| Design landscaping is meant to create a setting for | | | | surrounding areas, fixtures and structures. Trying to |
| your home and garden areas that reflect your | | | | wedge an huge gazebo into a tiny back yard will end |
| personality and make people feel welcomed into your | | | | up looking almost comical, and will not provide a great |
| world. Whatever landscape design you choose will | | | | effect. At the same time, if you have an enormous |
| create a sense of style for the grounds that surround | | | | front lawn, then you will need to add larger elements in |
| your home and will set the overall tone for your | | | | plantings or features that will be noticed and not |
| visitors. Landscaping that is well-done can also | | | | overwhelmed. |
| significantly raise the value of your property. | | | | Transition is the third principle you need to know for |
| There are many ways that you can improve the | | | | your landscaping project and is closely related to |
| landscaping around your home. Some people worry | | | | proportion. Even though your design can include |
| that to improve their landscape design properly, they | | | | flowers, plants, large shrubs, bushes and even trees, |
| need to hire landscape architects or contractors. This | | | | the way to make them really work together in a |
| can be wonderful if you can afford it, but many people | | | | beautiful way is with the use of transition. |
| very successfully undertake the landscaping design for | | | | It is the smooth flow from one type and size of plant |
| their homes on their own. | | | | to another. You want to lead the eye from delicate |
| If you would rather do your design landscaping | | | | plants to larger ones with some in-between sizes. |
| yourself rather than hiring a professional, then the first | | | | Color transitions can also be a very effective aspect |
| step is to learn the basics of landscape design. Good | | | | of your overall landscaping design plan. |
| design is actually quite simple if you know and follow | | | | The last of the four concepts of landscaping is unity |
| the four following principles. Combine these landscaping | | | | and it is the ultimate sense that you are trying to |
| principles with your own tastes and preferences and | | | | express with your design. All of the choices that you |
| you will quickly be able to create a plan for your home | | | | make in how you balance, proportion, and transition the |
| and garden exteriors that will be a reflection of you. | | | | various colors, sizes and textures of your landscape |
| The first element of it is the concept of balance. If you | | | | elements should be governed by a unifying theme. This |
| concentrate most of your new plants in one area, then | | | | is what brings the design together to work in harmony |
| the rest of your garden landscaping area will look | | | | and create a spectacular home and garden. |
| rather neglected. Distribute the plants around the yard | | | | It is best to choose a theme for your design |
| or the garden at least somewhat evenly and with a | | | | landscaping and make sure you stick to it throughout. If |
| sense of flow. This will help draw the eye though the | | | | you want the look of an English garden, then choose |
| entire landscape design and engage your visitors. | | | | only elements that will fit with that theme. If you prefer |
| The second aspect of great landscaping is proportion. | | | | the ambiance of a Japanese garden, then only choose |
| The idea here is to make sure that any design feature | | | | features, plants and accents that reflect that theme. |
| you choose fits in appropriately, in terms of size, to the | | | | |