The Mechanics Of Landscape Design

As you begin your own landscaping plan and design, you’ve most likely seen some fascinating landscape designs and ideas. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine how the designers come up with these plans and ideas. The shapes of the design, planting ideas, material types, and a world of other considerations is often way too much for a beginner to put together as well as thinking of the ideas.

For some experienced designers, it’s a matter of years of repetition. For many seasoned designers and planners, it is simply a matter of vision. And many times one simply has to try a lot of different ideas until one of them works. Most folks fall into this last group. With little or no landscaping know how, most folks go through pictures of landscaping and yards searching for some good ideas that might work in their own yards.

Considering all the books and online directories of pictures of landscaping to browse through, you would think it would be easy to find a complete plan that could at be copied. If every yard, lot, or property shape was exactly the same, it probably would be.However, in reality, most yards and lots are all different shapes and sizes. Even with the endless landscape designs and ideas out there, it’s doubtful that you will find a perfect match to the shape and size of your own property.

Being the case for most folks, a different approach to designing a landscape is needed. Stop trying to find a complete plan that will magically fit your plot. When looking through different landscaping photos and ideas, try to identify the things that are alike in most or all of the landscaping ideas. Look for the design ideas that are repeated over and over by different architects and designers. These are the elements that look good because they are generally based on basic principles of art. Elements like these will most probably incorporate well into most designs and landscaping plans regardless of shape.

Observe different forms and how they’re repeated, the placement of plants, and how colors are used. Pay attention to the small details like elements or plants being grouped together in odd numbers. Pay attention to the details of what makes landscaping what it is and not just the basics like simple shape. You’ll get a better understanding of landscape design technique and mechanics which will be helpful in creating some of your own design ideas.

Sometimes your best resource, there are endless ideas in other designs, books, landscaping pictures, or even landscaping videos. However, try borrowing several ideas from several different designs instead of hopelessly searching for the exact shape and layout of your property. You’ll save yourself a lot of frustration and have a much better chance of creating something unique to your own property.