In this topic, we will be studying how to create sustainable home landscapes. The first step in this
process is to create a design for your landscape. Creating a sustainable landscape design combines
knowledge of both the principles of good design and the use of artistic elements. Before viewing the
YouTube video “Developing a Landscape Garden Plan”, view the “Landscape Design Terms” video and
read “Principles of Landscape Design” (located in the folder for this topic) to answer the questions below.
Objectives
1. Be familiar with the artistic elements that are involved in landscape design including color, line, form,
and texture.
a. Elements of composition are the visual qualities that people see and respond to when
viewing a space. Visual qualities can illicit many different emotions and feelings and the
more positive those feelings, the more likely people are to enjoy and use a space.
b. Line – created by the edge between two materials, the outline of a form or a long linear
feature.
i. Straight lines are structural and forceful; they create a formal character, are
usually associated with a symmetrical design, and lead the eye directly to a focal
point. Diagonal lines are straight lines with an intentional direction. Straight lines
are most often found in hardscape edges and material.
ii. Curved lines create an informal, natural, relaxed character that is associated
more with nature and asymmetrical balance. Curved lines move the eye at a
slower pace and add mystery to the space by creating hidden views.
iii. Vertical lines move the eye up, making a space feel larger. An upward line can
emphasize a feature and has a feeling of activity or movement. Vertical lines in
the landscape include tall, narrow plant material, such as trees, or tall structures,
such as an arbor or a bird house on a pole.
iv. Horizontal lines move the eye along the ground plane and can make a space
feel larger. Low lines are more subdued and create a feeling of rest or repose.
Horizontal lines can spatially divide a space or tie a space together. Low lines are
created by low garden walls, walkways, and short hedges.
c. Form - Shape is created by an outline that encloses a space, and form is the three-
dimensional mass of that shape. Form is found in both hardscape and plants, and it is
typically the dominant visual element that spatially organizes the landscape and often
determines the style of the garden.
d. Color – adds interest and variety to the landscape. The most conspicuous element in the
landscape and is usually the focus of the most homeowners. It is the most temporary
element, usually lasting only a few weeks a year for individual plants.
e. Texture - Texture refers to how coarse or fine the surface of the plant or hardscape
material feels and/or looks. Texture is used to provide variety, interest, and contrast. The
plant’s foliage, flowers, bark, and overall branching pattern all have texture.
Study Guide for Topic: Landscape Design
f. Visual weight – the concept that combination of certain features have more importance
in the composition based on mass and contrast. Some areas of a composition are more
noticeable and memorable, while others fade into the background.
2. Know the difference between analogous and complementary colors.
a. Analogous (sometimes called harmonious) color schemes are any three to five
colors that are adjacent on the color wheel, such as red, red-orange, orange, yellow-
orange, and yellow, or blue, blue-violet, and violet. The colors are related to each other
because they typically include two primary colors mixed to form a secondary and two
tertiary colors, which means they share common properties.
b. Complementary colors are those that are opposite each other on the color wheel. They
tend to have high contrast between them. The most common sets are violet and yellow,
red and green, and blue and orange. Complementary colors are often found naturally in
flowers; a common pair is yellow and violet
3. Be able to define the following terms with respect to the landscape design principles.
oUnity – the visual assessment that elements in a landscape belong together. Unity
provides coherence to a landscape, it makes it understandable.
oBalance – the equality of visual weight of elements in a composition about some central
axis which sometimes serves as a focal point.
1. Two types of balance
1. Symmetrical
2. Asymmetrical
oTransition – the gradual change in landscape appearance across space that is achieved
by the manipulation of the basic design elements of color, line, form and texture.
Transitions in the landscape, in order to create movement of the eye across that
landscape should be gradual. Abrupt transitions in landscape cause the eye to come to a
resting point, or stop, they become points of accent of interest.
oProportion – the relative dimensions of an element in which landscape to the landscape
composition as a whole which the eye sees.
oRhythm – the metered repetition of elements throughout a design brings unity to the
composition
oFocalization – achieved by use of a dominant landscape feature. It becomes a resting
point for the eye.
oRepetition – the replication of an element throughout a landscape. The is the most
efficient means of establishing landscape unity.
osimplicity – the visual economy of means. Communication of the maximum information
and meaning with the minimum number of elements in the landscape. Imagine if you
analyze a landscape and identify a few elements that are not contributing to the
landscape design. Removing those items increases the simplicity of the landscape.
You are now ready to watch the YouTube video “Developing a Landscape Garden Plan”. At the end of the
video, you should be able to answer the following questions based on information in the videos and in the
reading on Landscape Design Terms.
4. Why is it necessary to formulate a landscape design before attempting to install a landscape?
What are the steps used to create a landscape design?
5. What are some of the common mistakes made by novice designers?
6. What is the definition of a landscape element and are you able to recognize examples of
landscape elements?
7. What is the focal point in a landscape? What are some common focal points? What is the
difference between a landscape accent and a focal point?
8. What is the importance of simplicity in a landscape design?
9. What is the difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical balance? What is the difference
between a formal and informal landscape?
10. How can a theme be used to provide unity to a landscape design? Why is it important to match
the landscape theme to the style of a home?
11. What are the four artistic elements of landscape design?
12. What are the primary, secondary and tertiary colors used in landscape?
13. What parts of a plant contribute to texture? What is the difference between a fine textured and
coarse textured plant?
14. How can color and texture be used in a landscape to make small spaces appear larger and large
space appear more intimate? How can color and texture be used to create an accent or to create
transition?
15. What is the difference between proportion and scale?
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