Great Gardens Start with a Master Plan
by Janie Murnane
It’s easy to get caught up in the fun of planting and overlook the need for a master plan – a well-thought-out assessment of your entire landscape project. But a realistic plan is essential to create a practical garden that will provide pleasure, interest and flowing color.
If done effectively, it will add value to your home and years of visual enjoyment.
According to most landscape designers, garden design is basically the process of defining and refining your plant choices, placement and perennial combinations to get the best effect. Part of the fun of landscaping is creating an ever-changing display of color throughout the blooming
season, from early spring to late fall.
Designing a garden builds on the principles of balance, contrast, texture and color. In do-it-yourself projects, research is essential to determine what plants and shrubs work best in your setting.
It’s always a good idea to consult with a professional to locate any problem areas the space may have, such as poor drainage or soil composition. Once they are identified, a plan can be implemented to solve whatever issues arise. It’s also important to consider sun exposure,
slope, moisture requirements and maintenance issues.
When you’re ready to make design decisions, first consider the location, shape and color preference of your flower bed. There are some classic pairings that follow the color palette of complementary or contrasting colors. Some combination favorites are red and purple; red, orange
and lime; purple and yellow; or yellow, orange and red. There is also the monochromatic approach -- a single color garden -- which can be just as dramatic. It’s all about choices!
The key steps are to create flow, continuity and balance, allowing the eye to move from one area of interest to another. Creating a focal point is essential. This could be a bird bath, tree, water feature or sculpture. Once this is accomplished, build the garden choosing compatible
plants that provide a variety of color and texture and varying bloom seasons. This can be accomplished with shrubs, perennials, bulbs and annuals.
To demonstrate this process, Her Home Design Consultant Janie Murnane worked with a family to transform a bare space into a colorful, low maintenance garden to enhance the beauty and value of their home.
The Landscaping:
These young parents recently built and moved into their two-story home. Their goal was to design an interesting landscape to add curb appeal to the front of their home. The project was to be small in scope, inexpensive and low maintenance. They chose to incorporate a variety of low-maintenance
shrubs, perennials and grasses in an irregular design for maximum interest. Ornamental grasses were selected because of their versatility and adaptability. They also create a peaceful atmosphere by adding motion and sound to a landscape. The focal point was a River Birch Tree noted for its slender
branches and peeling bark.
After researching perennials that would tolerate sun and identifying bloom seasons, the homeowners made their selections. Large moss rock was selected for both accent and functionality. To add interest to the bare front porch, three beige clay-like pots were selected and planted with a splash of
color to welcome guests.
Everything was pulled together within two weeks and the homeowners are pleased as punch with the results.
(Click the images on the right for a larger image »)
At any phase in your decision making process seek advice or confirmation from landscaping professionals. You’ll feel more confident as you work through the various stages of a large landscape project.
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