Landscape Design Newsletter Issue 08-05-03
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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
Visit The Forum:
Landscaping Forum
View Back Issues At:
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Also, take a look at the new software page I created at landscape design software reviews. The article will be helpful if you plan to use design software to create your landscape.
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