3.06 The Elements of Planting Design Supporting the Plants In A Composition Designing the Natural Composition

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3.06The Elements of Planting Design
Supporting the Plants In A Composition
Designing the Natural Composition
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To fill this void, the planting designer often
uses several alternative materials to take the
place of plants.
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StoneThe most popular of these materials is
stone. Allow soil pockets to collect below and
between the stones. This provides the shade
needed to support plant growth.
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Do not place stones perpendicular to the soil
base. This does not allow the stones to
protect the soil for plant growth. Allow only a
portion of a large stone to appear above ground
expose only the weathered part. If stratified
material is used, make sure that all stones
follow the same formation. With a large
collection of stone material, use large boulders
for the central elements and support them with
smaller ones around the edges of the composition.
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WaterAs a reflecting pool, a producer of
soothing sounds, or a supplier of moisture for
exotic plants, water can be an excellent support
element for planting designs.
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Aquatic varieties can be classified as deep
aquatics, marginal aquatics, or floating
aquatics
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Screens and Fences A screen is a freestanding
visual barrier, while a fence functions more as a
physical barrier. Screens or fences can be
used independently from plants, in association
with small shrubs or groundcovers, or as the
framework for the support of vines or climbing
groundcovers.
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Berms  Berms are mounds of soil, used when
visual niches or vistas are needed in the
composition.
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Plant Containers Useful for the introduction of
annuals or exotic species into a composition, the
container itself should not be the major concern
of the planting designer. The plants in the
container are still the most important
considerations, and regular design approaches
should be used in solving design problems with
these plants.
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Designing the Natural CompositionTo solve
this problem, the planting designers need only
look at the relationships between the two terms.
The following principles may help in
developing a natural landscape setting
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Final composition should lack formality and
repetition of elements. The plants should be
placed according to their environmental needs
first and then according to their design
functions. No artificial or mechanical devices
should be used to supplement growing conditions.
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The design forms should follow the basic life
forms as they are found naturally.
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The composition should represent, as closely as
possible, the successional stage in which the
plant materials are found.