REQUIREMENTS:

Trees and shrubs Figure 16. Plants can be used to accentuate the front door them. Some are so alike in every detail that they must
Front lawn, can be used as specimens, accent . be the same tree; others are alike in general rough outline
Drive way plants, group plantings, and screens. but have differences of leaf form or color that point
Figure 17. There is a great variety in tree forms.
Parking, to their being different trees. (Figure 17)
tation of scale given by the area. For example, a high
Pathway Shrubs can be planted as shrub gardens together with trees screen might make a small area look smaller than it
The patio, ,hedges,foundation and transition plantings. really is. Just as trees can be selected for their different
swimming pool, growth forms so can shrubs. (Figure 18)
Flower gardens. Vines can be used to climb over trellises, fences and along
Vegetable garden space, walls. shading or simply for their beauty. Also, within each shape group of trees and shrubs
Tool shed, is a range of sizes. In the application to the landscape
Children play area, Groundcovers can be used in hard-to-mow sections or They need little space to grow. Vines can be divided into we must think of trees and shrubs together in a composition,
Clothesline, difficult growing situations, such as shady locations. those that grow dense to form a solid covering and those that keeping in mind their individual size. (Figures
Flower garden, A plant may have characteristics that warrant using it by grow 19 & 20)
and a dog run. itself to display those qualities. loosely to provide a tracery effect. Insulate wire around
Children,s play equipment, vines exposed to direct sunlight. Wire heats up in the Some people have difficulty in visualizing tree sizes
Swings summer sun and may burn tips of young shoots. in terms of feet and may find help in some comparative
Sand box A specimen is usually a perfect example of the type it scale, such as the height of an average two-story house.
Slide represents, and is outstanding in form, texture and color The height range from small to large could be covered
Jungle gym themselves but are effective in mass grouping through in the following four groups:
Play house or cabin a particular design form.
Compost heap stand alone, an accent plant is generally part of the shrub The groundcover selected depends upon exposure to the
Plants to attract songbirds mass but stands out because it differs in height, form, sun or shade and density desired. In general, the nearer the second floor windows.
Outdoor fountain or pool color and texture. observer is to the groundcover, the more refined and dense it
Patio Space Requirements should be Groundcover does not wear well, so flat stone
Desired size (approx. 75-100 sq. ft./family Accent shrubs can be used to vary should be laid where a path is worn.
member 8 person=600sqft the height of the shrub border. Plant Types and Characteristics
Access to the front door should be easy, so keep They break up the silhouette and relieve the monotony of a Selecting suitable plant materials for a particular
the front lawn clear of obstructing trees. group of plants of similar height. To keep from destroying location requires knowledge about plant species and It is unwise to assume that a certain tree will reach
The front entrance Landscape the front yard to create a beautiful the unity of your planting composition, limit the number of their characteristics. a given height in a given time, as the environment has a
setting for your home. accent To have low maintenance, only great influence on the growth of a plant.
plantings. (Figure 15) plant material that is well suited to the needs of the site
should be selected. When selecting plants for a site, their cultural requirements
Accent plants to direct attention When selecting plants, determine the form, the should be considered.
The front lawn, to a specific area. mass, and size of plant or plant groupings needed for
Public Area
the front entrance to home. The front lawn is landscaped The accent plant should differ sufficiently from the total each area of the site. maximum, and duration of each; optimum.
more for the benefit of the public than for yourself. composition to surprise the eyes, yet not so extreme that it Decide if the plant should be an
detracts from or competes with the special interest element. or moisture preference, sharp or slow subsurface
(Figure 16 ) Evergreen or a Deciduous plant. Does the plant have drainage, atmospheric humidity.
Drive way the flowering, fruiting, foliage and branching characteristics
you want? To make an intelligent decision, and
than a specimen plant because three to five to know what you want in your landscape and why, is filtered light, half-day sun and half-day shade
different species are used to form a composition. The part of the joy of landscaping. To become confident at (morning or afternoon), full sun.
Parking, walks, value of a group planting depends upon the relation selecting plant material does require homework, which
between height, form, and arrangement of the individual should be a pleasure.
plants in the composition. To start to "see" plant material, look over a well sterile or shallow soil, sandy or rocky soil, clay
established garden, park or arboretum, or even a natural soil, acid soil, alkali soil.
A group composition may have strong vertical landscape and note the variety of tree shapes. They
emphasis, counterbalanced with several lower plants. are not simply trees, but trees with their own characteristic
Vegetable garden The children's play area not close to the patio requirements for flowering and fruiting, training
A group silhouette also can be low and horizontal by outline, and form and habit of growth. You may
using rounded plants of varying heights without an not know all their names, but you will be able to match and pruning requirements, susceptibility to insects
extreme height difference in the silhouette. and diseases, tendency to become weedy in wrong
tool shed, location.
Groups with strong vertical emphasis can function
as space dividers and provide a focal point. When selecting a plant, always consider its mature
The children's play height and shape. You should be able to see how the
area This area is outdoor workroom selected plant will look in five, 10, 15 years and even
Utility Area The lower
and should offer more privacy. much later. (Figure 21)
silhouette groups can direct and reinforce pedestrian
clothesline, and vehicular movement, as well as divide areas.
Other plant characteristics are texture and color.
Like cloth, plants have textures in a range of fine, medium,
Vegetable divided into subspaces by fences, walls and woody and coarse. (Figure 22)
garden, plants for use areas and activities. These textures are expressed in the leaves, twigs, bark, and
for a short time,bloom. For example, compare the texture of
dog run. A border mass planting of shrubs can create the outdoor the catalpa leaves, or the fine textured flowers of the redbud
living room. The border may act as a background for flowers to the coarse textured magnolia flower, or the fine textured
barberry to the coarse textured common lilac.
Fruit trees same time. Shrubs, too come in different growth When selecting plants for plant compositions, try to
forms. use varieties that are of similar texture.
This space, set aside for your "outdoor living room" is can be clipped to simulate a wall or can be allowed
reserved for relaxation, family games, or other types of to grow freely. A shrub or tree which has large, closely spaced
The patio, entertainment. They are used to define boundaries leaves and which casts a heavy shadow, is also considered
and to divide space in a large area. to have a coarse texture.

