planting design

Principles of Planting Design

• Artistic composition derived from physical properties of plants

• Plants can be viewed as mainly horizontal or vertical– Horizontal shapes are less dramatic than vertical shapes

– Form:

• Tree forms depend on branching patterns• Shrub forms result from growth habits (e.g. upright or

creeping)


• Physical properties of plants important in landscape design


• Stems, leaves, bark, and buds determine texture of plant

– Large or widely separated plant features create effect of coarseness

– Texture:

– Thick, tight foliage results in finer texture– Simple leaves appear coarser than compound leaves

• Distance of view affects texture; farther you stand from plant, the finer its texture appears

• Physical properties of plants important in landscape design


• Warm colors: yellows to reds– Bright, inviting and lively

– Color:

• Cool colors: greens to violets– Restful, receding, not as conspicuous

• Foliage most often considered in landscape design, but flowers, bark and fruit also important

• Unity in landscape design


• Characters that provide unity in landscape design– simplicity

– Landscapes need some characteristics to tie together different (functional) units and plants within a unit

– variety– emphasis– balance – sequence – scale



• Created with repetition of form, texture, colors, or specific plant species

• Must prevent monotony; variety is used to ‘control’ repetition

– Simplicity (repetition)



– Variety• Varying forms, textures and shapes to prevent boredom



– Emphasis• Drawing attention to important features of landscape

– Can draw attention to front door of residence by using plants that offer variety in color, texture or form near the door



– Balance• Symmetrical balance = elements on either side of an axis

are identical (formal feel) • Asymmetrical balance = unlike elements of equal visual

weight on each side of an axis (less formal)– achieved by balancing forms of unequal size (e.g. 1 tree balanced

by 3 shrubs) – Color adds visual weight; brightly colored plant may need to be

balanced with several plants of equal size but not brightly colored

– Coarse textures are visually heavier than fine textures (more fine-textured plants needed to balance coarse-textured plants)



– Balance



– Sequence• Move viewer’s eyes over landscape in orderly fashion

– Achieved by gradual progression of form, texture or color

– Any plant that breaks gradual progression becomes a point of emphasis



– Scale• Relative scale or proportion of landscape affects viewer’s

mood– Most landscapes

should be proportional to human height or height of structure

Use of trees in landscape design• Form• Branching• Function• Visual aspects• Ecological values• Soil erosion• Habited for wild life• Wind & dust buffers

Use of trees in landscape design• Form – The general form of trees are broad, round, square, tapering,

and columnar.– Tapering – Polyalthia logifolia Grevillea robusta

Use of trees in landscape design– Broad & round Mimusops elegi, Delonix regia

Use of trees in landscape design• Branching – Horizontal, weeping, angular, spreading, and arrow.

– Weeping- Callistemon lanceolatus

Use of trees in landscape design• Function – To provide timber for commercial gain

– To serve as a wind break or screen– To act as a noise baffle– To provide shade– To give scale to building– To provide color & form

Use of trees in landscape design• Visual aspects-Color & form , texture

– Planted for contrasting shades– Used as a backdrop for something important– As a focal point– Used from an enclosure to accentuate the land form– To frame a building or to emphasis a specific view or focus

onto feature

Use of trees in landscape design• Ecological values– In improvement of urban soil condition by intercepting

rain.– Improvement in the functioning of hydrological cycle by retention of water and less evaporation.- Increase in the diversity and quantity of wild life by

providing range of habitats.- To moderate the extremes of urban microclimate.

Use of trees in landscape design• Soil erosion– Trees protect soil from being eroded as it prevents the rain

from falling directly on the ground and moist of the moisture to be absorbed gradually into the soil.

• Habitat for wild life -Trees provide living spaces and food for small animals

birds and insects.

Thank you

planting design

Environment