LANDSCAPE GARDENING

Man might have felt the necessity of cool and shady place during
summer and open, sunny situation during winter for taking rest after tiring jobs of
hunting. These places must have been situated near water bodies. Where hunting was also
convenient. This gave a concept of selection of site for taking rest and hunting. Later on
planting of such sites with trees might have started, at an early stage and it was the
begining of landscape gardening. Man has been attracted by natural objects like water
bodies, moutains, rocks, moon, stars, sunrise, sunset, colourful plants, animals, birds,
fishes, etc. right from the very early days. Landscape gardening is a very fascinating and
interesting subject. It is an aesthetic branch of horticulture which deals with planting of
ornamental plants in such a way that it creates a picturesque effect. Landscape gardening
can be defined as the decoration of a tract of land with plants and other garden materials
so as to produce a picturesque and naturalistic effect in a limited space.
Literal meaning of landscape is the appearance of that portion of land which the eye can
view at once and landscape gardening is the art of laying grounds so as to produce the
effect of a picturesque landscape. So landscape may or maynot include plants. Landscape
gardening is the application of garden forms, methods and material to the improvement of
the landscape and the landscape is a small or large area on which it is desirable to
develop a view or design.

Landscape gardening can also be defined as the beautification of a tract

of land having a house or any other object of interest. It is done with a view to create a
natural scene by the planting of lawn, trees and shrubs. It is both an art and science, for
the establishment of a ground in such a way that it gives an effect of a natural landscape.
It is the invitation of nature into the garden. It can be defined as the improving of total
living environment for the people. On the basis of all the above definitions, landscape
gardening can be defined as - making a garden or to tame an area, which shall be a
landscape or picture. The expression of landscape may be gay, bold, retired, quite, etc.,
confirmed to the place and purpose. Since landscape gardening is the making of pictures
on the ground with plants and other materials the designers should be proficient in art,
ornamental gardening, ecology and physiology. He should be an architect and engineer
to appreciate the relation ship between plant forms, colours and buildings.

NATURAL ELEMENTS OF LANDSCAPE : The mountains, hills, valleys, seas, rivers,

forests, plains, deserts, lakes, swamps, streams, etc. comprise major part of natural
landscape. At certain points there is a harmony between natural elements like ground
forms, vegetation and even animal life. The landscape of such places are beautiful and
conveys the feelings of mood of the landscape characters like sadness, joy, enthusiasm,
etc. Man has copied the natural elements for improving landscape around him and
converted certain areas in the form of garden for his pleasure.

PRINCIPLES OF LANDSCAPING: The general principles of landscaping are as follows:

 The ideal landscape gardening is like ideal landscape painting, which expressess
some simple thought or feelings like gay, bold, calmness, etc.
 Beauty and utility should be harmoniously combined.
 Area should be divided into different parts and plan should be conceived for each
area. Over all plan should be in such a way that the observer catches the entire
effect and purpose of the plan without break to analyse part by part.
 Garden and building should be merged into each other. There should be a very
attractive view from the windows and doors. Planting around the building,
climbers against wall and on the porch, decoration of varandhas and rooms with
attractive foilage, flowering plants, hanging baskets, etc., serve to unite the
 building with garden. Every part of the compound should be planned such a way
that it becomes surprisingly beautiful.
 An ideal landscape should have open space.
 Over crowding of plants and objects should be avoided.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN : There are several factors

which affect the making of suitable design for a particular site. These factors are -

HUMAN CHOICE: Man has a great desire to make his living pleasurable and surroundings
comfortable. The different styles of gradening clearly shows his aesthetic sense in
making designs and selecting plants.

SITE SELECTION: Usually according to site, a suitable design is made. In formal style
gardening, the site is selected according to the plan. Topography of the site also affects
the design.

VIEWS : Distant views of mountains, hills, woods, valleys, etc. are preferred from the
place of garden.

HERITAGE: Knowledge of botany and aesthetic sense teaches us to use flowers and
fragrant trees to improve the surroundings.

