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Landscape Design and Gardening Newsletter
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08-05-03 Issue#307
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Written by Steve Boulden
Owner of S&S Designed Landscaping,LLC
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Hi,

Welcome to another great issue of your landscape design and gardening newsletter.

I don't know about you and where you live but I think I'm ready for a little cooler weather. The temp. at the bank today read 113. Whether or not it was right, it felt every bit of it. And ya, we're workin' out in it.

Last issue we looked at creating contrast in landscaping and landscape design. I received so many good reports on that article that I decided to elaborate on another principle that goes hand in hand with contrast. Repetition.

I realize that these are the basic principles but they're also the simple, overlooked things that really make the design come to life.

I hope you find this issue useful.

Enjoy!

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IN THIS ISSUE
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o Landscape Tips - Repetition

o Close-out Landscape And Gardening Books

o Please Use The New Forum

o Garden Tips - Help Your Perennials

o Send Me Your Questions

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LANDSCAPE TIPS - Repetition
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If I had to name the biggest problem I see with homeowner landscaping plans, it would be a lack of balance.

Shape is unique to each design so you'll rarely see a problem with that. However, balance is critical and often overlooked. This is the stuff that really makes the design come to life.

Most of the questions that I receive about landscape design deal mostly with shape. Of course the shape of your design is important and generally where you start. However, any shape or form can be packed with elements and still be either dull, void, loud, or cluttered.

Landscape design is an art form and so it deals with "all" the same principles that other art foms use. And while different purposes may apply to different ares such as front yard landscaping ideas or backyard landscaping, the principles remain the same.

While there are hundreds of principles that people have come up with to fit specific applications, there are only five major principles of landscape design. All five of these elements are shared with all forms of art.

Let's look at repetition. It's one of those principles that when it's left out, we may not know what's missing, but we know that something is. It's a simple principle that can tie a seemingly unfinished design together.

Artists use repetition of color and objects to create balance, unity, and harmony in their paintings.

Architects use repetition in design by making doors, windows, fixtures, trims, etc. the same sizes, shapes, and types.

Imagine how it would feel if every door, door frame, window, and fixture in your home were of different sizes, shapes, colors, and types. It would be uncomfortable and chaotic.

So in order to create balance, appeal, and even comfort in our landscapes, we need to create some form of consistent repetition.

It's easiest and most often created in the softscape (plants, ornaments, lawn, decor, etc.). However, it should be considered in the hardscape (walkways and paths, driveways, necessities, fences, walls, raised beds, boundaries, etc.) of your drawn design plan.

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SIDE NOTE
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You need a design plan or at the very least a good sketch of your entire area before you ever break ground. In this way all things can be considered and thought through and you won't end up with a "patchwork" landscape design that doesn't work.

If you need help getting a plan together, you might find the landscape planning page helpful.
http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/landscapeplanning.html
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O.K., so this is simple. You repeat alike elements throughout the garden or landscape to create, balance, unity, and harmony. Yes, it's that simple. However, there are some variables that apply to keep us from creating "clutter".

I'll use an example.

Let's say I have nine Rose bushes. Three red, three pink, and three yellow. And I want to use them to create unity in the garden.

If I make three displays of the same color, I may have created three nice displays of my rose collection but I have not created unity through repetition.

If I make three displays throughout the garden using one of each color in each display, then I have created an appealing balance through repetition of the same group.

Can you see the reasoning in this? In the first example we did use alike elements (three groups of Roses). However, color differences make them separate and they may as well be all different types of flowers as well.

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SIDE NOTE
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Using Plants:
Here's a tip for those who are not masters of plants.

You can create more appeal and impact by picking 3 to 5 plant types or color combinations and repeating them throughout the garden than you can by using a mix-match of ten, twenty, or a hundred or so different plants.

Use this approach when designing and starting. Keep it simple. You can add more later.
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The same would apply for using groups of accent boulders, for example. If you have a collection of boulders of different size, shape, and colors and you randomly place them through the landscape, you can easily end up with a cluttered, ununified look.

Of course, the best display would be to use a single type of accent. However, if you had a mix-match that you wanted to use, then exact matching groups would create more intentional appeal and interest

Don't discount your hardscape as a way to create repetition. If you have one garden path made of natural fieldstone and one of concrete, it wouldn't be as appealing as having all fieldstone or all concrete.

A cinderblock wall and a stone garden wall combination wouldn't be as consistent as two or three of the same.

These are just a few examples. So don't limit your imagination. You can also create repetition using textures, decor, contrasts, shape, height, width, color, plants, color combinations, hard elements, and soft elements.

Just remember to keep this and all principles in mind when creating your design. If you're not familiar with the principles of landscape design, check out:
http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/principlesoflandscapedesign.html

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CLOSEOUT LANDSCAPE AND GARDENING BOOKS
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If I discover just one landscape tip or trick from a book, then that book was worth the price I paid for it. And usually most of us learn more than one thing from a single book.

I have hundreds of books and magazines filled with landscaping pictures that I get ideas from. Some rarely leave the shelf and some never leave my desk.

You can expand your own skills and ideas by picking up every home garden magazine and used book you can find.

Another resource I use to get piles of inexpensive books is close-out books. Some as cheap as $1.99

If you're interested in expanding your own resource library, you can do it in a smart way. Check out book close-outs at the links below.

Gardening

Landscaping

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PLEASE USE THE NEW FORUM
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If you have a question for me, feel free to send it to me at askme@the-landscape-design-site.com . I'll be glad to answer it. However, please go to the forum and post the same questions. There may be more people that are needing to know the same information.

And also, the new forum is still such a lonely place. Please use it.
Landscaping Forums

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GARDEN TIPS - Help Your Perennials
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Around here it's still a little early to be thinking about winter garden chores. However, I did answer a question this week that made me realize that some people reading this are thinking about it already.

So, since winter is inevitable for most of us, I thought I'd share this with you.

When is the best time to divide perennials and how do you do it?

Perennials get a lot out of division. Even if you don't want new plants, you should divide them every few years and give them some new soil. This fresh "new" start usually results in stronger, better blooming plants.

The best time to divide perennials is during their dormant season. Some can be gently pulled apart and some need to be cut. Just make sure that each division has enough roots to sustain growth.

You may need to gently wash the root clusters to see better where to cut.

It's that simple.

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SEND ME YOUR QUESTIONS
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I would love to answer your individual questions about landscape design and gardening in this newsletter. It's possible that our other readers are having the same problems you are.

I won't be able to answer all questions. I'll answer those that are asked most often.

Send your questions to askme@the-landscape-design-site.com

Please don't send your questions if you don't want them to appear in this newsletter.
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That's all for this issue.

If you have questions or comments, feel free to email me at:
steve@the-landscape-design-site.com

See you in a week or two with the next issue,

Steve Boulden S&S Designed Landscaping,LLC

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