2020 CMG Landscape Design Tips for Clients

LANDSCAPE DESIGN OPTIONS

CMG Webinar Series Deryn Davidson, CSU Horticulture Extension Agent, Boulder County “Can you help me with my landscape design?

Yes! And, no…

• Great opportunity to help educate them! • You can learn about landscape design and be able to talk with them about it • Provide resources • Tips and things to think about • Fact Sheets • Other resources (outside organizations) • You can not compete with the green industry • Creating a design for someone is a big job, out of scope for MG Class Outline

Design: • What is design?? • BREIF history – how long has it been around, where does it come from? How do you guide the client? • Basic principles of design • How/where do you start? • DIY or professional • Styles • Right plant, right place BRIEF History of Design

• Mesopotamia c2000 BCE • Ancient Egypt c1500 BCE • Ancient India c500 BCE • Ancient Persia c500 BCE • Ancient Rome c100 • Medieval Planting Design c1200

"Taj Mahal (Edited)" by Yann; edited by Jim Cartar - Edited version of File:Taj Mahal, Agra, India.jpg. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 via Wikimedia Commons Chinese and Japanese – represent nature

• Viewed from inside the • Viewed from inside the home garden • Water represented by patterns • Almost always water element raked into stones • Stones often placed on • Stones used in natural groupings pedestals represent mtns • Plant material very manicured • Plant material left natural Renaissance Planting Design c1600 • Baroque Planting Design c1700 • Picturesque Planting Design c1800 • Gardenesque Planting Design c1820 • Arts and Crafts Planting Design c1900 • Abstract Planting Design c1950 • Naturalistic Planting Design (water-wise, xeric) c1990… Styles

• Chinese • English • French • Greek • Italian • Japanese • Etc., etc. Design Process

• To plan and make decisions about something for a specific purpose

• To designate the location of elements to create an aesthetically pleasing space Design Process

• Design can be taught, some are more artistic than others, but it can be learned • Tools and strategies • Dynamic systems – different that other static art forms • Slowest of the performing arts… • Systematically consider all aspects of the land, environment, growing/changing plants, users, ecology • Put on your designer, ecologist, horticulturist, entomologist, homeowner hat!! Design Process…

• Look for inspiration (internet, magazines, books, neighbors) • Your wants (goals and objectives) • Style • Outdoor play space • Tranquil sitting space • Create urban habitat • Dog area • BBQ/outdoor kitchen • Multiple uses • Site inventory and analysis (environmental conditions) • Elements and principles • DESIGN!! Principles and Elements of Design Principles and Elements of Design

• Fundamental concepts of composition • Principles are guidelines we use to arrange • Order • Unity • Proportion • Repetition • Elements are arranged according to design principles • Line • Form • Texture • Color • Smell • Sound Principles of Design Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, however… • Fundamental concepts of composition • Guidelines used to arrange elements • Order • Unity • Scale/Proportion • Repetition Principles of Design Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, however… • Fundamental concepts of composition • Guidelines used to arrange elements • Order • Unity • Scale/Proportion • Repetition Principles of Design Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, however… • Fundamental concepts of composition • Guidelines used to arrange elements • Order • Unity • Scale/Proportion • Repetition Principles of Design Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, however… • Fundamental concepts of composition • Guidelines used to arrange elements • Order • Unity • Scale/Proportion • Repetition Principles of Design Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, however… • Fundamental concepts of composition • Guidelines used to arrange elements • Order • Unity • Scale/Proportion • Repetition Principles of Design Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, however… • Fundamental concepts of composition • Guidelines used to arrange elements • Order • Unity • Scale/Proportion • Repetition Elements – visual descriptors of features

• Line • Form • Texture • Color • Smell • Sound Elements of Design

Visual Descriptors

• Line – directs the eye • Form • Texture • Color • Smell • Sound Elements of Design

Visual Descriptors

• Line • Form – skeleton of space • Texture • Color • Smell • Sound Elements of Design

Visual Descriptors

• Line • Form – skeleton of space • Texture • Color • Smell • Sound Elements of Design

Visual Descriptors

• Line • Form • Texture – how course or fine a surface is. Variety, interest. • Color • Smell • Sound Elements of Design

Visual Descriptors

• Line • Form • Texture – how course or fine a surface is. Variety, interest. • Color • Smell • Sound Elements of Design

Visual Descriptors Affects: Spatial perception, light quality, balance, emotion • Line • Form • Texture • Color – the fun stuff! • Smell • Sound

Created by Jeni Webber Elements of Design

Visual Descriptors Warm colors are exciting, perceived as being closer making a space feel smaller. • Line Cool colors are calming, perceived as • Form being farther away making a space feel larger. • Texture • Color – the fun stuff! • Smell • Sound

Elements of Design

• Monochromatic (one color)

Elements of Design

• Analogous (3-5 colors that are adjacent on the color wheel)

Elements of Design

• Complementary (colors that opposed each other on the color wheel)

Questions?? Where can they do this?

• Small courtyard • Medium yard • Large estate • Unusual spots – median strip, roof, patio (containers), vegetable garden Where do they start?

Site Analysis (What are You Working With?) • Sketch it out! • Topography (high/low) • Exposure • Soil type • Recommend a test • Find microclimates • Determine use areas • Kids • Dogs • BBQ • Habitat Put pen(cil) to paper

• Save you time and money • Create functional diagrams (circulation, uses, etc.) • Create draft designs with different ideas • Final design • Hardscape/materials • Planting areas • Plants • Irrigation

What gardens styles are appropriate in CO?

