Landscape design involves functional use of plants combined with artistic composition
Functional use of landscapes:
Visual or acoustic screens Framing off-landscape views Microclimate control (e.g. shading, protection from wind) Creating enclosures (absolute or implied)
Functional uses should be considered first; landscape viewed as different units with different functions
Tree forms depend on branching patterns Shrub forms result from growth habits (e.g. upright or creeping)
Distance of view affects texture; farther you stand from plant, the finer its texture appears
Foliage most often considered in landscape design, but flowers, bark and fruit also important