Jeff Halper asked:


A Memorial-area art collector residing in a chic modern home wanted his house to be more visible from the street. His yard was full of trees, and he asked us to consider removing them and developing a more modern landscape design that would fully complement the exterior of his home. He was a personal friend of ours as well, and he understood that our policy is to preserve as many trees as possible whenever we undertake a project. However, we decided to make an exception in his case for two reasons. For one thing, he was a very close friend to many people in our company. Secondly, large trees simply would not work with a landscape reflective of the modern architecture that his house featured.

The house had been built as story structure that was formed around a blend of unique curves and angles very reminiscent of the geometric patterns common in modern sculpture and art. The windows had been built deliberately large, so that visitors driving up to the house could have a lighted glimpse into the interior, where many sculptures and works of modern art were showcased. The entire residence, in fact, was meant to showcase the eclectic diversity of his artistic tastes, and provide a glimpse at the elegant contents within the home.

He asked us to create more modern look to the landscape that would complement the residence with patterns in vegetation, ornamentation, and a new lighted water fountain that would act like a mirror-image of the home. He also wanted us to sculpt the features we created in such a way as to center the eye of the viewer and draw it up and over the landscape to focus on the house itself.

The challenge was to develop a truly sophisticated modern landscaping design that would compliment, but in no way overpower the façade of the home. In order to do this, we had to focus very carefully on the geometric appearance of the planting areas first. Since the vegetation would be surrounding a very large, circular stone drive, we took advantage of the contours and created a sense of flowing perspective. We were then very careful to plant vegetation that could be maintained at a very low growth height. This was to prevent vegetation from behaving like the previous trees which had blocked the view of the house. Small hedges, ferns, and flowers were planted in winding rows that followed the course of the circular stone driveway that surrounded the fountain.

We then centered this new modern landscape plan with a very sophisticated contemporary fountain. We chose a circular shape for the fountain both to center the eye and to work as a compliment to the curved elements in the home’s exterior design. We selected black granite as the building material, partly because granite speaks to the monumental, and partly because it is a very common material for modern architecture and outdoor contemporary sculpture. We placed the fountain in the very center of the driveway as well, which had the effect of making the entire landscape appear to converge toward the middle of the home’s façade. To add a sense of eclectic refinement to the fountain, we then polished the granite so that anyone driving or walking up to the fountain would see a reflection of the home in the base. To maintain consistency of the circular shape, we radius cut all of the coping around the fountain was all radius cut from polished limestone. The lighter color of the limestone created an archetypal contrast of light and darkness, further contributing to the modern theme of the landscape design, and providing a surface for illumination so the fountain would remain an established keynote on the landscape during the night.

All equipment for the fountain was hidden behind the home so that it would operate silently. For lighting, we used fiber optic cables that wrapped around the circumference of the fountain’s interior. This created the appearance of light rising in a perfect circle out of the black granite base, and illuminated the water with a sparkling effect that naturally focused the landscape and all of its surrounding features onto the modern architecture of the home.

The home itself now looks almost like a modern art gallery, with the landscaping forms that surround it giving it just enough of a natural touch to create a sense of organic fluidity, and with the lit fountain as the focal point that unites curvature and angles in a sense of geometric unity, grounding, and centeredness.



Lydia

Jeff Halper asked:


The fascination with tropical landscaping makes sense in Houston because of its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, cultural influences of the tropics, subtropics of Spain and Latin America which provide plenty of local inspiration for creating the tropical landscape design. Houston’s architectural styles now popular including New Orleans plantation, Spanish, and Mediterranean all lend themselves well to tropical landscaping. The tropics diverse palate of lush plantings and bright colors inspire the most beautiful and prehistoric spaces echoing vacation or leisure. Often, because of budgetary concerns or lack of horticultural knowledge tropical landscaping is poorly executed because it is treated as just another landscape i.e. substitute oaks for palms and you’re finished. When done well the tropical landscape is lush, beautiful, private, refreshing and becomes a paradise for retreat.