CLIMATE: The climate of a particular place affects the selection of plants. Plants that
ideally suit the climate should be selected.

SOIL: Plants suitable for the soil type of a paricular site should be selected.

STYLES OF GRADENING : Man’s eternal desire is to make his living like a paradise
and this has been created on the earth in the form of gardens. The style of gardening has
been influenced by political and geographical conditions. These styles have been changed
from time to time with new ideas and necessities. Broadly the styles of gardening are
grouped into 3 catogories -
 FORMAL STYE
 INFORMAL STYLE
 FREE STYLE
FORMAL STYLE : In this style of gardening, first a plan is made on the paper and
then land is selected accordingly. The plan made is symmetrical and the gardens are of
geometric design - squarish or rectangular. The roads are cut at right angles and flower
beds are also of geometric shape. The arrangement of trees and shrubs are geometric and
kept in shape by trimming and training. For further attraction, features like fountains,
water pools, cascade, etc. are used. eg: Mughal gardens and Persian gardens.
INFORMAL STYLE: This style reflects naturalistic effects representing natural beauty.
The plan is assymetrical and made according to the land available for making garden.
Roads and paths are made curvaceous and bending. Water bodies are made of irregular
shape. Hillocks are made to create natural muntaineous scenary. Flower beds are made
of irregular shapes suiting to the surroundings. Plants are allowed to grow in natural
form and instead of regular frequent trimming annual prunning is done. eg: Japanese
Gardens
FREE STYLE: This style combines the good points of both formal and informal styles.
eg: Ludhiana Rose Garden.
ART PRINCIPLES : Landscaping is making of pictures with plant materials and
hence, it’s principles are same as of art. They include -
RHYTHM: Repetition of same object at equidistance is called Rhythm. It can be
created through the shapes, progression of sizes or a continous line movement to eyes,
trees of some species of equal height and shape are planted to create this effect. Other
objects like lights, fountains, water canals also be used to create such effect.
BALANCE: It is very important to maintain balance on both sides of the central line. In
making the balance with plants, their form, colour, texture, etc. are considered.One side
planted with trees will not make balance if other side is planted with shrubs or climbers.
Similarly one side planted with tall upright trees will not make balance with other side if
planted with dwarf creeping trees. While making a balance with colour red, orange, and
yellow are grouped as heavy warm colours, but white, blue and green are light and cool
colours. Deeper shade is lighter than it’s lighter counterpart. Proper balance in colour can
be acheived by selecting appropriate colours. Texture of leaves, may be rough, coarse,
fine or smooth and balance can also be acheived between these textures.
EMPHASIS OR ACCENT: The accent or emphasis is created in the gardens to avoid a
monotonous view. It is the method to stress the most important thing - also serves as the
centre of attraction. Landscape designers should know what to emphasise , where to
emphasise, how and how much to emphasise. Mostly unusual objects like tall mountains,
trees, statues, etc. are used to create the effect of accent or emphasis.
CONTRAST: This art principle is mostly useful in emphasisng the best feature of an
object, by following contrast colour theory. Against green background scarlet colour will
make a contrast and will make scarlet colour very prominant. Similarly, weeping growth
against upright growth, dwarf against tall, rough texture against soft, etc. are some of the
examples. It is very important, that one of the two contrasting objects must clearly
dominate each other - thus one becomes feature and other as supporting background.

PROPORTION: It is the relation of one thing to another in magnitude. When 2 or more

objects are put together the propotions are established. In a landscape design, space
provided for lawn, paths, herbs, borders, trees, buildings and other garden objects should
be in a right proportion. It will create harmonius effect and look better. Out of
proportion allotment of area in garden will distract the attention. Proportion also helps in
space organisation.

HARMONY : It is an overall effect of various feautures, styles and colours schemes of

total scene. The degree of harmony of various elements of landscape is a measure
induced in us called as beauty. Beauty can be defined as the evident relationship of all
parts of a thing observed.When different parts of landscape are correctly placed in a right
way it produces a harmonious effect. Such landscapes create picturesque effect and
appeals to visitors, while the absence of harmony makes it ugly.

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