Landscape gardening has frequently been compared to a painting. Your art teacher no doubt told you that a good picture should have a point of chief interest, and the rest of the points simply go to make more beautiful the central idea, or to form a fine setting for it. So in landscape gardening there must be in the gardener’s mind a picture of what he would like the whole to be when he finishes his work.

Let us start with lawn. A good extent of open lawn space is always beautiful. It is restful. It creates a feeling of space to even small gardens. So we could generalize and say that it is a good idea to keep open lawn spaces. But if a gardener covers the lawn space with many trees, with little flower beds here and there, the general effect is choppy and fussy. It is a bit like an over-dressed person.. A single tree or a small group is not a bad arrangement on the lawn. Do not centre the tree or trees. Let them drop a bit into the background. Make a pleasing side feature of them.

In picking trees you must bear in mind a number of things. You should not select an overpowering tree; the tree needs to be one of good shape, with something interesting about it - bark, leaves, flowers or fruit. While the poplar is a speedy grower, it sheds its leaves early and so is left standing, bare and ugly, before the fall is over. Mind you, there are places where a row or double row of Lombardy poplars is very effective. But I think you’ll agree with me that one lone poplar is not.

The catalpa is quite stunning by itself. Its leaves are broad, its flowers attractive, the seed pods which cling to the tree until away into the winter, add a bit of picturesque ness. The bright berries of the ash, the brilliant foliage of the sugar maple, the blossoms of the tulip tree, the bark of the white birch, and the leaves of the copper beech all these are beauty points to think about.

Place makes a difference in the selection of a tree. Let’s say the lower section of the grounds is a bit low and moist, then the spot is ideal for a willow. Don’t group trees together which look awkward. A long-looking poplar does not go with a nice rather rounded little tulip tree. A juniper, so neat and prim, would look silly beside a spreading chestnut. You should keep proportion and suitability in mind.

I’d never advise the planting of a group of evergreens close to a house, and in the front yard. The effect is very gloomy indeed. Houses thus surrounded are overcapped by such trees and are not only gloomy to live in, but truly unhealthful. The chief requisite inside a house is sunlight and plenty of it.

Pergolas are becoming popular landscape features in many gardens. And of course a pergola is a great place to relax in or entertain. Find out more:
build a pergola
pergola designs
pergola plans