Landscape Design for the Tropical

The tropical landscape can adapt to any style of home. As in all good design the form and function of outdoor spaces needs to be sympathetic to the homes architecture and definitely include spaces for entertainment. Is the tropical garden formal or informal? Informal modern landscape design works well with the tropical because of all the exotic and funky plant forms available. Tropical landscaping done well comes about through the knowledgeable layering of tropical plant materials and the fun use of varying hardscape materials such as wood, concrete, water and stone.

Tropical Plants

Many landscape designs in Houston intended to hint at the tropical usually contain some palm trees, variegated gingers and some lolly pop shrubs and white rock. A sparse and haphazard approach to tropical falls somewhere between desert sparse, uninspired and just plain poorly done. In designing tropical plantings think lush green multi-layer forms from the tinniest ground cover up to the tallest palm tree:

? Palms-Mediterranean fan palms, pygmy date palms, medjoles, canary palms, and bamboos.

? Shrub Layer-gingers, philodendrons, bottle brushes, camellia specimen, cannas, caste iron plant.

? Accent Plants-Australian tree Fern, century plant, flax, alocasias, saw palmetto.

? Ground Cover Layer-alocasias, clematis vine, star jasmine, xanado, ardisia, liriope, monkey grass.

Tropical Hardscapes

Tropical patios and walks can also be infused with layering, color and alternate materials to play upon various planting layers. By creating multiple deck layers or steps that slow the viewer down enabling for more viewing of the lush planting layers and creating greater interest. Built elements that add creativity, color and fun to outdoor compositions include:

? Outdoor kitchens-in stucco with back walls of Spanish tile

? Palapas-kitchens that are separate from the house w. or without a thatch roof

? Wood Decks-stacked with rounded or curved edges.

? Waterfalls-a water element creates the sound of privacy drowning out urban noises.

? Tile Mosaics-with bright colors of the tropics-aqua blues, reds, and yellows turning a pool into a tropical piece of art.

? Garden art to include lamps, torches, ceramic pieces, funky benches and furniture.

Tropical Landscaping Fun and Retreat

Ultimately one is only limited by their creativity, design knowledge and tropical horticulture experience in creating dramatic tropical landscapes. Multiple layering of lush green plant materials, walks, variety in materials, and garden art to include; colored concretes, stone, metal, and tile bringing about the fun of retreat in the tropics. Approach the tropical landscape as a multicolorful journey-don’t just have a mojito, throw in pinnacola’s and dacaries and you too can create a tropical paradise.



Lauren

Landscaping-blog asked:


Whether you plan on “borrowing ideas” or plan on creating your own landscaping design, you should have at the very least a basic understanding of the principles of landscape design.

This doesn’t mean that you have to apply every principle to every part of your plan. But just having an understanding of these principles will help you generate ideas and increase your creativity.

Great landscaping lies in the eyes of the its creator. So, while the principles of landscape design are great guidelines to follow, don’t feel like they’re the “have to rules” of landscaping. Abstract and creativity are allowed.

Unity should be one of your main goals in your design. It may be better understood and applied as consistency and repetition. Repetition creates unity  by repeating alike elements like plants, plant groups, or decor throughout the landscape. Consistency creates unity in the sense that some or all of the different elements of the landscape fit together to create a whole.

Unity can be achieved by the consistency of character of elements in the design. By character, I mean the height, size, texture, color schemes, etc. of different elements.

A good example would be in the use of accent boulders. If you’ve ever seen a landscape design that had one large white round boulder here and another large red square granite boulder there and so on, then you’ve seen that unity wasn’t created by this specific element.

This is just one example but the principle applies to all other elements such as groups of plants and materials.

A simple way to create unity in your landscape is by creating themes. And one of the simplest ways to create themes is by using a little garden decor or garden statues. Creating a theme garden is easier when it’s related to something you’re interested in or have a passion for.

If you’re into butterflies for instance, you could create a theme using plants that attract butterflies as well as using statues, ornaments, and other decor that are related to butterflies.

Unity should be expressed through at least one element in your landscape and preferably more. Using elements to express a main idea through consistent style and a specific theme is what creates harmony.

Simplicity is actually one of the principles in design and art. It’s one of the best guidelines you can follow as a beginner or do it yourselfer. Just keep things simple to begin with. You can do more later.

