How do you achieve balance in planting design?

The brain automatically looks for symmetry and pattern and therefore gardens that have this can look more appealing to the eye. However we don't want perfect symmetry in our gardens. Gertrude Jekyll made beautiful planting schemes which were not symmetrical but what she said was repetition of a plant and or colour was key to bringing harmony to a border.

What is balanced for the senses should and usually is right for the ecology and identity of the surface. Landscape design should be balanced not just look balanced. A combination of information, experience, sense of space, project parameters and lots of "trial and error" attempts create balance. You definitely have to keep working until you get it right. When the design acquires qualities like balance, coherence and fluidity you can immidiately tell. Balance derives from a degree of variation for example tall, medium, low clusters spread on the surface and a feature of importance like a big tree. Variation, uniformity and a taste of the unexpected mixed together can lead to a balanced result.

Symmetrical design suggest formality where an asymetrical design feels more casual. Most of the time, the land will tell you what it wants. Land that slopes to one end of the property will be hard to plant symetrical as water requirements on one side would kill the plants on the other. Symmetrical design can be accomplished by creating beds that are balanced on a central axis, but planted asymtically with plants that can survive the environment. A great place to start is with trees. They frame the landscape room and begin to describe the expereince. One big tree on the side begins to create an asymmetrical balace. One big tree in the middle starts to feel symetrical. I love both kinds of design.

One thing I find very interesting about colour and texture is that they are dynamic. They change over the year and they change when the project matures. This is not about getting it right at first. It is about getting it right every new blooming season, every time the plants lose their foliage and every time they gain height. Observing your surroundings is a great way to understand that and apply it properly in the design.

I think that form is the shape or silhouette of the plants, while height is the vertical dimension or elevation of the plants. We need to find the right balance between form and height. A good way to balance form and height is to use different types and combinations of plants according to their role and impact.

Texture, form, size, and color are the physical characteristics of plants that provide interest, variety, and aesthetic appeal to a landscape.Choose the form that best fits the space where the plant will be located. Form is also closely related to size. A tall, narrow plant should be used in a narrow space, and a wide, spreading plant can be used to cover a large space.

In my opinion mass is the visual weight or volume of the plants, while spacing is the distance or gap between the plants. To achieve balance, we need to find the right balance between mass and spacing. Too much mass can make the planting design crowded and overwhelming, while too much spacing can make it sparse and empty. A good way to balance mass and spacing is to use different densities and arrangements of plants according to their function and location. For example, we can use high-density and tight arrangements for focal points, borders, or hedges; medium-density and loose arrangements for backgrounds, screens, or fillers; and low-density and open arrangements for accents, specimens, or ground covers.

Before choosing plants, I always consider design theme and the types of plants that are characteristic of the theme. The theme will help identify the feel that you want in the space. For example, a tropical theme might have more extroverts—bold, coarse, and energetic plants—while a contemplation garden might have many more introverts—quiet, calm plants. A composition of plant material works the same way a painting composition works. Features are arranged to create a dominant area that is the focal point, and the rest of the composition serves as the background.

For many of our projects, planting design starts with the location, the history and the culture of a place. When it comes to aesthetics we try to get inspired by natural and local plant communities. A key important aspect is the purpose, the context and so is time. Don't be fooled to think that planting design is just purely an aesthetical choice, assembling plants like you would select furniture for interior design of a building. Plants change overtime and never stop to evolve. With the climate and biodiversity crisis Landscape Designers are responsible to select plants which are beneficial for its surroundings and valuable for the ecosystem. Planting design also is about educating developers to make sustainable choices.

I think Unity is the sense of cohesion and harmony among the plants, while diversity is the sense of variety and contrast among the plants. To achieve balance, we need to find the right balance between unity and diversity. Too much unity can make the planting design boring and monotonous, while too much diversity can make it chaotic and confusing. A good way to balance unity and diversity is to use a theme or a concept that guides our plant selection and arrangement. For example, we can use a color scheme, a plant family, a style, or a mood as our theme.