Tip
A good landscape design includeshardscapeand softscape elements.
Hardscape elements are non-living items such as rocks, walls,patios, arbors, or water features.
Softscape refers to the living elements, such as gardens, lawns, shrubs, and trees.
Elenathewise / Getty Images
There should be a transition of taller trees between the house and the wall, creating gradual change.
For instance, small trees flanking a driveway or an entrance should have the same form to create unity.
The repetition of the same form also promotes unity.
krblokhin / Getty Images
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Rhythm
Rhythm is the patterned repetition of a motif.
In ahome landscape design, a motif could be a throw in of plant, for example.
Nothing controls eye movement more readily than a straight line.
Look Up Look Down Photography / Unsplash
A large tree on both sides of a house can balance the yard, for example.
Focalization is the forcing of the viewers perspective to a specific focal point without it appearing jarring.
Combine flowers of warm and cool colors for contrast.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Or, keep flowers within either the warm or cool group for a unified look.
Using acolor wheelwill help determine the colors used in your landscape design.
Trees come in many shapes (especially if pruned), including columnar and globular shapes.
The Spruce / Sarah Crowley
The form of individual components of a plant also needs to be considered.
Texture
Texture is primarily a visual matter in landscape design.
For example, a plant’s leaf size often determines its texture.
Doug Vos / Unsplash
Eye movement is unconsciously influenced by how plant groupings fit or flow together on horizontal and vertical planes.
Scale
Scale is simply the size of one component relative to adjacent components.
Landscape Design Costs
Landscape design costscan vary depending on how extensive the project is.
peplow / Getty Images
A beginner, basic landscape project will generally cost around $2,600.
If you’re hiring a landscape designer, they cost an average of $8,150.
Looking through images helps you to see what style, elements, or designs resonate with you.
Then you could get a better idea of what a realistic budget for landscaping your home might be.
Start by outlining your current exterior layout.
After taking measurements of your yard, draw your property to scale on graph paper.
Trace over this graph paper with tracing paper and use the copy to test out new design ideas.
Use these online platforms to build templates and add or test new design elements.
Some even offer design services.
Two recommended software platforms for landscape design are SketchUp and PRO Landscape.
A beginner can start acareer in landscape designby getting a degree in landscape architecture or landscape design.
