Basics Of Landscape Design

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 We know that most of our readers are experts in landscape architecture and landscape design (although we imagine there are some students as well).

The reason is simple: by focusing on the fundamentals, we can illustrate how Lands Design improves the workflow of the most essential elements of a landscape architect’s job.

There are many aspects to cover (the fundamentals of our industry are not that basic), so let’s get started!

Site analysis

Site analysis is the first step of any landscape design project.

Landscape architects must evaluate topography, soil type, existing vegetation, and climate. Other artificial and natural elements of the landscape must also be analyzed: buildings, urban landscape elements, bodies of water, etc.

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tools for site analysis

Lands Design offers powerful tools for site analysis.

Our tool allows you to import terrain from satellite images or existing files in the cloud. You can also connect contour lines, elevation curves, and point clouds and create landscapes with them.

Our extensive plant database allows you to incorporate existing vegetation into your site analysis file. You can begin to evaluate where the best views are on a property, how existing vegetation can be incorporated into your landscaping project, and much more.

Fusion Of Form And Function

In landscaping, we talk a lot about aesthetics, but aesthetics must arise naturally from both the function of the space and its current distribution.

The principle that “form follows function” is often cited, but in the 21st century, the way we view it has changed.

It is especially evident in landscape design, where one of the functions must almost always be to incorporate new elements harmoniously with the existing ones so that the unique qualities of a given terrain are highlighted.

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Once you have created a file for site analysis, Lands Design allows you to incorporate any number of living (softscape) and non-living (hardscape) elements into the design. So you can virtually walk through the pedestrian zones. Plus, you can move back in time to see seasonal changes and annual plant growth. Finally, you can see how tree cover influences the built environment over time and much more!

Focus on sustainability

modern landscape design

Another essential function in modern landscape design is sustainability. For many homeowners, the appeal of good landscaping design is economic: after all, landscaping can increase the value of your property.

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While this remains true, more attention is now being paid to creating sustainable landscapes. These landscapes may include tree cover that provides shade for passive cooling, water reclamation for irrigation, water treatment through constructed wetlands, etc.

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One of the most common ways to improve sustainability is to use plants native to a given region and apply xeriscaping principles to introduce living landscape elements that do not require irrigation. 

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With over 8,000 different plant species, Lands Design allows you to incorporate sustainable landscaping elements into your design. You can even filter plants by soil type, climate, etc., making it simpler to find the right plants for each location.

The basics, more effective

We hope this article has illustrated how Lands Design can help you with some of the most basic principles of landscape design. It has a version for AutoCAD and another for Rhino. Therefore, you can import and export your designs in multiple formats.

Lands Design allows you to create in 2D and 3D; you can even give your clients virtual tours of the landscape you have designed. You can also view it through virtual reality. From refining the basics to completing the final design, we trust the software to help you do it all.

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The Importance Of Landscaping In Urban Areas

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The importance of landscaping in urban areas is a crucial aspect of the significant impact it has on the quality of life of people who live in cities. Landscaping ranges from the initial approach to the design, development, management, maintenance, and rehabilitation of open spaces green and recreational spaces. Always respecting, above all, the environment to transform spaces in the best way and where they coexist without harming nature and people.

The impact of nature on cities

Cities must invest in maintaining nature and promote its integration into urban design. Because nature can greatly affect our way of living, some of the most relevant aspects are:

  • Health and well-being: the presence of green spaces and quiet areas to walk, practice sports, and improve the physical and mental health of the inhabitants.
  • Pollution reduction: Nature helps reduce pollution and purifies air and water.
  • Climate change mitigation: Trees and plants act as carbon sinks and help reduce the effects of climate change.
  • Protection of biodiversity: green areas in cities help conserve biodiversity and help protect endangered species.
  • Better quality of life: It is proven that nature being present in our streets and squares helps its inhabitants and improves their quality of life. More attractive cities, with spaces for relaxation and coexistence, have to be the present and future of modern cities. That is why it is essential to include more trees and plants in cities and reduce the weight of concrete in common spaces.