Simplicity in planting, for instance, would be to pick two or three colors and repeat them throughout the garden or landscape. Keeping decor to a minimum and within a specific theme as well as keeping hardscapes such as boulders consistent is also practicing simplicity.

Balance in design is just as the word implies. Equality. There are basically two types of balance in landscape design. Symmetrical and Asymmetrical.

Symmetrical balance is where there are more or less equally spaced matching elements of the garden design. With a garden equally divided, both sides could share the same shape, form, plant height, plant groupings, colors, bed shapes, theme, etc.

You may remember creating something like this when you were a kid in art class at school. Where you take a piece of paper, splash paint on it, fold it in half, unfold it, and then it magically creates an interesting symmetrical design. So symmetrical balance or design is somewhat of a mirror image or reflection.

Asymmetrical balance on the other hand is one of the principles of landscape design that’s a little more complex. While textures, forms, colors, etc. may remain constant to create some unity, shapes and hardscapes may be more random. This form of balance often has separate or different themes with each having an equal but different type of attraction.

A good example of this would be where bed shapes or paths differ on both sides of the dividing line. One side could be curvy with a sense of flow while the other side is straight, direct, and hard.

This can also create a neat contrast. Flowing lines are pleasing to the eye but the bold contrast of a curve with a straight line can be very interesting.

Asymmetrical balance isn’t necessarily limited to just the shape of your garden.

An example might be where one side of the garden is mostly large shade trees while the other side is predominately a lower growing flower garden or even a mix of both examples. This is only limited to your imagination.

Contrast and harmony can also be achieved using plants. Fine foliage verses coarser foliage, round leaves verses spiked leaves as well as color compliments and contrasts.

Plant height, color, and texture may be varied from one area to the next but each area should stay consistent within its own theme.

You’ll hear me talk about “themes” a lot. Many successful do it yourself designs follow a basic theme to achieve most of the principles of landscape design described on this page. The proper use of plants and garden decor or a mix of both is a simple way to achieve themes.



Color adds the dimension of real life and interest to the landscape. Bright colors like reds, yellows and oranges seem to advance toward you and can actually make an object seem closer to you. Cool colors like greens, blues, and pastels seem to move away from you and can make an object seem farther from you.

Grays, blacks, and whites are considered neutral colors and are best used in the background with bright colors in the foreground. However, to increase depth in a landscape, you can use dark and coarse textured plants in the foreground and use fine textured and light colored plants in the background.

Colors can also be used to direct your attention to a specific area of the garden. A bright display among cooler colors would naturally catch the eye.

Natural transition can be applied to avoid radical or abrupt changes in your landscape design. Transition is basically gradual change. It can best be illustrated in terms of plant height or color but can also be applied to all elements in the landscape including but not limited to textures, foliage shape or size, and the size and shape of different elements.

In other words transition can be achieved by the gradual, ascending or descending, arrangement of different elements with varying textures, forms, colors, or sizes.

An example of a good transition would be a stair step effect from large trees to medium trees to shrubs to bedding plants. This example is where a little knowledge of proper plant selection would come in handy.

Transition is one of the principles of landscape design that can be used to “create illusions” in the landscape. For example a transition from taller to shorter plants can give a sense of depth and distance (like in a painting), making the garden seem larger than it really is. A transition from shorter to taller plants could be used to frame a focal point to make it stand out and seem closer than it really is.

Line is of the more structural principles of landscape design. It can mostly be related to the way beds, walkways, and entryways move and flow.

Straight lines are forceful and direct while curvy lines have a more natural, gentle, flowing effect.

Proportion simply refers to the size of elements in relation to each other. Of all the principles of landscape design, this one is quite obvious but still requires a little thought and planning. Most of the elements in landscape design can be intentionally planned to meet the proper proportions.

For instance if you are creating a small courtyard garden, an enormous seven foot garden statue placed in the center would be way out of proportion and a little tacky to say the least. Or a small four foot waterfall and pond placed in the center of a large open yard would get lost in the expanse.

