Landscaping design weaves together various factors to bring about a finished landscape. Each factor plays a vital role in the landscape’s whole architecture and ecosystem. That is why It is important to identify these factors and plan them to a T before starting any landscaping project.
Here is a list of factors that go into designing a landscape.
Type of soil
Soil composition is an important factor of landscaping as it affects the variety of plants that can be planted. When it comes to soil composition, several aspects come into play such as the pH level of the soil, texture, drainage and etcetera.
The composition of your soil can be determined by conducting a pH test to measure the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. If your soil is acidic, you can consider adding in plants such as Daffodils, Marigolds, Magnolias and Japanese Azaleas. Alkaline soil can accommodate Lavender, Hostas, Clematis and Black-eyed Susans.
As for the texture of your soil, ensure that you first identify whether your soil is rocky, sandy or full of clay before deciding on the type of plants to include in your landscape.
The amount of space
A space is equivalent to a canvas for designers to work on. Depending on the workspace available, you will have to precisely plan out your design by taking into account the measurement of the space and also the dimensions of the elements you wish to introduce into the space.
These components can include anything from fountains, ponds, garden beds, decorations, walkways, gazebos and etcetera.
Sunlight
One way to utilize sunlight is to create sections of full sun exposure and low sun exposure in a space.
Depending on the type of plants you have in your garden, you can position them according to the amount of sunlight they need. As such, plants such as vegetable that require more sunlight can be placed where there is more sun exposure (with sufficient irrigation in place). While those that do not require much sunlight can be planted at a section with less sun exposure.
Sections with low sun exposure are also great for setting up lounging areas to hold picnic sessions with friends and family.
Water
Water can be both a boon and a bane when it comes to landscapes. Occasional showers of rain can save us the time and energy of keeping our gardens watered. However, torrential rain has the potential to cause damage to a landscape. A landscape can become waterlogged and surrounding plants and materials can be damaged.
One way to overcome this problem is to plant more trees in areas more prone to flooding as trees can absorb the water. Other than that, in cases where your landscape is situated on a slope, you can construct a retaining wall to prevent soil erosion caused by the movement of water.
Maintenance
To keep your landscape in tip-top condition, it is important to conduct scheduled maintenance.
Maintenance works include weeding, hedge pruning, trimming low lying tree branches, grass cutting, cleaning and sealing stone pavements or wooden structures.
Landscape maintenance can be quite a handful, do get in touch with landscape professionals who are equipped with the necessary skills to keep your landscape in the best condition possible.
Purpose of the landscape
When coming up with plans for your landscape, be sure to identify the purpose of your landscape. You can start by imagining the activities that you would like to carry out in your space. Does it involve barbecue sessions? Do you intend to add in a swimming pool? How many guests would like to host during a festive get-together? Will your landscape focus more on functionality, aesthetic or both?
If you would like to incorporate multiple features in your landscape, ensure that all the features are in sync with one another. Do consult industry professionals who can help you come up with a design that will tick off all your boxes for a dream landscape.
Budget
A landscape is indeed a big investment. As such, before committing to building a landscape you should first ensure that you have a budget. This budget should be able to cover the cost of bringing a landscape to life and also the cost of maintenance afterwards.
The best course of action is to engage a landscape design consultant when coming up with a budget that works for you.
When it comes to planning a budget for landscape designing, you can be on top of things by keeping tracking of the flow of money. Be sure to record every relevant expenditure and keep every receipt for easier reference.
Be flexible during the duration of the project as there may be things that need to be changed and unexpected expenses that may arise. When setting your budget, always set aside some extra cash for unforeseen situations.
Users
A landscape is essentially a communal space for people to enjoy. When designing your landscape, do consider your own needs and the needs of the people who will be sharing this space with you.
If you have children or pets, avoid any decorations or structures that may be harmful to young children or animals running around the landscape. Keep in mind to not plant any plants that may pose a risk to them.
For households with senior citizens or public landscapes, ensure that the landscape is safe and accessible for them by integrating pathways with good grips that are also wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs.
If you or your family members are blessed with green thumbs you may want to have a landscape with plenty of space for flower beds and vegetable gardens.
As you can see, many important factors need to be addressed when designing a landscape. With the help of a trusted landscape consultant, you can rest assured that your dream landscape will become a reality.
Trust BSG Landscape & Construction To Be Your Landscaping Partner
BSG Landscape & Construction has provided quality landscape maintenance services for over a decade. Our team includes certified arborists, horticulturists, landscape technicians and safety officers. We provide a full range of services including horticulture services, arboriculture services, tree maintenance, grass cutting and landscaping. We are the preferred landscape contractor to make a clean and beautiful green landscape for you.
