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Basic Elements of Landscape Design

Knowing and understanding the basic elements of landscape design will help you in the process of landscaping your backyard. Keep in mind that these elements are mainly about the visual look you are trying to create in your landscape.

5 Basic Elements of Landscape Design

Line is the most important design element in your landscape and the one you will most often use in your design. Curved lines are used for a more informal look, Straight lines give your landscape a more formal and orderly look.

Texture in the landscape is defined in 3 groups. Coarse includes plants, structures and hardscapes that are bold and large.

Medium texture takes in many plants and smaller structures.

Fine includes plants such as ferns and grasses and structures that are thin and delicate.

Form in the landscape is the shape and structure of your plants, hardscapes or garden structures.

Color has the most visual impact in the landscape. Blues, Purples and Greens are some calm colors and tend to move away from you. Where as warm colors like red, orange and yellow seems to bring things closer to you.

Scale or proportion in the landscape is simply the size of your plants or structures and how they relate to each other and the area you are landscaping.