Don’t misunderstand this to mean that if you have a large yard you can’t have smaller features or garden decor. Proportion is relative and elements can be scaled to fit by creating different rooms in the garden. The goal is to create a pleasing relationship among the three dimensions of length, breadth, and depth or height.

A small water feature can be proportionate if placed in a corner or on the edge of a large area and becomes a focal point of the larger area while creating its own distinct atmosphere. An entire room, sitting area, or theme can be created around it. Other rooms and themes can be created as well. See small gardens for ideas on creating rooms and creating illusions.

Also, special consideration and study should be given to proper plant selection to avoid using plants that are out of proportion.

Repetition is directly related to unity. Its good to have a variety of elements and forms in the garden but repeating these elements gives variety expression.

Unity is achieved by repeating objects or elements that are alike. Too many unrelated objects can make the garden look cluttered and unplanned.

There’s a fine line here. It’s possible that too much of one element can make a garden or landscape feel uninteresting, boring and monotonous.

However, unity can still be created by using several different elements repeatedly. This in turn keeps the garden interesting.



Rita

Susan asked:


Botanical Traditions – Landcape Architecture (Melbourne, Australia) At Botanical Traditions we strive to capture the imagination with landscape design that enhances the constructed environment. The goal of all our garden design is to maximise the quality of indoor and outdoor living while at the same time providing cost effective sustainable returns for our clients.

Professional Landscape and Horticultural Design Our landscape design team consists of designers, horticulturists and strategic thinkers committed to mixing art with design and technology. We pride ourselves on having a strong partnership with our clients and other related professionals, such as landscapers and paving firms, to create beautiful, functional landscape and horticultural designs that really are an asset to their surroundings and the garden and lifestyle of their owners.

The Roman Landscape [750 BMA - 400MA]

The Romans carried out landscape design on a scale not seen again until recently. They left a strong imprint on the land. The Romans designed large urban open spaces with perforated edges. These public open spaces were designed to keep the masses entertained – a point highlighted in the movie Gladiator. They combined garden and lifestyle ideas from the Greeks, Etruscans, Persians and Egyptians. In comparison to their public environments their residential site developments were typically inward looking.

The Greek Landscape [3000BMA - 31BMA]

Stretching over many centuries the Greek design style still has an impact on garden design today. Buildings were generally simple and symmetrical but many exhibited optical corrections. They also created optimum viewing points and used the proportions of the ‘Golden Section’. Typically a house was built around 1 or 2 garden rooms called a ‘peristyle’.

The Gardens of Islam [600BMA - 1700]

The Koran states that individuals should try to create paradise on earth and it defines paradise as a garden with shade and water. All Islamic gardens are enclosed and provide privacy. The gardens are typically square in plan and are entered through an impressive gate. There is usually a main axis which is often a body of water which can be crossed by other axis. The gardens never have any depiction of the human form but will use elaborate patterns instead.

The Gardens of China [1700BMA - today]

Chinese gardens typically have a strong natural character in many cases influenced by the natural countryside, painters and poets, mythology, philosophy and social background of the time. Chinese landscape design represents the longest period of continuous development of any garden style.

The Landscape of Japan [650 - 1870]

Japanese gardens are designed for repose. They do not try to copy nature but to idealise and abstract it. Typically they have no geometric order. They is carefull attention given to the transition between the inside and outside areas.

The Landscape of Renaissanc Italy [1400 - 1700]

During this period of time there were two distinct periods – the Mannerist and the Baroque. In Mannerist designs the aim was not to create harmony but to use tricks to create astonishing affects. Baroque design originated in Rome and was chiefly interested in creating spectacular displays.

The Renaissance Landscape of France

Many medieval built forms such as moats, corner towers and steep roofs were retained in France long after they had been abandoned in other countries. There were three distinct periods during the French Renaissance. In the early 16th century there was a strong Italian influence, followed by a brief period of transition and experimentation which resulted in a distinctive Baroque French Grand Style.

The Landscape of England

The English landscape has been influenced by the many different groups of people that have inhabited the land. Medieval developments in England were typically centred around the residential environment. During the 17th century ideas from Italy and France were incorporated into the English landscape on a small scale. It was not until the early 18th century and the emergence of the English Landscape School that landscape design was applied on a large scale. It was also at this time that the artistic ideas of unity, harmony, contrast, balance and focus began to be explored in landscape design.

