Landscape Design

Landscape design is planning and preservation of outdoor space. It is the art and science of designing features so as to enhance entire property or estate. It restores environment and provides recreation and satisfaction to the mind and brings a sense of achievement. It provides beautiful views indoors and outdoors.

Landscape design involves knowledge of design elements, both hard and soft. The hard elements in landscape design include fences, gazebos, observation decks, sculptures and fountains etc. The soft elements include all kinds of plants, contours, water and all the living things. 

Landscaping design is regardless of the size of the space available. A vertical surface e.g. a boundary wall, a small patio or a lawn extending acres of land, all can be converted into living works of art. 

The main element of landscaping is plants. We can divide plants into three categories with respect to their sizes, i.e. ground covers, shrubs and trees. The ground covers do not grow tall and remain below knee height. The shrubs grow taller than ground covers and may be from knee to eye level. Creepers are those plants that need some support to grip, grow and flourish. Deciduous creepers give shade and flowers in summers and shed leaves to allow winter sun in.  It is very important to know the local plants, their properties, water and light requirements in order to choose the right plant for the right place and season. For this reason consulting local nurseries is the best option. Landscaping can be best understood as designing of outdoor rooms, framing pleasant views for indoors.

Creepers form the background for any view. They compliment the building lines. Local creepers like jhumka, railway creeper and bougainvillea add color to the landscape.  The best way to choose the size and type of a plant for a location is to take a photograph of the area and then plan and sketch the desired effect. In this way judging the ultimate result becomes easy.

Trees form the scenery for a house, adding richness to the view. Tall trees with big umbrellas form ceiling for the outdoor room. Plants can be appreciated for their sculptural quality of overall size, form, color and the seasonal transformations. The use of rocks, pebbles and gravel adds richness in detail and give a natural touch to the landscape. The best thing about the use of rocks is that they are almost maintenance free. A trim look can be achieved by using wooden planks.

Lighting plays an important role in any landscape. Day light gives inspirations for lighting design at night. Lighting can enhance a sculpture, or can give a flood light effect to any frame of view; it could create interesting shades and shadows on walls or just a silhouette of any plant. The lighting fixture should remain concealed leaving the observer’s attention for the work of art only.

The detailing of any landscaped area must consider your life style and the available time and resources to maintain it. No matter how large or small your landscaped area is, a little attention and care brings back a lot of happiness and satisfaction. So squeeze out some time from your routine and let your green fingers do the magic!