Landscaping Tricks of the Trade
Part 1 Design solutions using six principles
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Unity – a cohesive theme, harmonious style (no pink Flamingos in MD)
Repetition – creates rhythm and harmony
Contrast – adding interest, emphasis and focal points (spice it up)
Sequence – visual and physical movement through a garden, screening, curves versus
straight walks
Proportion - scaling of elements in pleasing relationship to each other; overpower or frame
Balance: Symmetry/asymmetry – to create a sense of equality using mass and weight
Planning your garden reduces impulse buying, and costly mistakes
Too many focal points creates confusion – violates the principle of sequence
Removing competing focal calms the view, repetition of Liriope unifies the beds
Remove shrub competing with focal to dramatize
Plants soldiered in single row, no balance
Add balance to create symmetry and frame the building, size of plants scaled to architecture. Vertical
shutters improve sequencing by breaking up large expanses of brick
Improving curb appeal: Planting the right plants, enhance entrance, add screening, raise beds for
drainage
Solutions: add native plants to absorb excess water and growth/screen; after 18 months; final view
Add depth, height and layers to bed (Hinoki Cypress ‘Gracilis’, Serviceberry, Amelanchier canadensis and
Spirea ‘Goldflame’
A garden is not just plants
Example: low maintenance garden with bench
Tucking in a bit of whimsy – a little goes a long way
Creating harmony in garden theme or style
Planting too close to the house unhealthy for plant and can damage siding
Redbud, Cercis canadensis, with room to grow; Hosta, Deutzia, with log – harmonious underplanting
Ask “How big does this get?”
Update house entrance: paint, cover damaged concrete, new accessories, etc.
2015 Spring Conference
Photos and presentation by Susan Bell
Landscaping Tricks of the Trade, continued
Screen out eyesores
Create a better view and borrow from neighbors too
Include interest through all four seasons
Winter interest added to large perennial bed
Groundcovers = less maintenance (herb Woodruff and Thyme ‘Elfin’, ‘steppable’ Blue Star Creeper)
Use evergreen trees to compliment shade trees, attract wildlife, screen, etc.
Filter run off to stop erosion of slopes
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Part Two – Garden maintenance the smart way
Pest Management without chemicals
Non toxic methods:
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Bagging (see photo Asian Pear on right)
Hand picking - as in scale, hornworms, tent caterpillars, etc.
Hosing off - as in whitefly, aphids
Entrapment - saucers of beer to trap/drown slugs
Place ‘mosquito dunks’ in water - have natural bacteria that kill only mosquito larvae
Netting protects fruits from birds and flowers from deer
Giving beneficial insect predators and parasites time to do their work
Provide food, water, shelter and nesting sites for birds
Create habitat for snakes, turtles, frogs and small mammals (www.nwf.org for helpful hints)
Complex gardens attract wildlife
Solution for common problems:
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Water management - use splash block, mulch, gravel or water loving plants around foundation
Separate converging plants - create more sunlight, air circulation,
Tree volcanos are the most common problem and unhealthy for trees
Over-mulching may kill your air conditioner and shrubs too
Tree topping is bad for tree, thinning or heading back is best
Proper pruning - stubs will rot and allow insects to invade
Diligence - pay attention to performance slide
Watch for warnings - fungi indicate rot, woodpeckers are signs of insect infestation
Some problems won’t go away and are very expensive to correct
2015 Spring Conference
Photos and presentation by Susan Bell