The 19th Century English Garden

This period was one of rapid social change with the industrial revolution. The urban areas expanded and the provision of public recreational spaces became important. Botanical Gardens were established in most major towns and many royal estates were opened to the public. In the 1830’s gardening magazines emerged as did a wider selection of plants. There were many notable designers from this period and they include Joseph Paxton, William Robinson and Gertrude Jekyll. Some designers through this period searched for a local style which used indigenous plants to create a national character rather than relying on the many new introduced plants at the time.

The American Colonial Landscape

The English, French, Dutch and Spanish all had an influence on early American landscape design. There were three distinct phases in colonial site developments. The early colonial period was characterised by a strongly utilitarian style. This was followed by the Jefferson period which was characterised by eclecticism and palladianism such as Monticello. The last period lasted from 1800 – 1860 and was characterised by eclecticism and neo-classicism. Public open space was provided in towns.

The 19th Century American Landscape

This was a period of great change and expansion in the United States. There was a period of great social change and after the civil war there was a greater focus on providing public parks in cities. Two major designers at the time were Andrew Jackson Downing and Frederick Law Olmstead. There was a strong belief that the environment could influence human behaviour and the first state parks were formed during this period.

The 20th Century American Landscape

After WWII there was a change in the type of landscape projects that occurred. There was a large increase in the numbers of houses, schools and universities as well as the large scale adoption of the car. This meant that an increasing amount of work was carried out in the outer suburbs. This also coincided with the establishment of large scale firms with international offices and a turn away from the traditional approach of an individual offering a personal service to clients.

The Landscape Design Revolution

It was not until the 1930’s that there was a significant change in the design philosophies of the previous 100 years. This was the beginning of modernism. Modernism in landscape design was influenced by Modern Art (Cubist Garden, Hyeres, Gabrial Guevrekian), Science and the relationship between natural systems and human needs, Asian design and the technology and teaching of the Bauhaus. Fletcher Steele and Thomas Chruch followed by Garrett Eckbo, James rose and Dan Kiley practiced during this period.



Marjorie

Jeff Halper asked:


Modernism, in the context of landscape design, is a result of forms and functions that reflect the need for outdoor living spaces that enhance contemporary lifestyles. As Garrett Eckbo, one of the central figures in modern landscape architecture, said, landscape design is the “arrangement of environments for people.”

Contemporary garden design tends to focus on scale as opposed to formal landscape designs that are based on axial relationships. It also foregoes the more classic landscape design forms and larger scale from Greek, Roman, and classical architecture traditions. This design motif became popular in the 1950’s baby boom, particularly in California where weather and lifestyle was very conducive to this innovative style.

In modern landscape design, boundaries between areas of color, textures and shapes are undefined-or conversely, sharply defined. Color and composition create the emotional response. Combining freshness and flair, these designs use dramatic geometric shapes to create a point of view that is fluid and natural. Water and light are often used, as in artfully-lit outdoor water fountains, to enhance the sensual loveliness and liveliness. The designs are arresting, both close up and far away.

Form and Function in Modern Landscape Design

As the maxim says, form follows function. Modern landscape design is an aesthetic that shows only what is necessary while often leaving surfaces exposed. The simplicity of modern design reveals itself in that every form has a function, even when that function is merely to engage the senses.

It is possible, sometimes desirable, to use modern design techniques without creating a high-tech look. That is, to make use of horizontal and vertical planes that manufacture a modern sculpture effect-and let colors and plantings evoke a warm, welcoming feel. It is that juxtaposition-hard and soft, linear and non-linear, energetic and restrained-that is the essence of modern landscape design. “Less is more” is the modern landscape design mantra. A huge plant palette is not necessary. Rather, it is how plants, materials, and textures are used and mass them together that create the contemporary effect.

The architecture of the house needs to be carefully considered when using a contemporary garden design. If the house is bold, the grounds need to be strong also.

The home and landscape can be tied together through selective use of plantings or the intelligent placement of a hardscape feature, such as an organic approach to the front door.

