Being an experienced landscape designer, one of the most common requests which we often hear from our clients happens to be for “low maintenance” (even though it might actually signify NO maintenance at all!) It is fact that the majority of the property owners have a tendency of enjoying their yard as well as residence without performing a lot of things for its maintenance. One more aspect which tends to make this particular request somewhat more challenging is the fact that the average residential lot happens to be quite small mainly because of high land values. All these aspects along with our pest concerns, ailments, and weather extremes, the ongoing introduction of ornamental vegetation which is highly invasive into the environment need the innovative landscape designer to be capable of juggling quite a few competencies simultaneously.
Plants are not static
It is essential to bear in mind that plants aren’t static and will be going through their own maturation patterns which one ought to take into consideration while thinking of their ornamental usage in the landscape. In case, for instance, the window lines of a residence happen to be within more or less 12 inches of the ground, not many “moody” plants are going to fit that particular area without overgrowing eventually and resulting in unwanted trimming. Excessive shearing for controlling the development of the plants is usually a clear indication of a planting that has been misplaced. In case we force the plants to “fit” properly into an area by means of pruning, it will lead to unwanted maintenance and will likewise spoil the plant’s natural form once and for all.
Over-planting is not desirable
It is a fact that over-planting happens to be one more typical error when it comes to landscape plantings. Put simply, a landscape which is thin ought to be appearing a bit thin following installation with adequate spacing in between the plant groups. Property owners who have a hard time dealing with an outdated and overgrown landscape go through a period of adjustment quite frequently after the excess growth has been removed and a proper planting has been re-introduced. On most occasions, the anguish is going to dissipate after it is pointed out by us that proper landscape arrangements help in the development as well as the maturation of the plants sans the continuous “whacking” for control which was required by the earlier overgrowth. However, it is imperative for the landscape designer to provide guidance and support to the property owner while this transition period takes place. Here, we like to also mention that a landscape which is properly maintained should only need the amount of attention time-wise which is needed by it for consuming a couple of martinis.
The introduction of a lot more types of plants has been amongst the genuinely useful trends in the industry of horticulture at present. It is a fact that the plant pallet was actually centered on Japanese junipers and hollies some 30 years earlier. Since then, plenty of innovative and improved types of plants have supplanted these mundane choices admirably.
Difference between native and exotic plant types
One more debate that has popped up during the last several years happens to be the difference that exists between native and exotic plant types. A lot of individuals adopt the usage of native plant materials as compared to exotics because of the fact that they happen to be harder. However, your experience might be the opposite when it comes to many types of plants. The main reason for this is the fact that in case we allow the native plants to dry out at the time of the establishment stage, they tend to be rather unforgiving and usually meet their death in the long run. Simply speaking, there are quite a few plants which aren’t tolerant to drought unless and until they have become rooted out and are properly established. They should not be included in the design in case an individual is not able to take care of these types of temperamental plants since he does not have the required time or means to do so. That being said, it has been found that the plant materials which happen to be native are actually more insect as well as disease resistant as compared to the non-native plants out there. Moderation happens to be the key right here similar to everything else – in the majority of the landscapes, it will be a prudent idea to combine exotic and native plant material together.
Last but not least, we like to mention one really funny thing regarding landscape design which is the fact that one will typically come across a minimum of 2 or 3 fantastic ways for “skinning the cat” aesthetically. Here, we are not making any attempt to impose our view of the plant kingdom on some individual who does not like to take care of plants. In fact, the plant pallet happens to be adequately broad such that in case the client does not favor any particular plant, there will be a minimum of 2 or 3 other decent choices available as well. Needless to say, the vital factor to consider here will be to spend sufficient time along with the customer on the front end of the design work for finding out what exactly are their preferences and precisely how they like to make use of their landscape. In these times, there are quite a few individuals who find their own residences to be a place where they will be able to escape from the chaos and disorder of the present world. On most occasions, their landscapes are going to be the outdoor rooms which actually represent the interior home environment’s extension and offer a place for relaxation as well as enjoyment far from the stress and anxiety of their day-to-day lives. In this way, a proper landscape development will aid in bringing the enjoyment by blending the requirements as well as wishes of the client along with plant choices which is going to fit their location in the long run.
