Landscaping Companies Harrisburg PA uses various tools and techniques to keep lawns healthy and attractive, including aeration, dethatching, and pruning.
Savvy landscaping complements a house, presenting it in its best light. For instance, this western ranch-style home needs a landscape focusing on its shapely plants instead of its conspicuous garage.
Color is a critical element to consider when designing your landscape. A well-thought-out color scheme can make a plant or flower pop or create a mood that evokes tranquility. When selecting colors for your garden, keep the following principles in mind.
Identify complementary and analogous colors. Complementary colors are found on opposite sides of the color wheel, and when paired together, they amplify each other’s intensity. Yellow and purple, for example, are a complementary color pair. In contrast, analogous colors are located next to each other on the color wheel and produce a more subtle effect. Pairing shades of green and yellow or blue and purple can create a harmonious landscape palette.
Also think about the color of your home, patio, pathways, and other hardscape elements. It’s important to match the colors of your landscape with existing features on your property in order to maintain a cohesive design.
In addition to matching colors, it’s important to think about the intensity of each shade. Bright colors, such as reds and oranges, are attention-grabbing and can stand out in a landscape. However, using too many of these colors can overpower the other elements in a design.
It’s also important to consider what color a landscape will be in different seasons. Cooler colors like greens tend to make a space calm and can be used to refresh shady spots in the summer. Warmer colors, like pinks and pastel lavenders, can evoke a feeling of relaxation and rejuvenation.
When choosing a color scheme, it’s also important to keep in mind how the colors of a garden will look in the light. For example, some colors, such as reds and oranges, can wash out in the sunlight. While other colors, such as blues and purples, are more durable and will hold their color throughout the year.
When designing a landscape, don’t be afraid to experiment with color. By incorporating the principles of color theory, you can create a garden that’s both visually appealing and functional. If you’re interested in learning more about how to incorporate color into your landscaping, contact us at Big A Landscaping. We would be happy to assist you in creating your dream garden.
Form
Form arguably is the most important aspect of landscape composition because it is what gives structure to the overall design. The shapes of flowerbeds, ponds and hardscape elements like outdoor fireplaces and retaining walls help define the space. Whether the shape is rounded and natural or more rigid, it creates visual weight. Without a variety of form, a landscape can appear stark and unfinished. It is important to consider the overall form of all the plants and structures in a landscape to ensure balance.
The rectilinear shapes of the house, walkways and driveways delineate other forms in a landscape that may include circles, triangles and irregular forms. Plants themselves possess their own form that can be pyramidal, rounded, vase-like, flat or spreading. When grouped together plants can take on a new form as a group that can be quite different from their individual forms.
Line is one of the most important components to landscape design because it determines how beds and paths flow together. It is also important to keep in mind the use of curved lines when designing a landscape as these softer movements can be more appealing to the eye. Lines can also be used to create focal points, which is important when creating balanced areas.
Shape is what gives a landscape its three-dimensional qualities and can have a great impact on the design of the space. It is important to consider the shapes of plants and structures when designing a landscape because they can evoke emotions and set a specific mood. For example, a formal garden may feature shaped shrubs, while an informal yard might incorporate more flowing plants and looser designs.
It is also important to consider the negative spaces or voids in a landscape as these can impact the overall appearance of the area. Empty space can make a landscape feel large and open while occupied space can look smaller and more congested. It is also important to consider how the voids will be accentuated by the plants and other structures in a landscape. For instance, a void can be made more prominent by using a plant with large sweeping branches or a hardscape element that has a distinct shape.
Texture
Adding texture to a landscape is a crucial aspect of creating a visually appealing garden. Texture refers to the feeling of an object or a plant, whether it is rough and coarse, smooth and silky, or somewhere in between. It can be found in the leaves of plants, the bark of trees and shrubs, flowers, the spiky branches of cholla and lamb’s ears, and the feathery grasses. It can also be found in the surface of soil, water, rocks and paving materials.
When choosing plants for a landscape, it is important to consider their textures as well as their colors and form. A great way to add texture is by using different leaf shapes, sizes and colors. By mixing in a variety of foliage textures, you can create a rich tapestry of color and visual interest in the garden.
Texture can also be created by mixing in a variety of hardscape elements to the landscape. Coarse textures include rock gardens, boulders, and fences. Medium textures include brushed concretes and woods. And finally, fine textures include river rocks and sand.
In addition to adding texture, using contrasting materials can create a sense of scale and proportion. For example, by pairing the coarse surface of a boulder with the soft, delicate surface of a grass, you can create a sense of contrast and balance.
The future of landscape texture looks bright. As breeders and horticulturists continue to develop new cultivars with unique textures, there will be an increased emphasis on this element of design. Moreover, the growing focus on sustainable gardening practices will likely lead to a greater emphasis on using native and low-maintenance plants that provide a range of textures for homeowners and gardeners to use in their gardens.
Adding texture to your landscaping is easy and can be done in a number of ways. Simply incorporating more plant species with differing textures will provide an eye-catching palette that can be enjoyed all year round. In the summer, flowers can provide an excellent source of texture, with a wide range of colors and shapes to choose from. However, the most effective way to incorporate texture in the landscape is through the use of gravel, stones, and other hardscape elements that provide a variety of textures in the garden.
Mood
Many people feel that pleasant landscapes can improve their mood and help them to relax. However, they may not realize that certain landscape elements have a more dramatic impact on our mood than others. For example, a lush forest setting can make us feel relaxed, while a desert scene can create an air of tension and stress.
The influence of mood on landscape preferences has been studied for a long time. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) scale, which measures an individual’s current emotional state, is used in various studies to examine the relationship between landscape features and the human mood.
One study looked at how different moods influence landscape preference using a sample of college students. The researchers distributed an online questionnaire to students through X University’s online forum and WeChat Moments. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: basic information, a questionnaire to measure mood states, and an image choice question. The results showed that the landscapes preferred by respondents in positive moods were more natural and had fewer buildings than those of respondents in negative moods. The research also found that people in negative moods had a greater tendency to choose semi-closed spaces.
Moreover, the results of this study demonstrate that landscapes can play a crucial role in our mental health. Spending time in a pleasant environment can improve our moods and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. It can also increase our sense of well-being and promote social connectedness. The presence of a beautiful landscape can also inspire physical activity and exercise, which can lead to improved overall health.
A good way to work on your mood is by creating a mood board. This is an easy and fun way to express your ideas and wishes for a space. You can use images from magazines, websites, and even old wallpaper to make a mood board. Then, hang it in your bedroom, office, or living room to remind you of your goals.
Weather is another powerful factor that influences mood in landscape photography. For example, a bright sunny day will contribute to a happier mood, while a cloudy and stormy day will infuse the image with feelings of sadness and unrest. In post-processing, you can further enhance an image’s mood by adjusting exposure levels and light and shadow effects.