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Sustainable design for small landscapes

Sustainable design for small landscapes. Master gardener program. “… A small plot of ground well ordered, turns to greater advantage than a large one neglected …”. - Leonard Meager The New Art of Gardening , 1697. Designing small spaces may feel less overwhelming … but more restrictive.

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Sustainable design for small landscapes

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  1. Sustainable design for small landscapes Master gardener program

  2. “… A small plot of ground well ordered, turns to greater advantage than a large one neglected …” - Leonard Meager The New Art of Gardening, 1697

  3. Designing small spaces may feel less overwhelming … but more restrictive.

  4. Sustainable Design • Designing for plant health and longevity; • Creating “outdoor rooms”; • Important in design regardless of size or cost.

  5. Five Considerations of Sustainable Design

  6. 1. FUNCTIONAL

  7. 2. MAINTAINABLE

  8. 3. ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND

  9. 4. COST EFFECTIVE

  10. 5. Visually pleasing

  11. Site analysis: Client Interview & Survey • Client interview • Activities in the landscape • Timeline for installation • Budget – install and maintenance • Site survey • Site inventory • Specific, honest evaluation of site features; measurements • Landscape Design Questionnaire, Site Evaluation Form

  12. Design Principles

  13. Design Principle 1: Unity • A feeling of “oneness” • Mix & match plants based on texture, form • Repetition of hardscapes and plants • All aspects should complement one another, not compete for attention; • The entire design comes together to form one landscape.

  14. Design Principle 1: Unity • The entire design: • Comes together to form one landscape; • All aspects should complement one another, not compete for attention; • Repetition of materials builds unity.

  15. DESIGN PRINCIPLE 2: SIMPLICITY • Large masses and groups • Fewer individual species / cultivars • Backgrounds, backdrops • Color pallets • 1-3 focal points in a small space • More important in commercial design than residential

  16. DESIGN PRINCIPLE 3: VARIETY • Variety in plants: type, form, texture, seasonal interest; • Variety in hardscapes: color, texture • Variety in location: areas viewed up close, entry gardens, decks, walkways, etc.

  17. VARIETY VS. COLLECTION

  18. DESIGN PRINCIPLE 4: BALANCE Formal vs. informal, symmetrical vs. asymmetrical

  19. DESIGN PRINCIPLE 5: EMPHASIS Integrate focal points, accent, and specimen plants in the landscape

  20. DESIGN PRINCIPLE 6: SEQUENCE The repetition of textures, colors, form and materials to transition the viewer through the landscape.

  21. DESIGN PRINCIPLE 7: SCALE The relative size of one part of a landscape to another and to human beings using plants and hard features of various sizes.

  22. Plant Selection

  23. Select plants for sustainability • Right plant, right place, right purpose • Select plants based on their elements of design (characteristics) • Plant type • Size • Form • Texture • Seasonal interest

  24. PLANT SELECTION: PLANT TYPE

  25. Plant selection: Select plants based on mature size

  26. PLANT SELECTION: FORM

  27. PLANT SELECTION: FORM: GO VERTICAL

  28. TRELLISING & ESPALIER

  29. PLANT SELECTION: TEXTURE, MIX & MATCH

  30. PLANT SELECTION: SEASONAL INTEREST

  31. Color

  32. COLOR • Warm: Focal point, draws attention • Cool: Calm, relaxing, larger • Neutral: Transitions, softens, expands

  33. Design tips for small landscapes

  34. 1. DESIGN ELEMENTS TO SERVE MORE THAN ONE PURPOSE

  35. 2. INTERPLANT ORNAMENTALS WITH EDIBLES

  36. 3. CONSIDER VIEWS

  37. 4. Use tall plants as backdrops

  38. 5. DESIGN TURF AREAS FOR MAINTENANCE • Mowing – avoid tight radii • Light & moisture requirements • Repeated traffic, equipment

  39. 6. AVOID DIVIDING THE PROPERTY

  40. 7. De-emphasize narrow areas

  41. 8. LOCATE DETAILS & VARIETY CLOSE-UP

  42. Resources • Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series (SULIS): http://www.sustalnd.umn.edu • Gardening Information http://www.extension.umn.edu/gardeninfo • Rice, Graham, The Ultimate Book of Small Gardens • Messervy, Julie Moir and Susanka, Susan, Outside the Not So Big House • Beaulieu, David, “Color Theory in Landscape Design”, http://landscaping.about.com/od/flowersherbsgroundcover1/a/flower_photos.htm • Luss, Gunda, “Color Techniques for Landscape Design” http://www.sustland.umn.edu/design/colortechniques.html • Boulden, Steve, “Big Help for Small Gardens”, http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/smallgardens.html

  43. Created by Julie Weisenhorn, University of Minnesota Extension, Department of Horticultural Science Discover more atextension.umn.edu

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