Reference For Landscape Architects And Designers To Help Select Plants That Are Perfect For Every Outdoor Space

Planning and designing a beautiful landscape requires careful consideration of numerous factors. One crucial aspect is selecting the right plants that will thrive and enhance the outdoor space in a sustainable manner. Landscape architects and designers play a vital role in this process, as they possess the expertise to choose plants based on their aesthetics, function, maintenance requirements, and suitability to the local climate. To assist these professionals in their mission, this comprehensive reference guide covers an array of plants to help create stunning and sustainable landscapes.

1. Luscious Lawns: The Perfect Ground Cover

No landscape project is complete without a lush, green lawn. The choice of grass species is highly dependent on the climate and level of maintenance desired. Options range from cool-season grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass, for regions with moderate temperatures, to warm-season varieties such as Bermuda grass for hot and dry climates. Including native grasses in the selection aids in adapting to local conditions while reducing the need for excessive watering and fertilization.

2. Ornamental Trees: Adding Height and Grandeur

Trees are the majestic giants that dominate and define a landscape. Selecting the right ornamental trees requires careful attention to size, form, foliage, and seasonal interest. Magnificent choices include the vibrant Japanese maple renowned for its colorful leaves, the delicate cherry blossom tree, or the magnificent flowering dogwood. Identifying the purpose of the tree, whether for shade, privacy, or aesthetics, will help guide the selection process.

Plant Selection: Learning From Nature: A reference for landscape architects and designers to help select plants that are ecologically suited to the site

by Alison Faulkner (Kindle Edition)

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	38406 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	94 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

3. Flowering Shrubs: Bursting Colors and Fragrances

Shrubs are incredibly versatile additions to any landscape project, providing structure, privacy, and an array of colorful flowers. The flowering period, foliage color, growth habit, and maintenance requirements should all be considered. Popular flowering shrubs include the eye-catching hydrangeas, fragrant roses, and the evergreen viburnums. Additionally, native species tend to be more resilient, attracting local wildlife and minimizing the need for pesticides.

4. Vibrant Perennials: Adding Texture and Variety

Perennials are an excellent choice for landscape architects seeking to add variety and texture to their designs. These plants wrinkle the canvas of any garden with their different shapes, sizes, colors, and blooming patterns. Stunning options include the elegant daylilies, the captivating black-eyed Susans, and the enchanting peonies. Be sure to choose perennials that are well-suited to your local climate and soil conditions to ensure their longevity.

5. Groundcover Plants: Filling in the Blanks

Groundcover plants play a vital role in filling gaps, suppressing weeds, and preventing erosion. They also provide low-maintenance alternatives to traditional lawns. Selecting groundcovers based on their growth habit, tolerance to foot traffic, and adaptability to varying light conditions is essential. The ever-popular creeping thyme, the hardy ajuga, and the vibrant vinca major are attractive options that add visual interest to any landscape.

6. Graceful Vines: Climbing to New Heights

Vines offer a unique opportunity to bring vertical interest to a landscape architecture project. Whether they are covering trellises, arbors, or walls, vines provide a touch of romance and sophistication. The selection process should consider factors such as growth habit, flower color, fragrance, and the availability of support structures. Elegant choices include the fragrant honeysuckle, the showy clematis, and the hardy trumpet vine.

7. Water-Loving Plants: Enhancing the Landscape with Aquatic Beauty

For landscapes with water features or wet areas, incorporating plants that thrive in these environments is key. Water-loving plants not only provide aesthetics but also contribute to natural water filtration and habitat creation. Choices like the elegant water lilies, the beautiful lotus flowers, and the versatile papyrus add a serene touch to any water feature, turning it into the centerpiece of the landscape.

8. Drought-Tolerant Plants: A Sustainable Solution

With the increasing focus on sustainability, selecting drought-tolerant plants has become a priority. These resilient plants require minimal watering and can withstand hot and dry conditions. Succulents, such as sedums, provide architectural beauty and colorful blooms while preserving water resources. Other excellent options include the stunning agaves, the hardy lavender, and the versatile yarrow.

9. Privacy Hedges: Creating Intimate Outdoor Spaces

Creating privacy is often a crucial aspect of landscape design, especially in urban or suburban environments. Privacy hedges serve as living screens, blocking unwanted views while providing beauty and charm. Large evergreen shrubs like the robust Leyland cypress, the elegant privet, and the fragrant boxwood are popular choices that offer year-round privacy and add an element of tranquility to the outdoor space.

10. Native Plants: Sustainable and Ecologically Friendly Choices

Native plants are perfectly adapted to the local climate and require minimal maintenance. They contribute to the preservation of regional biodiversity, provide habitat and food for native wildlife, and help conserve water resources. Choosing native plants, such as the colorful coneflowers, the striking goldenrod, or the resilient rattlesnake master, helps create sustainable landscapes that are visually appealing and ecologically responsible.

The process of selecting plants for landscape architecture and design requires careful thought, consideration, and expertise. By utilizing the comprehensive reference presented above, landscape architects and designers gain valuable insights into the diverse range of plants available for enhancing outdoor spaces. With this knowledge, professionals can create sustainable, aesthetically pleasing designs that harmoniously blend with and enhance the natural environment.

Plant Selection: Learning From Nature: A reference for landscape architects and designers to help select plants that are ecologically suited to the site

by Alison Faulkner (Kindle Edition)

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	38406 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	94 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

A reference for landscape architects and designers to help select plants that are ecologically suited to the site. This e-book is the first in a series on planting design and plant usage in gardens, parks and other designed landscapes, with an emphasis on sustainability, for landscape designers, landscape managers, and gardeners: professional and amateur. The perspective taken is relevant to all non-tropical situations. It is also entry-level, assuming no prior knowledge of the plant sciences or planting design.
The book introduces the reader to the basics of plants – the different physical forms plants take, their needs, their responses to different climates and environments, their competition with each other, and to the issues around long-term performance. Plant ecology science is taken as a starting point, in order to help the reader understand why plants do what they do, and to try to predict how they will perform in the future. There is an emphasis on understanding plants as dynamic parts of a system, an approach which will do much to help reduce maintenance and improve the sustainability and biodiversity of plantings. With an understanding of how plants survive as living things, the designer and gardener can go on to create combinations which provide beauty, longevity and functionality; subjects which will be covered in future books.