscape design.

Sequence or Transition creates visual movement in landscape design. Sequence in landscape design is achieved by the gradual progression of texture, form, size, or color. Examples of landscape design elements in transition are plants that go from coarse to medium to fine textures or softscapes that go from large trees to medium trees to shrubs to bedding plants. Transition in landscape design may also be used to create depth or distance or to emphasize a focal point.

Rhythm creates a feeling of motion which leads the eye from one part of the landscape design to another part. Repeating a color scheme, shape, texture, line or form evokes rhythm in landscape design. Proper expression of rhythm eliminates confusion and monotony from landscape design.

And finally, repetition in landscape design is the repeated use of objects or elements with identical shape, form, texture, or color. Although it gives the landscape design a unified planting scheme, repetition runs the risk of being overdone. However, when correctly implemented, repetition can lead to rhythm, focalization or emphasis in landscape design.

J Voight is an avid landscaping design enthusiast who provides excellent tips, techniques, and advice to anyone wanting information on landscape design. You’ll find all of this outstanding landscaping news at http://www.great-landscaping-ideas.com

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