To name a few… • Xeriscape • Rock gardens • Wildlife habitat • Plant Select • Raingardens Xeriscape (Water Wise Design)

Seven Principles 1. PLAN for water conservation 2. Improve soil 3. Create practical turf and non-turf areas 4. Irrigation efficiency 5. Select appropriate plants 6. Mulch 7. Maintain (consider making your landscaped area smaller) Water Wise Design

Xeriscaping Does NOT mean ZERO-scaping Water Wise Design Water Wise Design Water Wise Design Water Wise Design Water Wise Design Water Wise Design Water Wise Design – Rock Gardens Water Wise Design – Rock Gardens Water Wise Design – Natives Water Wise Design – Wildlife Water Wise Design – Plant Select Rainwater Harvesting

• Active water harvesting = capture rainwater in a container to hold for later use (tank storage) • Passive water harvesting = divert water overland to vegetated areas for immediate use (soil storage) Passive Rainwater Harvesting – Green Infrastructure • Passive water harvesting = divert water overland to vegetated areas for immediate use • “Slow it, spread it, sink it” • Integrated into landscape • Swales • Berms (microbasins) • French Drains • Rain Gardens Passive Rainwater Harvesting

• To figure out what kind of passive harvesting is right for your landscape, you should make a flow map • Look outside when it rains, and watch where water flows • Pay particular attention to paved areas and downspouts

Passive Rainwater Collection

• Passive = divert water overland to vegetated areas for immediate use • “Slow it, spread it, sink it” • Integrated into landscape • Swales – spreads horizontally • Berms (microbasins) • French Drains • Rain Gardens Passive Rainwater Collection

Be careful where you direct water Passive Rainwater Collection

• Passive = divert water overland to vegetated areas for immediate use • “Slow it, spread it, sink it” • Integrated into landscape • Swales • Berms (microbasins) – raised area to slow • French Drains • Rain Gardens

Transition between existing grade and slope of berm should be gradual. Appear as natural part of landscape. Passive Rainwater Collection

• Passive = divert water overland to vegetated areas for immediate use • “Spread it, slow it, sink it” • Integrated into landscape • Swales • Berms (microbasins) • French Drains – spreads and slows • Rain Gardens Rain Gardens Rain Gardens Rain Gardens

• Use plants, soils, mulch and microbes to slow and treat stormwater runoff • Modeled after natural ecosystems • Keep water onsite for use AND • Effectively reduce heavy metals, nutrients, bacteria and other pollutants AND • Protect local streams and lakes AND • Replenish groundwater supplies AND… How to Plan for Your Rain Garden

• Locate in an area where rainwater runoff naturally occurs • Plan your garden like a river flows: follow the path of least resistance • Downspout • Driveway/sidewalk

Image credit: Landscapes for Life How to Plan for Your Rain Garden

• Locate in an area where rainwater runoff naturally occurs • Plan your garden like a river flows: follow the path of least resistance • Keep rain gardens at least 10 feet from buildings, 35 feet from septic tanks and 50 feet from water wells Questions?? Plants

A 2002 study in Colorado Springs compared water use between traditional and xeric landscapes • Water savings ranged from 15-63% • Native plants often top the xeric plant lists • Natives – fewer resources, support local fauna Plants

• Seasonal interest, extend bloom period • Color • Texture • Exposure • Size • Function • Noise • Screen • Food • Structure • Maintenance • Water needs Placement/Replacement

• Remember things GROW! Placement/Replacement Placement/Replacement Microclimates – existing

• Berms • Rocks • Walls • Structures Microclimates – create them

• Same sun/shade requirements • Build berms, use walls, etc. • Layers of plants create microclimate for next layer down • Plant in blocks/masses to create shade for plant root system Hydrozones

• Irrigation done by area, not by plant • Grouping plants with similar water needs together and irrigating appropriately • Water according to the plant’s need, rather than water everything equally • Efficiency, less water consumption • Don’t have to forgo water loving favorites Hydrozones

• Drip vs. Sprinkler • Drip more appropriate when possible • MUST be adjusted as plantings mature • Both placement and amount Permeable Pavers Permeable Pavers

The Gardens on Spring Creek – Fort Collins Permeable Pavers Permeable Pavers Permeable Pavers Permeable Pavers Permeable Pavers Garden art and whimsy Design Ideas/Help www.plantselect.org Design Ideas/Help www.resroucecentral.org Design Ideas/Help Design Ideas/Help CO Native Plant Society www.conps.org

Helpful Websites (General) • http://stormwatercenter.colostate.edu/ • http://www.northernwater.org/

(Plants) Fact Sheets: • 7.229, Xeriscaping: Trees and Shrubs • 7.230, Xeriscaping: Ground Cover Plants • 7.231, Xeriscaping: Garden Flowers Hiring a Professional

• Encourage client to still go through steps outlined • Land on likes and dislikes • Suggest the interview designers • Are they willing to work with you, or do they prefer hands off? • Do styles and general aesthetics align • Do they have specialty areas (natives, xeriscape, English gardens, etc.) • What will they provide (concept vs. final design)? • Do they do installation too (design/build)? • What do you get for your money? www.apld.org www.asla.org www.alcc.com “…[Good garden design] employs the mind without fatigue, tranquilizes yet enlivens it and thus gives the effect of refreshing rest and reinvigoration.” – Frederick Law Olmsted

Thank you

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