One of the best compliments I can get from someone about a project of mine is when I am told they love their yard. We love the spaces. We love to be outside and use the yard. There is always something flowering. Our house/ yard looks great.
This does not happen by accident. I do believe garden design or yard design needs to be done holistically. A designer needs to consider how the yard will be used and to create harmonious functional spaces incorporating all elements including patios, pergolas, swimming pools, front walks, driveways, yard space and plantings. Landscape planting design can be one of the more difficult aspects to garden design. One issue is most customers want low to no maintenance. But, they also want interest at all times with sequences of flowering, fall color and winter interest. As a licensed Landscape Architect and a Horticulturist, what are my guiding principles to planting design?
Create a Setting and Develop Buffers. Plants are great at creating a setting. My first step in planting design is to locate views to buffer and think about major plants to frame the house and create great spaces to be in. An oak tree can provide a great canopy to sit under. Or a Juneberry planted adjacent to the front walk not only can help frame the house but can develop a living arbor to walk under. A few well placed evergreens can screen the view of a telephone pole, annoying street light, or provide visual privacy from your neighbors deck.
In general, I like to keep front yard planting simple.
Frame the house and the front door.
Include some evergreen.
Allow for areas for annual color.
Avoid areas that will be muddy in the winter.
Use plants that have strong seasonal interests.
The picture below is from a project early in my career, but still one of my favorites. It is formal but it illustrates the concepts well.
Planting in the back yard should create a setting around the house and the seating areas. Shade trees not only shade the home and can affect heating and cooling of your house but offer a great place to sit under. Ornamental trees like flowering crab apples offer stunning spring flowers and can soften views you don't like. Perennials and shrubs will soften the house and hardscape while providing constant variety of flowers and blooming.
The original Green Industry! How you can Affect the Environment of Your Home and Property. Shade trees, with proper species selection, can shade roofs in the summer reducing air conditioning needed and keep your garage cooler. When leaves are lost in the winter sun can still warm the house. Groupings of trees can be used to create wind blocks and prevent snow drifting across driveways. Rain gardens can be used to encourage water infiltration reducing the burden on city storm sewers and assisting in keeping lakes cleaner. I haven't even mentioned providing cover and habitat for our furry and feathered friends. They love the berries too. And after the bees pollinate the Black-Eyed-Susans the birds eat the seeds.
Keeping Maintenance to a Minimum. Easy curving plant beds are easy to mow along. It is always my goal to plan for a now edge trimmer yard! Eliminating big open plant beds and planting full plant beds reduce weeds. Placing flowers where you see them will reduce the amount planting space and maximize the flowers affect. A perennial garden on the side of your house may rarely be seen, but placed along the back border where you see it from your kitchen window will provide much more pleasure.
Other Considerations.
Soil type.
Light conditions.
Layers of plants with tallest in back.
Edible plants. Juneberry for an ornamental tree, strawberry for a groundcover, or blueberries as a foundation shrub. Yum!
Flower smells.
Fall color.
Winter interest isn't only evergreen. How about berries, bark color, snow on branches or even a place to have holiday lights.
Wildlife as noted above.
Allergies.
Having a great looking yard doesn't happen by accident. Thought and planning will provide a setting for your house and outdoor spaces. Plants can help affect your immediate environment as well as our world's environment. There are many things to consider. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of assistance with your yard.