Using Today’s Technology in Your Modern Landscape

Naturally new technologies in building materials are a big component of modern landscape design, which can mean a new approach using old materials or a new approach using new materials. Often, it is the contrast of material usage that suggests modernism.

Concrete, with its sturdiness and malleability, has won a firm place in contemporary garden design. Its cool, gray color alone establishes its credibility. Its uses run the gamut from flooring to columns to stark, amorphous benches. In addition to concrete, advances in steel and glass technologies, plus construction methods, can be even further exploited within the modern landscape design.

Often materials, such as stone, metal, plastics, steel and glass, are left in an exposed or raw state. Part of the beauty of these materials derives from their interplay with nature-the way steel rusts to a warm, burnt look, for instance.

The Spaces of Modern Landscape Design

Landscape themes such as English, Asian, Zen gardens, natural, Japanese or modern identify not only your property but also your tastes and style. Color, form, line, scale, and texture are your means of expressing those landscape design preferences.

Your choices can be demonstrated in the plants and hardscapes you choose. Beauty can be a maple imported from Japan. It can also be the wild grass native to the Texas coastal plains. You may have outdoor works of art to display in your landscape. Or you might use a stream that ends in a waterfall as an ever-changing sculpture of sound and movement. Landscape lighting is another crucial tool of contemporary garden design as it creates ambiance and lets you enjoy your landscape night and day.

Other uses of space in contemporary designs include:

? Outdoor rooms for living. These living areas, in effect, make your home bigger. They also serve to create transition areas that connect the indoor and outdoor spaces. In this regard, this style is similar to a Mediterranean landscape design with its underlying principle that the outdoor living area should be just as enjoyable and functional as the home’s interior.

? Outdoor kitchens. The center of outdoor entertainment, outdoor kitchens provide a natural gathering place. Their design should complement both the house and the landscape. Above all, their design should be functional.

? Luxury swimming pools. When designed from a modern viewpoint, luxury swimming pools are anything but a boring rectangle or kidney-shaped pool. They become sophisticated and exciting, eye-catching and mesmerizing. Often, you can combine them with an outdoor water fountain that eliminates some redundancies while adding vitality to your overall design.

Thoroughly Modern

Modern landscape design is even more appropriate today than it was 50 years ago. Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds says, “Contemporary garden design has gotten only better with time. With today’s busy lifestyles, there is less time for gardening. Also, we need to use our gardens for multiple functions these days-sanctuary, entertainment, a place for children to play safely. Modern landscape design addresses all these wants and needs.”

Robert Irwin, the landscape architect of the Getty Center in Los Angeles, puts it this way: “…maybe the world is an art form [and] the gardening of our universe” reveals our participation in that work of art.



Lucy

Jeff Halper asked:


A local Houston art collector hired us to create a low maintenance, sophisticated, contemporary landscape design. She wanted her property to compliment her eclectic taste in architecture, outdoor sculpture, and modern art. Her house was built with a minimalist approach to decoration, emphasizing right angles and windows instead of architectural keynotes. The west wing of the house was only one story, while the east wing was two-story. The windows in both wings were larger than usual, so that visitors could see her art collection from the home’s exterior. Near one of the large rear windows, there was an abstract metal sculpture designed in the form of a spiral.

When she initially contacted us, the surrounding property had only a few trees and indigenous grass as vegetation. This was actually a good beginning point with us, because it allowed us to develop a contemporary landscape design that featured a very linear, crisp look supportive of the home and its contents. We began by planting a garden around the large contemporary sculpture near the window. Landscape designers planted horsetail reed under windows, along the sides of the home, and around the corners. This vegetation is very resilient and hardy, and requires little trimming, weeding, or mulching. This helped unite the diverse elements of sculpture, contemporary architecture, and landscape design into a more fluid harmony that preserved the proportions of each unique element, but eliminated any tendency for the elements to clash with one another.

