LANDSCAPE GARDENING

• Landscape gardening is an aesthetic branch of horticulture

which deals with planting of ornamental plants in such a way
that it creates a picturesque effect. ...

• Landscape gardening is both an art and science of the

establishment of a ground in such a way that it gives an effect
of a natural landscape.
PRINCIPLES OF A LANDSCAPE DESIGN
1. Focalization of Interest
Focal point – a place in the landscape where the viewer’s eye is first
attracted to.
Focalization of Interest – is a principle of design that selects and
positions visually strong items into the landscape composition

- plants, hardscape items, architectural elements, color, movement

texture or thir combinations
2. Unity
Unity in the landscape can be achieve by REPETITION or consistency

a. Repeat prominent
colors
b. Repeat
plant species
between areas

c. The use of materials

such as stones, rocks,
etc. and other types
of materials in your
garden.
d. Unity can also be achieved using themes in your garden.
- you can create a theme by using plants that attract butterflies,
using garden statues, garden ornaments and related garden décor.

e. Unity can also be used

to apply the simplicity
principle in your garden.
3. SIMPLICITY

• Apart from being one principle in landscape and gardening, simplicity is also
a principle in art and design. Simplicity can be applied in terms of the use of
landscape edging will create a unified look as well.
• Simplicity applied in planting would be to pick two or three colors and apply
these colors throughout the garden.
 4. HARMONY AND CONTRAST
• Flowing lines are always pleasing to the
eye, however the bold contrast
between leaf shape and size can
provide interest in the garden.
• Make use of plants to create contrast
and harmony in the gardens.
- Plants with fine foliage versus plants
with coarse foliage,
- round leaves versus spiked, needle-like
leaves,
- - even making use of complimentary
and contrasting colors.
- However, r: lines, forms and shapes
should flow together harmoniously to
enhance the style of your house.
 5. BALANCE – a sense of equality and equilibrium in the garden,
give a sense of stability and restfulness

• Balance is directly related to a plant’s

visual “weight”
• A plant’s visual weight is basically how
big of a presence the plant has in
your garden. Visual weight is made up
of mainly three different
elements; mass, color and density.
TWO TYPES:
a. Symmetrical balance (Formal) refers
to a garden landscape where there more
or less equally spaces matching
elements in the design..
Ex. Persian
2. Asymmetrical balance (Informal gardens) This form of balance often has
separate or different themes with each having an equal but different type of
attraction. It is sort of unbalanced, abstract and free-form while still maintaining
unity by means of repetition. Ex. Japanese garden
6. COLOR – an element that adds an extra dimension
of real life and interest to the landscape

Warm colors (bright reds, yellows and oranges) have that ability to draw one
towards the object.
Cool colors (green, blue and pastels) seem to move away from one and
make objects seem farther away.
Neutral colors ( whites, black and grey) are best used in the background, has
the added advantage of increasing depth in a landscape.
In a garden, this design principle and color theory would translate to the
use of dark and coarse textured plants in the foreground and using fine
textured and light colored plants in the background. Or alternatively you can
make use of color to direct attention to a specific area in your garden.
Primary colors –
red, yellow and blue
Secondary colors – green, violet and orange
Tertiary colors –
mixture of primary and
secondary colors
7. NATURAL TRANSITION – gradual change

• This design principle should be applied to avoid abrupt changes that may
occur in your garden design. When using plant height or even plant color,
one can achieve natural transition. However one would not limit applying
this principle to these two aspects alone. It should also be carried through
to all other elements in the garden.
• Stair step effect- large trees to medium trees to shrubs to plants to lawn
• Transition can also be used in creating vistas. The illusion of space and
distance can create a view. This view can in turn be framed by either trees
or a moon gate or arch. These objects have the ability to concentrate one's
attention rather than allowing an omnipotent view of the whole garden.
8. RHYTHM and
LINE -
= refers to the structural
elements in the garden.
This can be seen in the way
the flowers beds are laid
out, the walkways and the
entryways that regulates
the move and flow of the
garden.

Straight lines - tend to be forceful and direct,

Curvy lines - tend to be more natural, gentle, and flowing
9. PROPORTION- refers to the size of elements in relation in
relation to one another

Out of proportion:
a. A small herb garden with a huge garden statue placed in the middle of the herb garden
b. A large open yard and then placing small garden ponds in the middle

To achieve proportion:
a. Small garden ponds can achieve proportionality if it is placed in a corner or on the edge of a
large area and thus allowed to become the focal point of the larger area
b. hard landscaping features such as the size of paving that is used in a garden can help pull a
garden design together by maintaining proportionality.
c. Proper plant selection should also be paid attention to so as to achieve proportionality.
Example of landscape plants
• Trees- African tulip tree, guyabano, neem tree, guava,
• Shrubs – lettuce tree, Jatropha curcas, Gumamela, Roselle,
• Climbers –vines –niogniogan, blue ternate, cadena de amor, makabuhay
• Herbaceous perennials – Chinese violet,
• Annuals – kamantigue, zinnia, cosmos, marigold,
• Bulbs- onion, sibuyas costa, amaryllis, rain lily, orange lirio
• Palms- Foxtail palm, lady palm, ponytail palm, anahaw, bunga de Jolo etc
• Grasses – Bermuda grass, crab grass, amorseco,
Factors affecting landscape design
1. Human choice.
2. Site: This is an important factor and according to site, suitable design is
made. In formal style gardening, the site is selected according to plan.
Topography of the site also affects the design
3. Heritage: One inherits the knowledge of botany and aesthetic sense and
uses accordingly. Our rich heritage teaches us to use flowers and fragrant
trees to improve the surroundings.
4. Climate: The climate of particular place affects the selection of plant
material accordingly. Ideally suited plant material according to climate
should be selected.
5. Soil: According to characteristics of soil types, suitable plants should be
selected