Landscape Design Principles, Elements and Process

Lisa T. Sanderson

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Agriculture and Natural Resources-Horticulture

Henrico County

Why design your landscape?

Personal Benefits

Shade

Privacy

Reduce wind

Reduce odor

Pollution control

Conservation Benefits

Erosion control

Water Quality

Slope stabilization

Temperature

Economic Benefits

Increase property market value

and home salability

Attractive landscape

can increase value of

home by average of

7.5% and reduces time

on market by 5-6 weeks

Aesthetic Benefits

Attractive landscapes make people feel better

HGTV

HGTV

HGTV

What is landscape design?

Elements and Principles of Design

•Elements

–Color

–Line

–Texture

–Form

•Principles

–Unity

–Balance

–Transition

–Proportion

–Rhythm

–Repetition

–Scale

–Simplicity

Elements of Art

Color •Primary

•Secondary

•Tertiary

•Analogous

•Monochromatic

•Complementary

•Tint

•Shade

•Warm

•Cool

P

P

P

S

S

S

T

T

T

T

T

T

Elements of Art

Color in the Landscape

Monochromatic

Complementary

Complementary

Analogous

Analogous

Elements of Art

•Line

–Related to eye

movement or flow

•Straight lines

–forceful, structural

stable – direct the eye

•Curved lines

–smooth, graceful,

gentle, relaxing,

natural

–Energy with contrast

between horizontal

and vertical lines

Elements of Art

Texture

•Surface quality of an object that can be

seen or felt

–Can apply to plants or hardscapes

Examples of Texture

Elements of Art

Form

•Closely related to line but more

encompassing

•Shape and structure of a plant or

plantings

Examples of form

Principles of Design

Unity

• Obtained by the effective use of

components in a design to

express a main idea through

consistent style

• All parts of design go together

– Mass planting

– Repetition

Examples of Unity

Principles of Design

Balance

Examples of Balance

Principles of Design

•Transition – gradual change (3 dimensional

perspective, not just flat or facial view)

–Color (radially on a color wheel)

–Texture (from course to medium)

–Form (from upright to horizontal)

–Size

Principles of Design

•Proportion – relationship of parts of

design to each other

Principles of Design

•Rhythm – achieved when elements of

design create feeling of motion which

leads viewer’s eye

Principles of Design

Repetition – repeated use of

features (color, patterns, materials)

Principles of Design

•Scale

–Size of an object or objects in relation

to surroundings

Examples of Scale

Principles of Design

•Simplicity – hand in hand with repetition

– achieved by eliminating unnecessary

detail

Principles of Design

•Simplicity – hand in hand with repetition

– achieved by eliminating unnecessary

detail

vs.

Landscape Design

Steps in Design

SCALE

Engineer’s Scale

Landscape Drawing Tools

Develop a Plot Plan

Start with your survey

Steps in Design

Conduct a site

analysis

•Sun/Shade patterns

•Wind

•Soils

•Views in and Out

•Existing Plants

•Utilities

•Climate and microclimates

•Slope changes

•Smells

Locating Landscape Features

• One method to accurately locate landscape items (trees, etc.) on your landscape plan.

Residence

25’ 22’ Triangulation

Tools of Measurement

Steps in Design

The Site Analysis drafted…

Use Color!!

Steps in Design

Develop the Program •Assess Family Needs and Desires

❏ Annual flowers ❏ Perennial

flowers ❏ Ornamental grasses

❏ Prairie garden ❏ Butterfly

garden ❏ Vegetable garden ❏

Fruit Trees ❏ Entry Garden ❏

Ornamental or flowering trees

❏ Evergreen Shrubs ❏

Deciduous shrubs ❏

Flowering shrubs ❏

Driveway/Car turn around ❏

Walks/paths ❏ Deck ❏ Stairs

❏ Retaining walls ❏ Fencing

❏Outdoor Lighting ❏ Children’

s Play area ❏ Dog Kennel

Steps in Design

Bubble Diagram

The Preliminary Plan

• In the preliminary plan, materials are identified (pavers, stone, mulch)

• Plant function is identified, but not specific genus

– Screening evergreen shrubs

– Specimen tree

– Shade tree

– Spring flowering shrubs

– Mixed shade perennials

Steps in Design – Final Plan

•Final Plan Includes

–Material

identification and

list

–Plant list, including

size, quantity

–May include details

for construction

Other Design Considerations

Tread-Riser Ratio

2R+T=26-27”

*7.5”Rx2+12”T=27”