We then added two stonework designs to the landscape surrounding the contemporary art collection and home. The first was a linear walkway we build from concrete pads purchased through a retail vendor as a cost-saving benefit to our client. We created this walkway to follow the perimeter of the home so that visitors could walk around the entire property and admire the outdoor sculptures and the collections of modern art visible through the windows. This was especially enjoyable at night, when the entire home was brightly lit from within.

To add a touch of tranquility and quite repose to the stark right angles of the home and surrounding contemporary landscape, we designed a special seating area toward the northwest corner of the property. We wanted to create a sense of contemplation in this area, so we departed from the linear and angular designs of the surrounding landscape and established a theme of circular geometry. We laid down gravel as ground cover, then placed large, circular pads arranged like giant stepping stones that led up to a stone patio filled with chairs. The shape of the granite pads and the contours of the graveled area further complimented the spirals and turns in the outdoor metal sculpture, and balanced the entire contemporary landscape design with proportional geometric forms of lines, angles, and curves.

This particular contemporary landscape design also has a sense of movement attached to it. All stonework leads to a destination of some sort. The linear pathway provides a guided tour around the home, garden, and modern art collection. The granite pathway stones create movement toward separate space where the entire experience of art, vegetation, and architecture can be viewed and experienced as a unity.

Contemporary landscaping designs like create form out of feeling by using basic geometric forms and variations of forms. Sometimes very stark forms are used to create a sense of absolutism or contrast. At other times, forms are blended, or even distorted to suggest a sense of complex emotion, or a sense of multi-dimensional reality. The exact nature of the design is always highly subjective, and developed on a case-by-case basis with the client.



Duane

Anthony Olender asked:


Humans have a fundamental desire to keep contact with nature as plants exert a myriad of effects on human life. Our perception and moods are highly influenced by the colors we see in and around us.

Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of a land. It generally includes ‘gardening’ which is the art and craft of growing plants for creating a beautiful environment within the landscape. Landscaping a backyard with trees and other plants help minimize the bad effects of pollution and hugely enhance the sales appeal of a property.

A good landscaper understands the elements of nature and construction, and blends them accordingly. Landscape Designer professionals aid in the design and layout of a yard into what one is visualizing. They plan Horticulture and provide custom designs and installation techniques to optimize the beauty and value of a property.

There is enormous scope for Landscaping In New York, from truly rural to wholly urban. With variations, gardens proliferate in every part of the state. There are must-see destinations, from famous botanical gardens to farmers markets!

New York Landscaping is commonly referred to as New York Lawn Care or New York Lawn Services. There is a bountiful of Landscape Contractors In New York who provide services, starting from Landscape Design to its Installation & Maintenance. They employ different Garden Irrigation practices for ensuring lawn and plant’s health. Various tasks include Lawn Mowing, Organic Fertilizer/Pesticide Applications, Privet Trimming, Small Shrub/Tree Pruning, Rose Care, Annual Garden Upkeep, Mulching, Aerating, Over Seeding etc.

People, who wish to have a beautiful yard and landscaping, hire these lawn and Garden Maintenance services through Landscape Companies In New York, for mowing and trimming lawns and bushes, and for installing and maintaining automatic sprinkler systems. These Garden Designers provide special services on a regular basis, such as dethatching, reseeding, fertilizing and aerating lawns when seasonally appropriate. They can spot problems and suggest solutions to homeowners for areas that are yellowing or being over or under watered.

Landscaping is both a science and an art. It combines the natural, living elements with structures and material objects. A well-designed landscape not only adds beauty and value but is also economically viable as it reduces the heating and cooling costs of a home or property.

If you are interested to know more about Landscaping In New York, please search our site (http://www.oceanviewlandscape.com/) for more in-depth information and resources.



Pearl

Andrew Beene asked:


“Having a simple yet unique landscape design can significantly improve the appearance of your place. Through landscaping, you manage to personalize your home and incorporate into it elements that spell your lifestyle, character and interests. More so, your home or commercial establishment’s fascinating landscape helps attain for it a degree of dominance in the area you’re situated. In Massachusetts, concrete pavers create chic landscaping designs for homes and business establishments that contribute to the beauty of the state.

Landscaping is a combination of art and science. Your landscape design should ideally complement the colors and materials making up the structure of your property. Gardening is the most important facet of landscaping for plants and flowers enhance the look of one’s place.