Swimming pool, Shrubs for formal hedges should tolerate regular shearing, Generally, we concern ourselves very little with textural
which makes the plant thicken and the hedge dense. influences of plants.

Flower gardens. Use the plants to enjoy most in this area. It should be are a living wall. Remember that a visual accent can be created by using
landscaped to fit recreational and leisure time needs of your a coarse textured plant in grouping of fine textured foliage.
Private family. The ideal plant for a screen is tall
Outdoor wading pool and narrow with heavy foliage to the ground. Attractive textural composition can be created when
Living the texture of the structure is kept in mind with the final
Area The height of a screen or hedge is a compromise selections of plant material, as structures also are
Tennis court(s) between the height needed for screening and the limi expressing different textural qualities. (Figure 23)
Color.

Greenhouse Plants often bloom in the spring or summer

and contribute to the effectiveness of a landscape with
their foliage. The greatest ornamental value of some
Fountain or pool deciduous trees and shrubs is the color of their leaves
Trees grow in a range of sizes to in fall. With evergreens, the ornamental value is greatest
select from for a given site. in winter.

A few trees and shurbs add colored bark

to a winter landscape.

The function of the plant material may help Some ornamental trees and shrubs
select their form. have leaf colors other than green in summer. These
Plants can be used to frame, create colors are mainly purples and yellows.
walks, ceilings, and floors in the landscape. Consider color when making plant selections in
They can define exterior space either by themselves or in order to have color harmony in the yard and with existing
conjunction with other landscape structures or proposed buildings.
Plants function to: Plan your landscape so that there will be continuous
color all season.

Color within a plant composition should be uniform or at least

harmonious. Minor changes in value and intensity are
satisfactory.

screen unattractive views Unless you are using color change to create an accent, you
should avoid abrupt changes in hue (color), value, or
intensity.

Plant material can be classified as deciduous, needle

leaved or broad leaved evergreens.

Deciduous plants are those that lose their leaves

in winter. Some are semi-deciduous and hold their foliage
in mild climates. Examples of deciduous trees are
20
Figure