Garden principals of landscapimg

Principles of landscape design

By Capt. S.K.BHANDARI

• Landscape design involves functional use of plants combined with artistic composition


• Visual or acoustic screens• Framing off-landscape views

– Functional use of landscapes:

• Microclimate control (e.g. shading, protection from wind)• Creating enclosures (absolute or implied)

– Functional uses should be considered first; landscape viewed as different units with different functions

• Artistic composition derived from physical properties of plants


• Plants can be viewed as mainly horizontal or vertical– Horizontal shapes are less dramatic than vertical shapes

– Form:

• Tree forms depend on branching patterns

• Shrub forms result from growth habits (e.g. upright or creeping)

• Physical properties of plants important in landscape design


• Stems, leaves, bark, and buds determine texture of plant– Large or widely separated plant features create effect of coarseness

– Texture:

– Thick, tight foliage results in finer texture

– Simple leaves appear coarser than compound leaves

• Distance of view affects texture; farther you stand from plant, the finer its texture appears

• Physical properties of plants important in landscape design


• Warm colors: yellows to reds– Bright, inviting and lively

– Color:

• Cool colors: greens to violets– Restful, receding, not as conspicuous

• Foliage most often considered in landscape design, but flowers, bark and fruit also important

• Unity in landscape design


• Characters that provide unity in landscape design– simplicity

– Landscapes need some characteristics to tie together different (functional) units and plants within a unit

– variety

– emphasis

– balance

– sequence

– scale



• Created with repetition of form, texture, colors, or specific plant species

• Must prevent monotony; variety is used to ‘control’ repetition

– Simplicity (repetition)



– Variety• Varying forms, textures and shapes to prevent boredom



– Emphasis• Drawing attention to important features of landscape

– Can draw attention to front door of residence by using plants that offer variety in color, texture or form near the door



– Balance• Symmetrical balance = elements on either side of an axis

are identical (formal feel) • Asymmetrical balance = unlike elements of equal visual

weight on each side of an axis (less formal)– achieved by balancing forms of unequal size (e.g. 1 tree balanced

by 3 shrubs)

– Color adds visual weight; brightly colored plant may need to be balanced with several plants of equal size but not brightly colored

– Coarse textures are visually heavier than fine textures (more fine-textured plants needed to balance coarse-textured plants)



– Balance



– Sequence• Move viewer’s eyes over landscape in orderly fashion

– Achieved by gradual progression of form, texture or color

– Any plant that breaks gradual progression becomes a point of emphasis



– Scale• Relative scale or proportion of landscape affects viewer’s

mood– Most landscapes

should be proportional to human height or height of structure

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Garden principals of landscapimg