Before getting down to landscaping, study the accessibility of your garden space and assess which features will best work for it.

Though landscaping makes a difference to an area, it doesn’t always guarantee to improve its appearance. Carelessness or the inclusion of an inappropriate detail in a hardscape design in a Massachusetts home can result in an eyesore instead of an impressive view.

To avoid committing landscaping mistakes, it would be best to hire a pro in the said field. You’ll find countless landscape contractors in Massachusetts who are equipped with the right tools essential in the production or creation of an astounding landscape design.

If you have a big landscaping design, it is best to seek advice from a professional landscaping contractor. There are also garden and lawn centers where you can acquire information and knowledge about excellent landscaping ideas. Professional home improvement centers usually have experienced sales personnel who have tried their hands in different landscaping methods. Before you spend money on landscaping, be sure to get the proper guidance from a trusted landscaping source.

An organized and properly designed landscape can be a good source of enjoyment for the entire family. It enhances a community picture and increases the resale value of a certain property. Working on a landscape design is far more tedious than planting trees, shrubs and other plants for that matter. It is considered an art that deals with aesthetic arrangement or organization of outdoor space for human satisfaction and enjoyment.

Landscaping companies offer a wide range of formal and informal garden landscaping designs in Massachusetts. Formal landscaping includes geometric plans and straight line designs that are usually well planned so you achieve a look that is professional by nature. Informal landscaping, on the other hand, contains curved lines and is ideal for small gardens. An informal andscaping plan features random groups of plants and flowers.

Oriental landscaping is useful in large gardening projects for it welcomes the use of different accessories such as water, rocks, potted plans and evergreens. Meanwhile, the woodland style is a complex alternative to landscaping. It perfectly suits backyard designing with an artificial waterfall and woodland plants.”



Cheryl

Elijah James asked:


Traditionally, the beauty of a home is defined by how well its lawn has harbored a fine arrangement of spring perennials and other kinds of plants that spring bears. A house with clipped grass and a well-maintained lawn surely has an excellent market value, compared to those houses with no garden. A number of great Ideas For Landscaping can be used to create a garden that most home owners consider a wise investment in appraising the market value of their home. In this light, complementing a home with the perfect landscaping ideas pleases not only its owners but also appraises a home’s re-sale as well as aesthetic values.

Landscaping is considered the art and science of putting together the visible features of a specific land area. Just like in arranging the furniture in your house or choosing the design of clothes that you wear, there are elements that need to be considered to ultimately achieve your dream home garden. For home gardens, the perfect landscape design would consider the living elements or the choice of plants as well as the art and crafts that may be used in completing a beautiful environment right outside the home. It would also consider a number of man-made elements such as the design and structure of the house and the fence. Lastly, the design would need to consider certain abstract elements, such as weather, climate and lighting conditions, to make sure that all the plants that are to be incorporated in the garden setup would thrive on location. Hence, the challenge in creating great Ideas For Landscaping is a challenge in finding the balance between the three mentioned landscape design elements.

Although landscape designing is a rather imposing approach to gardening, all ideas for landscaping are simply intended to beautify a lawn or yard. The following guidelines may help you create and decide on which gardening ideas to take:

• Planning is a crucial part of any activity. Even to the smallest task, careful planning for your home’s landscape design can ensure successful home improvement projects and minimize unnecessary gardening expenses.

• Lay out the purpose of your would-be garden, this will narrow down your options for landscape ideas.

• Set a landscaping budget. This would dictate how far the project can go as per plant selection and garden accent installation such as fountains, walkways and ground lightings.

• Think about the garden maintenance. Consider planning on which watering systems to use.

• In finalizing the list of plants that you plan to cultivate, make sure that you have flowering trees or shrubs during spring and summer, fall foliage in time for autumn and a good structure over the winter. Think about how the climate will turn your garden, all year long.

Landscaping is certainly a great home improvement project. It may be intended to add serious aesthetic points to your home but the process of bringing great Ideas For Landscaping to life must be a fun experience. Just follow these guidelines and you can personally create the best garden that you can think of.



Minnie