Do you know how to design a functional landscape plan? Landscaping can be defined as the careful arrangement of plants and shrubs in order to provide a comfortable and attractive area for people to live, play, and relax. In fact, landscaping can be defined as the study and selection of plants that will suit the climate, soil conditions, soil type, and other aspects of the area where they are to be located. This art of landscaping is more than just about designing the physical layout of a garden or yard. It also involves the selection of plants that will suit the climate and soil condition and other factors.
How do you choose what plants will go in where? There are four ways by which the landscaping is beneficial: economically, aesthetically, functionally, or ecologically. In the first place, plants that are efficient when it comes to energy consumption are preferred over those that consume more energy. A good example is the shrubs versus the trees. Shrubs have deep roots which mean less work in the long run but they have a thicker and fuller texture so they consume energy better.
Plants with a thick texture are often used in containers. Shrubs can also be used in containers as long as they are given ample room and light. However, the type of container should not be the same as the texture of the plant. The size of the container also depends on the number of plants being contained in it. A container for three or four small plants may require more space and light than a container for a big tree or bush.
How do you design a landscape depending on the focal point? If the focal point is a garden statue or a building, the plants should not obstruct its view. The statue should be situated so that it can receive plenty of sun rays. The building should stand out from the garden to increase the visual appeal.
How do you design a functional and beautiful landscape depending on the environmental conditions? The environmental conditions dictate how your yard looks like at any given time. The environmental conditions may be unpredictable and changeable. Thus, the landscaping should be flexible and able to change to match these changing environmental conditions. A good landscape master plan should take into consideration the environmental conditions and use the climatic changes in the area to establish the kind of plants that should be grown. For instance, the shady condition during summer should be taken into account to avoid unwanted growth of plants that do not prefer this kind of climate.
How do you design a landscape depending on the number of plants that you want to grow? In general, the greater the number of plants, the larger the planting area should be. However, the size of the planting area should be proportional to the size of the yard in order to avoid overcrowding. A well-plotted planting plan should provide the appropriate proportion between the number of plants and the planting area in order to avoid having plants crowding each other and reducing the beauty of the landscape.
How do you design a landscape plan based on the site inventory data? Site inventory data provides information about the physical condition of the soil and the condition of the plants. This allows the designer to know the amount of water, fertilizer, sunlight, or shade required for each plant in order to establish the optimum planting density. Site inventory data also helps in identifying problems that might arise in the future, such as a change in soil condition or insects that might be attacking a specific plant. These problems can then be addressed by making adjustments in the site inventory plan.
How do you design a landscape plan that includes physical barriers? Physical barriers are necessary to prevent plant diseases and to prevent over-watering. For example, installing low-growing plants around a home means that weeds are not able to overgrow and invade the garden.