Eccograss Landscaping encompasses the addition of plants, changes to existing terrain and construction of structures. It is used to make a property more attractive and functional for the people that live there.
Plants help clean the air of carbon dioxide and harmful pollutants, reduce soil erosion and even provide food sources. Sustainable landscaping is good for the environment and also benefits businesses, hospitals and highways.
Color is a crucial element of landscape design, evoking emotions and creating focal points. It can make a small garden feel larger and a large space feel cozy. When used in combination with other landscaping elements, such as lines and shapes, color can make a significant impact on the overall appearance of your yard.
There are many different ways to use color in your landscape, and the possibilities are endless. You can choose to stick with a particular style or theme to create a cohesive look, or you can mix and match styles to add visual interest. For example, if you have a formal garden in the front of your home, you can use a more natural or rustic landscape in the back to balance out the look.
When choosing a color scheme, keep in mind the colors that are already present in your home. It’s best to use colors that complement the interior of your house in order to create a seamless transition between the two spaces. This way, your landscape will be a reflection of your taste and lifestyle instead of simply an extension of the outdoor environment.
Another consideration is the color wheel, which helps you find complementary colors. For example, yellow and purple are a complementary color pair, while red and green are also complementary. You can also use colors that are found next to each other on the wheel for a unified color scheme. For example, you can combine yellow and green, blue and purple, or even red and orange for a visually appealing landscape.
One of the most important things to remember about using color in your landscape is that it should be used strategically. Adding too much color can overwhelm the space, so be sure to limit your palette to three or four colors at most. Also, try to incorporate shades and tints of each color to create a more subtle effect.
Color is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it can also have environmental impacts. For example, lighter shades of foliage reflect heat and sunlight, whereas darker colors absorb it. In addition, certain colors attract pollinators, which can be beneficial for your plants and the surrounding ecosystem. Finally, colorful flowers and plants stimulate the production of dopamine, a chemical that elevates moods and increases feelings of well-being. This makes them a great choice for landscaping, as they can elevate the overall experience of your outdoor space and bring more joy into your life.
Form
The structure of a landscape is more than just the layout of outdoor areas; it also includes form. Form refers to the three-dimensional qualities of a landscape, including the shape and size of flowerbeds, ponds and facets of landscaping structures such as outdoor fireplaces and retaining walls. Using a variety of forms prevents your landscape from looking stark and sterile. For example, rounded forms in the foliage of shrubs and trees can soften the sharp angles of a hardscaped surface or a house façade. Rounded forms can also accentuate or highlight a focal point in your design.
Form can be expressed by plants or by built elements like fences and pergolas. Plants can have round, radial or clustered forms. Their growth habit and the style in which they are trimmed also contribute to their form. In a landscape, form can be organized in a linear fashion or unstructured depending on your desired look and feel for the space.
For example, a formal garden may be designed with a grid of linear form. An informal landscape will likely have more rounded forms that are soft or strong, and they can be clustered or irregular.
Line is an important part of form because it defines boundaries, movement and direction. Straight lines are structural and forceful, creating a more formal character and often leading the eye to a specific focal point. Curved lines create a natural, relaxed character and often move the eye at a slower pace, adding a sense of mystery to the landscape.
The voids and filled spaces in a landscape are important, too. Voids, which are empty areas, create a sense of depth and balance the visual weight of individual components in the design. The use of scale, the relationship between the size of a component and its surroundings, is a critical consideration in a landscape.
A well-designed landscape must be harmonious, which means it should complement the home, not compete with it. To achieve this harmony, the landscape must have a theme that can guide it throughout its different phases. For example, a garden devoted to perennials can be redesigned each year in a new way that will still retain its integrity and provide continuity.
Lines
The use of lines in landscape design can shape and control movement, establish patterns, sculpt forms, develop spaces and unify themes within a garden. They can be created by the edge of a paving material, the boundary between two different surface materials such as grass and stone or a structure like a fence. Lines can be either straight or curved, which makes them a versatile element in the overall style of your garden. Straight lines tend to produce a more formal appearance, while curved lines can add a more natural feel to the landscape.
Lines can help to create a sense of depth in your garden by determining how the eye moves throughout the space. For instance, vertical lines can carry your eyes upward and make a garden feel bigger. Horizontal lines can also be used to expand a small space by creating a feeling of spaciousness. They may be created by the edges of a walkway or path, the outline of a plant form or through the edge of a hardscape material like a patio or driveway.
Texture is another important element in landscape design. It can be experienced primarily through touch but can also be approximated by vision. The smoothness or roughness of a surface can create the feeling of a space and the textures of different plant coverages vary from fine bent grasses to coarse clumps of brush or ivy, the coarseness of gravel or stone, or the hardness of brick or stucco.
A good way to find your personal style when it comes to the use of lines in your landscaping is to observe other gardens and landscapes in your neighborhood or community. Study the ones that appeal to you and figure out how they create balance, rhythm, unity and dominance.
When designing a property line landscape, it is important to consider the reasons for defining the boundary, such as security, privacy, or a windbreak. This will help determine what features to include in your plan. If you are not concerned with these factors, but would rather have a beautiful alternative to traditional fencing, there are many plants that can be planted along the property line that offer visual interest. Consult your local nursery to see which plants are not considered “root invasive” and can be planted safely near property boundaries.
Space
A good landscape design utilizes space to create a sense of place and deliver the desired experience. For example, a design may include focal points like water features or flower gardens that naturally attract attention and lead the eye in an inviting direction. It may also incorporate structures like pergolas or arbors draped with vines that enhance the architectural style while providing shade and a soothing ambiance.
Creating an outdoor space that offers privacy is another major aspect of landscape design. This can be accomplished through a smart spatial arrangement that includes secluded seating areas, dining areas and relaxation nooks. Strategically planting tall trees and shrubs that provide a natural enclosure can also be an effective way to improve privacy. Plants that grow quickly and maintain a dense canopy like Leyland cypress or arborvitae are popular choices because they offer year-round privacy and require little maintenance. Adding fences, walls and screens made from wood or other materials with artistic patterns or latticework can also be used to add privacy.
Landscaping is also important in public spaces to enhance a city’s visual appeal and create an environment that is healthy for people, plants and wildlife. It can be seen in park and green space designs, urban plazas, school campuses, city or county gardens, community gardens, public pools, playgrounds, zoological gardens and sports fields. It may also be incorporated into the design of building sites, civic centers, hospitals, downtown districts, clinics and residential communities.
Homeowners are often looking for ways to add value to their property without spending a fortune on a home remodel or square footage addition. Well-groomed landscaping can make a great first impression on potential buyers and increase the resale value of a property. It can also reduce stress levels, encourage exercise and improve air quality by reducing carbon dioxide and other pollutants in the atmosphere.
While a lot of landscape designers focus on softscapes such as trees, grasses, soils and ground covers, many of them are skilled in hardscape design as well. This is particularly true when it comes to park and recreation applications that involve paving, sidewalks, retaining walls, walkways, paths and bridges.