Planting Plans & Garden Design Concepts

"The plants determine the visual character of the garden
more than any other material."

In the finished garden, its is the planting material that evokes the awe factor that delights us, or as we here at LG Landscape Design Practice call it, the 'Locus Genii' (local spirit).

The garden Planting Plan must take into account the elements of the visual design (hard-landscaping), the mature plant strata size and the spatial issues.

The character of line, form, colour and texture that planting provides will determine the sense of place of the garden.  For example, Fastigiate plants (Carpinus Betulus Fastigiate) are vertical in form, acting as focal points. Spreading forms reinforce the horizontal direction and can create open space illusion in the Design Plan.

Colour is very important in setting the overall mood of the garden. Light green foliage create an airy feeling. Bright colours are more uplifting and dark coloured plants are more somber.

The colour of fruits and berries can be very effective in bringing contrast and interest into the design, especially in winter. Plants chosen for the design should at least have at least two of these elements.

Texture is vital in the garden and good leaf size, edge character, twig size and articulation of bark are important in good garden design.  Plant strata refers to the various horizontal layers that make up the tree canopy, shrubs and ground cover. These are the elements that give your garden body and create the bones of the structure of the plan.

Other sensual interests that are important are smells, sounds, and tactile characteristics of plants.  Plant communities that add sensual interests include the bamboos, lavandula and rheum.

When developing a good garden plan, whether you want a walled garden, a modern design, or the classical style, you must consider the above points and also
the site conditions when creating your Planting Plan.

Please contact us today for a free consultation about your landscaping project.