a few common design mistakes

Here are a few common landscape and hardscape design mistakes, along with a few suggested solutions.

plant selected is too large for site

1. the wrong plant selection for the location

Don't: Homeowners frequently make the costly mistake of not researching the cultural requirements of a plant species or the mature plant size. Plants will not thrive and often die if installed in the wrong location, for example if a sunny plant is installed in a shady location, or a plant that needs well-drained soil in a wet location. But the plant selection mistake that homeowners and even landscape centers most frequently make, is to install a plant with a very large mature size in a location that only allows for a small mature size, thereby creating future maintenance issues.

Do: Instead remember to always research the cultural requirements when selecting plant species and varieties. Always install the correct size plant for the site; for example perhaps the most suitable crape myrtle variety would be one with a 15 foot mature height instead of one with a 60 foot height; or a holly tree variety with a mature size of 4 foot diameter and 15 foot height instead of one with an 8 foot diameter and 70 foot height.

2. piece-meal design

Don't: A very common design mistake is installing too much variety and too many different individual plants and hardscape elements without any cohesive design.

Do: Instead, plan the overall design to have a unified hardscape and landscape design that enhances the architecture, creates a welcoming entry, and creates functional use areas. Always install plantings in masses at a scale compatible with the architecture and the site. Use fewer species of plants and ensure that each mass of a single species of plant is repeated. Transplant existing plants to create large groupings.

design doesn't complement architecture

3. planting design that does not reflect the architecture

Don't: Frequently the landscape planting scale, form and geometry do not enhance the architecture, highlight the entrance, or create a unified design.

Do: Instead, create an overall unified landscape design where the scale and geometry of the residence is reflected in the landscape. For example, a design solution to the landscape shown in this photograph might be large overlapping rectangular masses of plants. The garage appears visually prominent because the architecture steps back; so designing the proposed masses of plants to step forward at the left will allow the front of the house and the entry to be more prominent. Plants could be maintained to remain at heights lower than window sills, and designed so that plant masses transition in layers to be lower where farther from the building. Ensure that there is an unobstructed view to the front entrance to add to the welcoming entry.

4. hardscape material quality and selection that is not equal in quality to materials in house; and hardscape use areas that are not large enough to be functional

Don't: Frequently the scale, colors, geometry, and especially the quality of the hardscape materials do not complement the architecture. The materials selected (such as the lower quality of concrete pavers and concrete segmental wall block) are often not of comparable quality to the materials in the architecture (such as brick and fieldstone). Patio areas are frequently built too small to be fully functional, with a geometry that is not an extension of the house geometry.

Do: Instead, design so that the hardscape creates an extension of the architecture into the site. The hardscape materials and design should reflect the color, scale, and geometry of the residence. Create large enough areas to offer flexible uses. Materials should be comparable in quality to the residence, so may include for example Pennsylvania bluestone, clay brick pavers, stone masonry or brick walls with flagstone or pre-cast cap. The design should transition from indoors to outdoors; for example occasionally there is opportunity for unified paving from an interior tile floor to a compatible scale, pattern, and color exterior tile or paving stones. A covered porch, or pergola may create a gradual transition from indoors to outdoors.

5. highlighting the wrong thing

plants draw attention to unsightly utilities

Don't: When homeowners install plants in front of transformers or along edges of driveways, they are actually drawing attention to those elements; while instead we want to draw attention to the architecture and the front entry.

Do: When looking at a scene, we tend to visually filter out the utility clutter that is all around us. If we add visual interest to highlight the front entry of a residence or another site feature, then we draw viewers' attention to the entry; and do not usually need any plants near transformers and utilities. Of course in the less common situation where there are already existing trees and shrubs near the utilities, it may be possible to add some low shrubs for utility screening that visually tie in with the surroundings without drawing attention away from the front entry.

6. not having an overall design

Don't: One of the common reasons that homeowners make costly landscape and hardscape mistakes is due to not having an overall design.

Do: A professional landscape plan can allow your final landscape to create a welcoming entry, enhance the architecture, provide effective drainage, and add beautiful and functional outdoor spaces. And a consultation can be an easily affordable way to get that professional landscape design.