A Residential Landscaper's Guide to Arranging Plants

Landscaping is a creative but technical process that requires both an eye for detail and a willingness to get down and dirty. From choosing the right plants to putting them in the right spots of your property, there are plenty of things you need to consider. Here is a simple overview of plant arrangement and how to choose the right ones to get started:

The Entrance PlantsThis is the group of plants that creates an entryway for people entering your property. They line the entryway and driveway, lead you through the garden gates, and point to the house entrance. These plants can be subtle yet have attractive features.  

The BordersBorder plants function just as the name suggests. They create a border but aren’t necessarily tall. These could separate the yard from the driveway or separate certain sections of the garden.

The Screen Plantings Is your backyard fence not tall enough to give you much-needed privacy? Screen plantings may be a good solution. These are plants that cover up unsightly features and are often six feet tall. Plant walls or tall bamboo make great choices for this section of your landscaping.

The Corner PlantingsThese plants are used to bring the corners of the land together. They blend the horizontal plane of the ground to the vertical line of the wall and do not grow higher than two-thirds of the height of the eaves. These work with a high-to-low or low-to-high sequence. 

The Foundation PlantsThe foundation plants also keep the house grounded and are more subtle than entrance plants when it comes to directing people into the house. Though not set in stone, a good rule of thumb is to get plants taller than the entrance plants.

AccentsAccent plants are much like accent walls are to interior design. They aren’t centerpiece plants, but they do pop out from the rest of the plants to cut through the monotony. Going overboard and having too many of them may overwhelm the eyes, so keep them at bay.

Specimen PlantThis is now the center of attention in your entire landscape. Having a specimen plant that stands out from the rest can is the feature your landscape needs. You can plan your landscape around it entirely to make it work.

How to Choose Plants for Their Arrangement

Pick Plants That You Can MaintainHaving a beautiful landscape without planning for maintenance can set you up for disaster. If you have time on your hands or someone to handle it for you, you can choose any plant so long as you can meet the maintenance requirements. However, if you don’t have either, choose plants that require minimal maintenance and won’t die easily.

Keep It SimpleMany of the best landscapes are not overly complicated and relaxing to behold. Keep things simple and leave plenty of room for walking or lying around to enjoy your space.

ConclusionPlant arrangement is not something that you want to randomize if you want a space that looks wonderful. And while some design rules aren’t set in stone, it does help to know what generally works to build a structured landscape. With an eye for design and dedication, anyone can transform their backyard into a beautiful and admirable space. Landscaping is no easy process. But when you don’t have the time and can’t be bothered trying, you can always hire professionals in residential landscape design in Birmingham, AL. DSLD Land Management is a full-service landscaping company that designs and builds incredible landscapes for residential and commercial spaces. Contact us today!