It is not too early to start garden planning. Most of us perceive our “landscape” as something to make our house look nice, flowers, trees, or an oasis to relax in. But every landscape should have a function – a purpose – a reason for what it ends up being. Is there a reason why your landscape is designed and arranged the way that it is?
The plants themselves, the combination and arrangement of plants, the uses and functions of the plants and the landscape as a whole can actually be useful. Not merely a few bowling balls or carved pillars and pom-poms spotted here and there in front of or along the foundation as mere decoration.
When my company consults with a client that wants a new or better landscape, we first ask them “Why?” This leads to “What” and then “How.” From this, we provide a new or renovated landscape with purpose and with a function.
What purpose will the landscape serve? Is it edible? Can you sit in it and enjoy a cup of tea or lunch? Does it attract bees and birds? Does it look good? Is it easy to maintain? Does it include valuable native plants? Can you bring it in to the house? Is it fragrant and colorful? All these things affect the usefulness, function and purpose of the landscape.
We always remind clients that they also have a civic responsibility- a responsibility to their neighborhood wherein what they do should improve or sustain the landscape of the community. A landscape should also maintain or increase the value of the property.
Why do we have to keep doing things – pertaining to landscapes – the way we have always been doing it and the way that our neighbors do it? Why can’t we do it the way that we feel more comfortable with; the ways that might suit our personal needs; the ways that are slightly more uncompromising? Is this because we feel that we need to “tow the line?” Is it because we feel that we MUST conform to what our neighbors and our family/friends are doing? Is it because we feel that we cannot be individuals rather than the neatly dressed little soldiers marching in line to the drum beat that we tend to be?
To heck with it. It’s time to take charge with our landscape and how we want to use it. Why don’t you try doing what you like rather than what you think the neighbors would like? Why don’t you do what you want rather than what someone else wants? So what if you have 50 roses rather than a front lawn – who cares? Be brave, be bold, be a pioneer. If you want 75 blueberry shrubs in your back yard – GO FOR IT!
Your landscape should be something that is enjoyed, used, beneficial, edible, native, attractive, personal, educational and ecological. Functional.
Pom-poms, spirals, neatly trimmed high maintenance hedge rows, non-native species, and plants that attract beetles and aphids are none of the above. We are “SOLD” something rather than making and educated “PURCHASE” based upon our likes, dislikes, site conditions, needs, preferences, uses and function.
Dave Majewski is president of Premium Services Inc., specializing in urban sustainable landscape design, construction and management. He is a Horticulturalist, Master Gardener and guest speaker/educator. Dave is a former Vice President of the WNY Society for Organic Horticulture. His firm has operated exclusively in the City of Buffalo for 13 years.
Dave will be doing occasional posts on landscape and sustainable design. He can be reached at 716.432.2960.
Photos:
An Elmwood Village backyard designed for entertaining. The deck was modified to accommodate a new hot tub. Long and broad sweeping stairs were incorporated to become a sitting extension of the deck into the yard. Planters installed on the edges and the back yard does not have a lawn. Native perennials and grasses and Hawthorn trees provide habitat for birds and butterflies and lots of color. Selected plants do not get large due to the constrained size of the area.
Neighboring brick garage wall is used as a focal point. Grasses and bamboo grow along portions of it that are illuminated at night with low voltage lighting. A large section of the wall is used to show movies at night. Natural stone and gravel was used to get away from the manufactured look of pavers. There is now a small fireplace as well.