Landscape Design
Designing Landscapes as
Part of a Sustainable
Landscape
Diana Alfuth, Horticulture Educator
UW-Extension, Pierce County
Why Landscape?
Sustainable Landscape Design
Functional
Maintainable
Environmentally
Friendly
Cost Effective
Visually Pleasing
Sustainable Landscape Design
Consider the function of each portion of
the landscape
Note problems/attributes in the existing
landscape
Evaluate the site characteristics, including
soil type, pH, light, wind, etc.
Decide on your goal and landscape style
Garden Design Garden Design
Formal = straight lines, plants in rows,
symmetrical, globes and columns
Informal = curvilinear patterns, plants
in intertwined masses, asymmetrical,
natural plant forms
Sustainable Landscape Design
Locate gardens as part
of your overall
landscape design
Create a good turf
area, with functional
spaces and gardens
behind the concept
lines that form the
turf shape
Garden Design
Consider each
individual viewpoint
when designing the
gardens and planting
beds
Sustainable Landscape Design
The most beautiful
landscapes are
“designed”, not
decorated. They
create unity by
incorporating
Principles of
Design, including:
REPETITION (more info in later slides)
VARIETY
BALANCE
SCALE
SEQUENCE
SIMPLICITY
Garden Design
Design beds to keep maintenance to a
minimum
Sustainable Landscape Design
What makes it look good?
Human eyes need a place to start:
FOCAL POINT
A focal point is the first thing we see when we look at a landscape.
Sustainable Landscape Design
Examples of things that create focal points are:
Artwork
A plant that is different than those around it
Structures
Birdbaths, birdhouses, birdfeeders
Boulders
Bare spots
Diseased/dying plants
Debris
FOCAL POINTS CAN CHANGE THROUGHOUT
THE SEASONS!
Sustainable Landscape Design
Focal Point
Sustainable Landscape Design
Focal point
Sustainable Landscape Design
Locating Focal Points
Any given view of the landscape
should have one major focal point,
and maybe one or two secondary
focal points. Too many focal points
creates a “busy” landscape.
Locate focal points 1/3 of the way
from one side .
Sustainable Landscape Design
Focal Point??
Sustainable Landscape Design
After our eyes find a focal point, they
need to go somewhere, and look for
lines to follow.
Lines can be formed by edging, paths,
structures, plant masses, plant form,
shadows, etc.
Sustainable Landscape Design
Focal
point
Sustainable Landscape Design
Lines
Sustainable Landscape Design
Lines
Sustainable Landscape Design
Too many lines, or no lines, create a
confusing, busy landscape.
Lines should take the eye where you want
it to go—and keep it in the landscape.
Avoid lines that take the eye into the sky,
or into the neighbor’s yard!
Sustainable Landscape Design
Before you start thinking about specific
plant species, to get a good design, you
must first plan for each plant’s
characteristics, or “Principles of Design”
Principles of Design
Repetition
Variety
Balance
Emphasis
Scale
Sequence
“R.V. BESS”
Repetition
Similar use of
colors, plants or
shapes within an
area or entire
landscape.
Repetition can be
overdone
Avoid becoming
monotonous and
predictable
Repetition: Similar use of
colors, plants or shapes
Repetition: Similar use of
colors, plants or shapes
Repetition: Similar use of
colors, plants or shapes
VARIETY
Variety = Lack of monotony
Variety = Lack of monotony
Variety = Lack of monotony
Balance
“Visual Weighting”
This doesn’t mean
that design elements
have to be mirror-
imaged
Balance should
consider the
“fulcrum effect”
Balance – a focal point draws
the eye and serves as a
fulcrum to the rest of the
landscape
Balance – a focal point draws
the eye and serves as a
fulcrum to the rest of the
landscape
Emphasis: Major landscape
components are highlighted
more than less important ones.
Emphasis
Framing, plant numbers, or
creating an unusual focal point
are examples of creating
emphasis in the landscape.
Scale
Scale – plantings are relative to
the size of their surroundings
Scale – plantings are relative to
the size of their surroundings
Scale – plantings are relative to
the size of their surroundings
Scale – plantings are relative to
the size of their surroundings
Scale – plantings are relative to
the size of their surroundings
Scale – plantings are relative to
the size of their surroundings
Scale – plantings are relative to
the size of their surroundings
Sequence
Sequence – proper arrangement
on the basis of size
Sequence – proper arrangement
on the basis of size
SEQUENCE
Sequence – proper arrangement
on the basis of size
Can you see RV BESS?