Planning and management of spaces

For a landscaper, one of the important things is that design and usability are at the same level. That is why you have to plan a summary of the garden before designing it, see what problems it has, know the direction of the sun to know what to plant in the shadiest and sunniest areas… but above all you must study the use and objective of that garden. Garden: solely landscaped for leisure and coexistence…

That is why you have to take into account:

  • The local climate: we must know the basic aspects of temperature, humidity, orientation, and hours of sunshine… to plant the species most appropriate to the place.
  • The type of soil in the garden: not every species can be planted in all soils. We will have to know the pH if it has a lack of nutrients in case this hinders the growth of the plants and their subsequent maintenance.
  • Maintenance: we must know the level of care and maintenance involvement that said space will have in the future. If it is known that not many resources are going to be allocated to its maintenance, the species that are planted should be more resistant and require little care.
  • Selection of heights, planning, and defining the visual attraction: a mistake that must be avoided is to bring together many species in the same place without taking their growth into account. We must plan where each plant should go so that they do not “self-destruct” each other over time.
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Elements Of Landscape Design

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Unit

Which corresponds to the principle that the landscape is a whole. It is achieved by not having plants that are varied in both type and color. Well, placing the same type of plants in the same landscape gives it a greater degree of homogeneity. Balance, which is radial, symmetrical, or asymmetrical, but its purpose is to obtain harmony.

The proportion

It can be achieved by keeping landscape elements in scale with the house. To do this, it is good to be certain of the approximate final volume of the tree or bush so that over time, the garden is not disfigured and the soil does not suffer severe damage from the roots.

Variety and diversity

But with control, they make the space more fun. You should try to ensure that no element competes with another, and each of the spaces doesn’t need to be full, but there are times when a space can be helpful in attracting the eye to a focal point.

The principles of landscape design

Shape

Please take into account that all plants have different shapes, regardless of their size. This factor is of great importance because they all play an important role in terms of what they contribute to the landscape. Along these same lines, the shade that the trees must provide is taken into account in the different seasons of the year.

Line

Regardless of their shape, the objective is to direct the vision to a central point or also to divide the areas of the garden.

Texture

All elements, trunk, leaves, flowers, etc., have texture. It would help if you tried to combine them to make the garden look organized.

Color

It is the one that plays the most important role in the landscape and is often the least understood. It doesn’t need to be exclusively equipped with one color, nor is it necessary that it have a great variety of colors.

Selection of landscape elements

When selecting plants, do it as if you were painting the house, that is, match the colors to the building. Before starting to carry out any type of work, you must be clear about what you want to achieve, what you need, and the maintenance that will be required for what you decide. Make sure that is what will change, as there are always things that remain.

Beginners in landscaping – Tips to avoid mistakes and get ahead in the market

As in any professional activity in the initiation phase, making mistakes is part of the experience, and landscaping is no different.

 We have listed some basic tips for beginner landscapers to avoid small mistakes and start their career well-tuned.

If you have come this far, you have probably already been through a complicated situation at work, but don’t worry; making mistakes is part of the journey. Remember that you are inexperienced and have a lot to learn; you should also know that you are on the right path.…

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Multidisciplinary Knowledge

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This point is undoubtedly very important for those who are starting; it is not possible to develop a good project without technical knowledge of other areas that talk about landscaping; it is important to emphasize this because many do not have the proper notion of what valuable it is to always be updated and studying these other fields. As examples, we can mention engineering, botany, architecture, biology, and agronomy.

Every landscaper should have this notion so as not to be caught off guard; remember to always be aware of everything that is part of this professional field.

Practical errors

Errors made in the exercise of the function are normal at the beginning; after all, it is not easy to convert theoretical knowledge into practice in a 100% faithful way, even more so as a novice or, better yet, a gardener.

 Below, we will see some very simple basic tips but of great value for those who are starting; take a look:

 Adequate irrigation:

 One of the most basic principles of landscaping and gardening is the correct dosage of water in the crop, which is why it is important to know how to measure the amount when watering and how to identify when the plant needs it or when the plant is showing signs of excess water.

