More Than Pretty

THE IMPORTANT ROLE PLANTS PLAY ON LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Aside from the ability to beautify and breathe life into a space, plants are at the heart of every exceptional landscape design.
In many varied ways every landscape design decision can remarkably affect the natural environment. And the strategic use of the best kind of plants in design can significantly be of benefit to the environmental condition of a place.

One way to make sure that the plants to be used in the site are healthy is an adequate understanding in soil design. A few examples of these basic know-hows include the preparation of the soil, design of soil volume, spacing of plants, and the careful review of other critical components such as lighting, paving and utilities that can all affect the growing conditions for plants. Consequently, growing the correct kind of plants is one of the simplest, most effective and least expensive way to improve landscape water drainage as this simultaneously create lush, healthy and beautiful outdoor green spaces that thrives. Planting trees, for instance, especially in metropolitan areas where it is a lot warmer compared to their rural counterparts, can also alter or even create new microclimates. Microclimates are atmospheric conditions in smaller localities that are different from that of the general larger area. An interesting science trivia about trees is that within their cooling shade, they can bar the harmful rays of the sun, and stop solar radiation from heating the structures in the vicinity. And aided by the evaporation of moisture from its leaves and branches, trees are also able to serve as natural air conditioners for particularly warm spaces especially in urban areas.

Keeping the different users of outdoor living spaces in mind, plants can also be used to both separate and connect elements in landscape design. Considering the right type of plants that can create privacy, mask displeasing views, or divide spaces for specific uses will help make outdoor spaces more inclusive. For example, children naturally love to explore their surroundings and therefore the plants in their dedicated activity area will have to be safe for them to touch (kids’ allergies and sensitivity to pollens must also be taken into serious account) and at the same time appealing enough to encourage them to enjoy being outside – playing, interacting and learning with nature. Setting up kid-friendly fruit and vegetable gardens will also help children increase their awareness of where food comes from and allow them to make healthier food choices as they continue to grow. In addition, the current situation of the pandemic is also a great opportunity for outdoor spaces to be designed with workers’ productivity and safety in mind. Studies show that when individuals work outside in a natural environment surrounded with plants, they can concentrate well, are calmer, and are therefore able to perform their tasks better and turn over higher quality deliverables. Designing natural spaces at home and in offices by adding plants of different sizes and variety will instantly enhance the users’ outdoor work setup experience.

Incidentally, even pet parents will also need to think about their animal family members when selecting plants and designing green spaces in their homes. Dogs, for one, love to dig and chew on plants. Homeowners will have to make sure that the plants in their garden are not harmful. Some plants are also poisonous while others have long, sharp thorns or pointed leaves that can injure the eyes of dogs and other animals. In the end, if the maintenance of your garden means so much to you and would like to keep your pets from destroying your plants , consider designating a part of your garden dedicated only for your four-legged friends. Remember that when designing the garden, the needs of your fur babies must be met as well, and that includes using sensible plants in pet-friendly landscapes.

It is especially important to consider using native plants when designing outdoor spaces because these vegetations define the geographical landscape, lessen the negative impact of human intervention and inspire a “sense of place” or a special sense of character that connect us to a particular area’s local heritage. Through regionally native plants, a unique quality is added to your green space that makes it feel even more special to experience being there. Naturally, many of us get our landscape design ideas from garden magazines, catalogues or even popular images we see from landscape design websites on the internet. More often than not though, the copied cookie cutter styles end up not looking good in our own backyard. Worst, the beautiful plants we pick out may not even be suited to the local climate and not survive the heat or cold weather in the area. It is important to choose local plants that have a particular look and feel that blends in with its natural surroundings. Not only will they thrive well, they will also enrich the beauty of the home garden or commercial landscape as they foster a sense of belonging, a feeling that your are truly home.

Like fitting together the pieces of a puzzle, the right choice of plants complements all the other elements of landscape design. You may incorporate the most expensive and most exquisite non-living materials that form the exterior landscape spaces but the types of plants that we choose and how they harmonize with these building elements and materials will ultimately complete the whole design picture. Plants are not just added greenery and life to a sterile place. These living beings connect with humans and improve the quality of our lives by reducing stress, absorbing toxins, increasing humidity & producing oxygen among other health benefits. Choosing the best plants for the given purpose of your green space is the exciting and rewarding part of designing an outdoor space. Serving as the icing on the cake, as they say, plants are the finishing touches in every great landscape design.

The creativity in plant design is not set in stone though. As plants grow and change, this leaves abundant room for varied and improved design modifications in your garden. And as designs evolve, the demands of plants change as well. Some plants may outgrow its space and moving them some place else may improve their growing conditions. You may even decide to one day do a complete makeover of your outdoor backyard space and rearranging the plants to help them thrive while still achieving the best and innovative overall outdoor look should be one of your main and careful considerations.

Every Plantito and Plantita that the pandemic gave birth to will joyfully tell you how having plants around them has dramatically changed their lives for the better.

The coronavirus has taught us about the many health and wellness benefits of plants. And landscape designers are in the best position to beautifully highlight these benefits by putting plants in the forefront of outdoor space design. Plants do not have to exist anymore in a garden like a decoration or background that no one really notices or appreciates. It is utterly due to put the spotlight on plants, not only because they are pretty, but because when they are combined perfectly with the other elements of design, these living beauties will help create the perfect experience for any person who loves the outdoors.