So, what exactly is Garden Design? (2024)

FAQs

What are the 10 principles of garden design? ›

Grid lines drawn at 45 degrees can be used as a guideline to design the garden. Rectangular themes are the most popular and widely used. They are adapted to give a formal look to the garden. Long or narrow gardens can be easily divided into even sections using this particular theme.

There are five primary elements of design: mass, form, line, texture and color. Of these, mass, form and line are the main tools used to organize space in a landscape. Texture and color provide a supporting role, adding interest and richness.

You will often find that professionals feel more comfortable using the term Garden Designer as residential gardens are their core focus, while other industry professionals feel more comfortable using the term Landscape Designer that may indicate a lean towards hardscape elements.

Three plants creates balance

If you have enough space, group them in an equilateral triangle. This looks particularly good with mounding or vertical plants. Be sure to leave some space between the plants, especially if they are three different kinds.

The golden ratio is 1.618, and it can be used in a myriad of ways. The “Golden Rectangle” takes it a step further: the ratio of the short side to the long side should equal to the ratio of the long side to the sum of the long and short sides.

As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.

The most basic garden plan consists of a design with straight, long rows running north to south orientation. A north to south direction will ensure that the garden gets the best sun exposure and air circulation. A garden that runs east to west tends to get too shaded from the crops growing in the preceding row.

Rule 1: The House is the Most Important Part of Any Garden

It's almost always the largest, most dominant structure in the garden. Your journey starts and ends with the house and therefore any garden plan, should always start from the building and work outwards.

Landscape Designer is a term which is nowadays interchangeable with Garden Designer but completely different to a Landscape Architect. To become a Landscape Architect you'll need a different set of skills and qualifications.

How to design a balanced garden? ›

To create a balanced look in a formal garden, mirror the plantings (plant exactly the same thing) on both sides of the garden, entryway, or path.

The structural elements of a garden could be considered its bones. Man-made pieces like paved or dressed pathways, raised planters, solid bed edging, trellis, arches, fences or pots, or natural features like hedging, topiary and trees.

Landscape Design: The art or practice of planning (designing) changes to landscaped areas, either for aesthetic or practical purposes. Landscape Designer: The professional who plans and develops landscape projects, usually at a residential or small commercial level with the major design impetus on plantings.

synonyms: landscape architect, landscape gardener, landscapist.

A landscape designer might possess an undergraduate degree, but designers are typically self-taught or learn their skills through on-the-job training. Often, landscapers become landscape designers through experience and might not pursue higher education.

There are 10 principles of design in total! They're also known as the elements of visual design, and are: movement, balance, contrast, proportion, repetition, rhythm, variety, emphasis, harmony, and unity.

The elements, or principles, of visual design include Contrast, Balance, Emphasis, Movement, White Space, Proportion, Hierarchy, Repetition, Rhythm, Pattern, Unity, and Variety.

A proper layout will incorporate the 6 principles of landscape design: balance, focalization, simplicity, rhythm/line, proportion, and unity. Needing backyard landscaping ideas? Read on to learn more about how you can apply these landscaping design principles to create the yard of your dreams.