The magnificent gardens attached to the medieval palaces, manor houses and religious properties are finest examples of landscape gardening. Nowadays, landscape garden is a prominent feature of urban planning. Apart from beautifying the outdoor space, it boosts the curve value of a property.
Landscape architects can convert any outdoor space into a stunning landscape garden. This work combines creativity with the knowledge of horticulture. By considering the different environmental factors, a landscape designer creates a garden that with proper care can last for generations. By harmoniously blending color, texture and form, a landscape architect creates a garden design.
Features of Landscape Gardens
Softscape and Hardscape
There are two main areas of a garden – softscape and hardscape. The softscape enterprises of trees, shrubs, grasses and other horticulture elements. The hardscape includes elements such as the pathways, driveways, rock formations, steps and walls that support the softscape and add to the visual appeal and functionality of the garden.
Color
Color is the most essential part of the design. To avoid monotony, a variety of color shades is used in property landscaping. While green is the predominant color in a garden, the attraction of lush greenery is enhanced with flowers of different hues. In a vibrant landscape garden, warm colors are arranged alongside cooler shades. As colors influence mood, the vivid zones of the garden are adorned with elements of warm colors, where the peaceful areas where people relax are surrounded by cool colors or neutral shades.
Size
In a landscape garden, the shapes and sizes of the plants and other ornamental elements of the garden are proportional to the overall size of the property. The placement of the plants in a garden is determined by their height at maturity.
Focal Points
Depending upon the size of the garden, a landscape garden will have one or several centers of attraction or focal points. The focal points serve different purposes. A focal point may be used as relaxation venue or for lounging in the sun. A separate area may be devoted for entertaining guests. A garden may have a play area, a pool or a pond.
Maintenance
The maintenance of a garden is an important issue that landscape architects take into account while designing a garden. The horticultural elements require regular maintenance. Irrigation and drainage facilities should be installed to ensure that the plants receive adequate water and prevent water logging. The materials used for constructing the hardscape elements should be strong and durable.