Landscape design is unique compared to other construction or engineering trades, in that as the landscape matures, it metamorphoses. Many of its elements are perishable, as it must evolve dramatically with seasons, and it is affected by maintenance more than most trades. Its shifting nature, along with a plethora of other elements, should be considered closely when designing outdoor spaces.
Since Function is the primary driving force in the design, how do we incorporate an artistic interpretation that molds, blends, that enhances the functional attributes of the yard, while creating harmony between all of the elements? To help navigate this challenge we have developed a series of Garden Tips to help our designers, customers, friends, and even our competitors apply the concepts of art and function to the landscape. Many of the principles discussed in this series do not only pertain to the landscape, but are applicable in almost any artistic endeavor. This series has been developed to educate in an engaging, fun way. Our goal is to inspire kids and adults alike to learn and appreciate horticulture, landscape, art, and the world around us. We want to spark the imagination and encourage well thought out action.
In the forest, trees and shrubs grow naturally and wildly. Some grow into majestic trees, or an occasional beautiful shrub, though many will succumb to nature and only the fittest...
The Grim Reaper of Citrus Trees If you love Citrus trees beware, this Halloween the grim reaper will not be wearing a black robe and carrying a scythe… And it...
Simply stated, encouraging deep root growth is universally accepted as good horticultural technique. Deep roots stabilize our trees and shrubs and the deeper roots can tap water from deeper in...
Bringing out your hedge trimmer can be an easy, fast way to turn your plants from shabby to shapely. After a few effortless swings, the job is largely done. But...
Cold is coming, protect your plants Even in sunny California, frost can happen. Deciding the best steps for action before the cold hits is the best way to protect from,...
Do you ever wonder why a tree didn’t grow well, looked deformed, fell over, or entirely died? There are certainly combinations of reasons for this happening, but according to many...
In our last article, we described the 5 reasons that you should never top your tree. Not only can the practice be damaging to the tree, and expensive in the...
In our previous articles, we discussed the negative side effects of topping pruning, specifically topping trees. One exception is hedges; it is necessary to top them so they do not...
Landscape design is unique compared to other construction or engineering trades, in that as the landscape matures, it metamorphoses. Many of its elements are perishable, as it must evolve dramatically...
We’ve been discussing many different elements of landscape design. In order to maximize artistry, we need to pull these separate elements all together, similar to how a composer or musician...
Like an impressionist painter controls their canvas, a landscape’s mood can be heavily impacted by the utilization of color. We have discussed how line, shape, form, and texture can distinguish...
Texture is everywhere. Every day, you visually and tactically perceive countless different textures, scattered all around you. While texture is technically felt, you can trick the eye into sensing texture....
In the previous installments of this design series we discussed using the concept of Form Following Function to begin conceiving your design and how to direct the visual journey with...
In our last article, we discussed “Form Following Function”, which means that the intended function of a landscape is paramount to the design. In this lesson, we want to explore...
Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
