Fundamental principles of landscape design Simple may not be simple

Fundamental principles of landscape design

Simple may not be...simple!

by Dr. Richard Ludwig, Landscape Design Workshops

One of the more challenging principles of landscape design is simplicity. One reason for this is many of us are plant dweebs, often suffering from the chronic horticulture ailment PAS: Plant Acquisition Syndrome!

We’re passionate about plants, especially the new and unusual ones. Imposing them on the site, finding a place for them in our work, is too often the paramount focus. That’s decorating, it’s just creating a plant zoo! In short, it’s a terrible strategy. It creates a chaotic, feckless mush. Clients don’t care about our botanical fancies. We need to be designers, not decorators! Our goal should be to create a functional, beautiful space rather than filling up the existing area with our plant friends.

Where to begin? One of my favorite sayings is, “Simplicity in design breeds elegance”! It should be one of our foremost tenants as we complete our spatial compositions.

1. Create simple spaces.

Photo courtesy of Solterra Landscape

Designing an uncomplicated, uncluttered area of turf or mulch or groundcover is a wonderful way to begin.

Key point: Start with the largest area you have. Here in the South, we often deal with turf-centered landscapes and it makes up the majority of the acreage. However, too often, the planting beds are set up first and the shape of the lawn is created by what’s left over. Wrong! This often makes an awkward, complicated area of grass that's difficult to maintain and adds to the general confusion of the property.

Creating the turf area first is a great way to follow the KISS (Keep it Super Simple) principle.

The simple turf area acts as a foil (a foil is something that is dramatically different from anything around it). In other words, the lawn serves as a stage for the rest of the landscape members to perform, not as a competing element.

Photo courtesy of Ed Castro Landscape

2. Create simple edges.

Photo courtesy of Simply Flowers

Our eyes are drawn to wherever there’s a distinct change in color, form or texture.

In other words, where the Bermuda touches the pine straw or the Zoyzia bumps up against ground cover, your brain tends to focus. Bed lines are extremely important to the overall effect of your work. Edges of the lawn are prime sources of focus. If you don’t believe it, next time you’re at the beach, gaze out into the ocean. Your eyes cannot help but focus on where the water meets the sky. That’s because there’s such a distinct change in color. So, in the landscape strive for simple, consistent edges or bed lines. Straight lines and square corners for all your planting beds creates a rectangular theme that unifies the entire space. Likewise, bold, curving bed lines throughout the yard serve to evoke a relaxed, pastoral feeling.

Key point: Regardless of your choice, stay consistent. This simple strategy adds to the simplicity of the space and the ultimate goal in great design...unity!

3. Avoid a plant zoo.

Photo courtesy of Unique Environmental Landscapes

Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

When telephones were first invented, the phone industry did a study to determine the highest number of unrelated things a person could keep in their head at one time. The answer was seven, which is why early telephone numbers were seven digits long. That’s a pretty good number to use when deciding how many different types of plants to choose in any outdoor room. You see, visual interest isn’t necessarily achieved by adding another variety of plants. Rather, it is how those plants are placed in the landscape. Imagine purchasing seven different types of plants for an outdoor space. We’ll call them ABCDEFG. In one bed we may use plant choices A, B & F. In another, B, D and G and another A, E, F, and G. That’s how you use variety. Surprisingly, there are over 5000 ways to combine those seven elements!

Key point: By limiting the number of different species we create something that can be visually digested and understood. But, by combining them in different ways, we achieve the variety that’s so visually satisfying.

Finally, don’t underestimate the challenge of the KISS principle. The Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC was designed by a college student, Maya Lin. When interviewed, she said she revised and simplified her work countless times to create this stunningly simple space. Critics call it, “an eloquent place where the simple meeting of earth, sky and remembered names contains messages for all.” Strive for simple spaces, edges and plantings. You’ll be amazed at the beauty you achieve!