Elements of Design Direction

Line

• Line creates the picture made by the landscape. A straight line like a path will lead the eye directly to one point. Straight lines are formal and forceful and commonly found in symmetrical landscaping. Horizontal lines can make a space seem wider, and low horizontal lines, like a low stone wall, lend an air of serenity to a yard or garden. Vertical lines give a sense of height and dynamism by moving the eye upward. A vertical dimension might be supplied by a tree, a fountain or something as simple as a birdhouse on a pole. Curved lines slow things down and give an air of mystery to outdoor areas. They are informal and relaxed; a path meandering through mixed beds and planters of flowing greens and wildflowers in a cottage garden is a good example. Lines can be created by the hardscape, or the built structure or by the edges of flowerbeds and the outlines of the plants.

Form

• Form is the mass that fills a space. It can be the shape of a mounded vine, the round tops of the deciduous trees or the pointy pyramid of a conifer. The form of a tree is determined by its branches. The form of a shrub is determined by how vigorously and in which direction it grows. Geometric forms are defined and include squares, circles and various polygons. They are pavers, swimming pools and topiaries. Natural forms are fragmented edges, lines that break and wander and edges that blend together. Natural form is informal, like a streambed or the softened edges of a pond. Form can be seen in the spaces between landscape features as well as in the shape and placement of the features.

Balance and Proportion

• Even an informal look seems right when the landscape is designed with balance and proportion. Order and repetition provide a sense of balance; a fence of espaliered fruit trees or a series of rose arbors is a vista that looks complete to the viewer. Symmetrical balance happens when one side of a landscape exactly mirrors its counterpart. Asymmetrical balance is an informal but careful design that varies plantings but achieves an even look overall. Radial balance is design created around a focal point. A sundial on a small paver patio that is reached by paths like spokes through flowerbeds is a radial design. Proportion to human scale, the size of the house and the lot and an even treatment of planted and open spaces are important elements that will determine the ultimate design and appeal of a landscape.

Focal Points

• Focal points are essential but can be overdone. A waterfall and Koi pond in a ferny, partly shaded area off the terrace will be at odds with an adjacent 8-foot-tall sunflower house in a clearing, a barbecue patio and a play yard with climbing structures and swings. Focal points call for restraint, based on available outdoor space. An extraordinary plant, like a strong old oak tree, can be a focal point. A built water feature is an ideal focal point. A symmetrical spring flowerbed of mono-color tulips is a focal point. Let pathways, other plantings or spaces in the foliage draw the eye to the focal point for a harmonious backyard environment or dramatic curb appeal.