The second part of a good design:

THE second big part takes stock of the plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers. These, like the stone or brick of steps, walls, pools, etc., are the building materials of the garden. Unless used correctly, they merely clutter up the landscape.

Trees:
Most permanent and of greatest value among plant materials are trees. They should always be planted for a specific purpose, the most important of which is to give protection, both from excessive sunlight and from cold winds. For the first purpose (protection from excessive sunlight) they are needed on the south and west sides of the house. For the second purpose (protection from cold winds) they should be grouped north of the dwelling. Some sun is needed however, preferably in the morning. A house completely and continuously shaded will be damp and gloomy.
Trees also serve to screen unsightly objects or block out undesirable views. You can use to screen the service area from the house or screen your house from the road or street. Specimen trees can also be planted to frame and make a picture of the house.

Shrubs:
Shrubs rank next in permanent value. Though not as versatile, they are more easily handled than trees, and a mistake in placing them is less drastic than when a tree is involved. However even though they can more easily be shifted if necessary, they should be placed with great care to insure pleasing results.
Shrubs are planted along house foundations for various purposes. When planted at corners and in angles, they tie house and setting together. The base of a building though should never be smothered in vegetation. When set close to a house, they enliven the facade and should be chosen to bring out the architectural details.
Like trees, they can be used to enclose areas and mark boundaries. When used this way, they must have good foliage and preferably flower interest, be dense in growth, and able to attain a height that will set the area off. In a lot of yards this will mean a height of at least eight feet. Used as specimens, they should perform some function or emphasize some focal point and not depend merely on their own beauty.

Flowers:
Too many amateurs, in trying to improve a garden layout, start with the flower beds; some never advance beyond this stage. They hurdle or ignore the larger and more vital aspects of establishing a proper background and providing a basic pattern or design, as though they didn’t exist. Considering flowers of paramount importance, they convert their gardens into nurseries or mere collections.
Flowers are but ornaments in a garden. They need a background. For convenience, they are best used in a few large areas rather than scattered in small beds all over the grounds. The beds should form patterns influenced and limited largely by details of boundary and topography. In developing your garden, plants are used properly when used for definite purposes.

Continually developing “Ideas for Outdoor Living”

1. Tim Says:
   February 28th, 2009 at 4:11 am

   My yard dosen’t score so well I’m going to have to work on it. Thanks for the ideas

2. Wess Says:
   March 9th, 2009 at 8:53 pm

   I like what you had to say in this series.
   good stuff

3. Greq Says:
   May 4th, 2009 at 4:20 pm

   This is a different way of looking at things. I am going to work on it.

4. Clomid Says:
   August 13th, 2009 at 1:21 am

   I have enjoyed this series quite a different approach to a garden design.