About Ideas for Landscapers

Ecoscaping

• Ecoscaping is the inclusion of natural green space as part of an overall landscaping plan. Though it maintains naturally occurring flora and fauna in an area, it is not as simple as letting everything grow wild. Ecoscaping in a subdivision may involve a nature trail that abuts a children's play area; on a single property, it might mean including wildlife habitats to attract songbirds. Whatever the case, ecoscaping uses nature to provide tranquil surroundings for people.

Edible Landscaping

• Edible landscaping blurs the line between landscaping and agriculture. In a bed containing a dwarf tree, low shrubs, vegetative plants with showy leaves and flowers, a designer could implement edible landscaping by using a fruit tree, berry bushes, kale and squash plants with showy yellow flowers instead of strictly ornamental varieties. Edible landscaping can replace a dedicated vegetable garden, but the landscaper must make provisions for easy access to harvest the food crop.

Permaculture

• Permaculture combines ideas from ecoscaping and edible landscaping to design a landscape that mimics the relationships found in nature, using plants that produce food, fiber and energy. Even buildings are part of the interrelated landscape, positioned to take advantage of summer shade and winter wind protection. Permaculture favors the use of perennial plants and employs the concept of stacking short, shade-loving plants under medium and tall trees to maximize land productivity while minimizing environmental impact.

Zen Gardens

• On the opposite end of the landscaping spectrum lies the Zen garden. Originally conceived as a meditation aid for adherents of Zen Buddhism, this style relies on elegant minimalism, with large areas of rock, earth or sand broken only occasionally by strategically placed shrubs and plants. Accents of wood and stone are highlighted by patterns raked in the surrounding sand or gravel, and the overall effect is one of quiet and contemplation rather than ostentation.