Usually, when they show signs of excess, they turn yellow, wither, and fall off; otherwise, when there is a shortage, they tend to appear dry and also fall off.

 It is important to point out the differences in knowing the procedure; many people think that when the plant looks fragile, you necessarily have to water it, which is a mistake; be careful.

 Adequate lighting:

The issue of luminosity is also crucial in cultivation, and we must pay attention to how the foliage develops and its direction of growth. Generally, when the plant presents discoloration and abnormal elongation, it is a sign that the environment does not offer the ideal luminosity for its complete and healthy development.

 Choice of species:

 Choosing the correct species is crucial for the success of the project since it is of utmost importance that the plant is adaptable to the climate present in the place chosen for the development of the work. Always be aware of the compatibility of the species with the climate; otherwise, in a short time, the entire project can be lost, and that is not good for the reputation of those who are starting. So stay tuned and take the time to study this determining factor.

Conscious pruning:

The drier the climate, the more difficult it will be for fungi and other diseases to contaminate the plant; therefore, give preference to pruning in the winter months (May, June, July, and August). If you live in a region without well-defined seasons, try to observe the best time for pruning, and of course, always take into account the humidity mentioned above.

 Perspective Lines:

 A perspective line is an alignment technique based on a defined reference point. Well applied, it generates a beautiful, harmonious effect on the project, and it is undoubtedly worth its application.

 Your design must convey the proper perspective conditions for size, position, and depth. This will make your project stand out from others who do not master this technique.

 Persistence and willpower

 This is perhaps the most valuable advice we can convey to you: persistence and willpower are extremely important in any professional area. If you want to pursue a career in landscaping, know that many obstacles will stand in your way until you master the activity, so don’t lose focus and know that you will reap the rewards in the future; just always seek to improve and never stop, study, That is the secret of success, we guarantee it.…

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The Landscaping Process

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Landscaping is a task that combines science and art. Armed with horticultural knowledge, as well as familiarity with the elements and principles of landscape design, a landscape professional can help a person transform their property.

The architect, designer, or landscape contractor the client chooses to work with will guide them through the landscaping process, which consists of a design and construction phase. Landscape plans turn ideas into images and ensure scale and layout have been thought through before construction.

The landscaper will create a plan for a garden that suits the client’s needs and provides solutions to common landscaping problems, such as slopes, wind, sun, or lack of space.

What is a landscaper?

A landscaper is a professional who is responsible for adapting the land and water to make it more aesthetically pleasing. Someone with landscaping skills could enhance an existing garden design or work in one of the more specialized areas of landscaping.

Some of the specialties that someone interested in landscaping might choose to pursue would be the design of water gardens and pools (aquascape), the installation of lawn irrigation systems and drains (irrigation systems), or the design of practical solutions for orchards and gardens. Farms.

What does a landscaper do?

Landscaping is a field that encompasses a wide range of jobs, from pruning trees and planting flowers to building garden structures and installing irrigation systems. Some landscapers might even work on a larger scale.

For example, planning and designing a golf course would be the job of a landscape architect. Customers who need landscaping for their new pool or patio or need a retaining wall will contact a trusted landscaping company.

Large companies have facilities to maintain, colleges and universities have campuses to maintain, cities and towns have public parks that need maintenance and improvements, and zoos and theme parks also need landscaping solutions.

Characteristics of landscapers

Landscapers have different personalities. They tend to be entrepreneurial individuals, meaning they are adventurous, ambitious, assertive, outgoing, energetic, enthusiastic, confident, and optimistic.

Likewise, they are dominant, persuasive, and motivating. Some of them are also realists, which means they are independent, stable, persistent, genuine, practical, and thrifty.

Landscape Design

Landscape design. Have you ever thought that you would like your garden to look just like those well-designed gardens in books, magazines, and movies? Well, in this section, we will talk to you about the basic concepts used in landscaping so that you can have a garden as beautiful and organized as the ones you dreamed of.

Landscape design is the procedure by which very specific characteristics are given to those diagrammatic spaces represented in the site plan of a project. Visual relationships Along with the technique of materials, dimensions, and details, landscape design deals with visual relationships.

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