The Unreality of "Reality" TV

How many times have you seen them? You know what I'm talking about. Those reality TV shows where the host of the show talks and walks us through the complete installation of an entire landscape in just a scant 23 minutes?

Unfortunately, reality is much different than what we see on TV. What we don’t see, and generally never really consider, is that a quality landscape can take at a minimum of several weeks to even many months from initial concept, complete design, planning and to final installation. Rarely are even the simplest landscapes installed without something unexpected happening; yet we sometimes seem to base our ideas on what happens by what we see on reality TV. One would hardly consider that anything could go wrong based on the seamless operation of these shows. And that is one of the major drawbacks of these types of shows.

Now, when we see this fantastic transformation of a landscape, from bare dirt to lush paradise, take place in the space of ½ hour our understanding of what can really happen (and generally does) can indeed become rather skewed. For example, do we really consider that many months of planning go into the production of these shows? Have we stopped to think that behind the host, the “talking head” of the show so to speak, a literal army of producers and technicians stand at the ready to make everything go as smoothly as possible? Or that virtually everything is carefully planned months in advance? Unrealistic expectations can and unfortunately do arise from not considering these facets of TV production.

Now I am certainly not knocking these TV shows. As a matter of fact, I appreciate them very much because they have actually helped grow my business more and more as people understand the value of planning ahead and putting their ideas on paper before even one spade of dirt gets turned or one dollar is spent. I even learn new techniques and ideas from these shows! Thanks to these shows many people have been inspired to invest in one of the most important tangible investments they can ever make, their home. That has certainly led to some new business for my firm for sure.

What I would like the landscape design client to take away from this article is simply this: Temper your ideas and expectations about your landscape project with a rather large dose of “true” reality and plan ahead accordingly. Many times the lead time for a landscape design from beginning concept to final presentation is 6 to 8 weeks. A quality landscape design takes that kind of time because there really is quite a bit in producing a unique design tailored to the individual client. Add to that a minimum of 2 to 4 weeks in getting bids of your project from various contractors and you can see close to 2 to 3 months has been expended. Add to that the 2 to 6 weeks (or more depending on the complexity of the project) of construction and installation of the landscape and it doesn’t take long to see that a quality landscape can take many months, not a mere half-hour, to install.

The 6 Basic Principles of Landscape Design

Understanding the basic principles of good landscape design will help insure a visually appealing and functional landscape for the client, as well as enhancing property value and reducing maintenance costs. These principles are not necessarily based on a particular individuals understanding of creative or artistic principals, but rather stem from the inherent visual sense possessed by most people, whether they regard themselves as creative or not. By the way, I do not necessarily consider myself to be all that "creative" either and that's why I rely on understanding these basic principles myself.

1. Balance
Simply put, balance is the state of seeing as well as being seen. There are 3 types of balance: symmetric, asymmetric and proximal/distal. Symmetric balance is the balance of formal gardens where one side is the mirror image of the other. Asymmetric balance can generally be more visually appealing in that there are two sides to observe and expose. Regard for exact duplication of sides is minimized. Proximal/distal balance is asymmetric but carries it further by dealing with depth in the field of vision. It is not uncommon to combine the basic types of balance, but it should be done with great forethought.

2. Focalization of Interest
Anything that is designed well has a focal point. Focalization of interest is the principles of the design that selects and positions visually strong items into the landscape composition. Focal points can be created using plants, hardscape items such as fountains or swimming pools, architectural elements of the home, the color, movement, texture of plantings or a combination of all of these features. Generally speaking, most homeowners have the tendency to overuse focal points, which usually creates complexity and visual confusion within the landscape composition. A general rule of thumb to consider with focal points is that less generally equals more.

3. Simplicity
Simplicity seeks to make the viewer of the landscape feel comfortable within the landscape. Simplicity is not always the opposite of complexity and should not imply simplistic, boring or convey a lack of imagination. Rather, simplicity avoids the use of too many plants and plant species, too many textures, too many shapes, too many focal points, and/or too many curves or angles within a specific area or within an overall landscape.

4. Rhythm and Line
The principles of rhythm and line may be regarded separately or collectively. Rhythm is established when any element repeats enough times within a standard interval and usually deals with a measured space. Line is created where different materials meet, such as turf meeting pavement or a mulched planting bed. Curved lines generally add more interest to the landscape in that they are longer, thus “stretching” the eye and enhancing the view of the landscape. This is not to say straight lines should be avoided. In fact straight lines, when used properly, can also be used to add a tremendous amount of visual interest in the landscape.

5. Proportion
Proportion is concerned with the size relationships between all of the features and elements of the landscape. That includes both vertical and horizontal relationships as well as spatial (space) relationships. The concern for proper proportion should extend to building size, lot size, plant size, areas dealing with mass and void, as of course the human users of the landscape.

6. Unity
As a principle of design, unity is the easiest to measure, as long as the previous five design elements have been applied properly and comprehensively. Each component of the landscape, whether it is plant material, color and texture, planting bed shape, the choice and use of paving materials, color selection, lighting plan or any other component of the landscape within a project, is obligated to be a part of the whole. Even the most novice among us can appreciate the overall uniformity of a well planned landscape design.

Choosing the right Landscape Contractor

There are several things to examine when choosing a landscape contractor to install the landscape design that you had commissioned and believe it or not, price should not be your first and foremost consideration. Price of the job should be secondary to reputation, experience and referrals from other satisfied clients. For example, if all other aspects of the construction bids were equal (which is rarely the case) then sure, price then becomes the foremost and obvious criteria in the selection of your installation firm. But because there are other factors to consider and because some of these factors are weighted more heavily in the favor of certain firms then it pays to do your homework and examine what these differences between firms may happen to be. Reputation, experience and referrals from other satisfied clients, while vital and extremely valuable in your consideration process, should not be the only criteria in which you decide which contractor to hire. The reccommendation of a professional landscape designer and their opinion should count just as equally.

This is where it is vital to lean heavily on the opinions and recommendations of the landscape designer that just finished your landscape design. Many times, certain landscape designers work with a selected few landscape contractors and artisans that have installed many of their designs before and they have learned that over the years certain contractors have the best interests of their clients and the design at heart. This alone could be worth a few extra dollars simply because the overall impact of the design and project mean just as much to the contractor as it does to you, the client. The quality of the installation is usually superior as well. The contractor has valuable reputation points at stake, from both the designer and you, and this usually means better care and an attention to detail to your particular project that is hard to put a price on. Thus, while it may sound cliché, it is a win/win situation for all concerned. With the designer's reputation at stake and the contractor's reputation at stake it is the client that ultimately benefits in the long run. This is the way it should be!

Now it is fair to say that these are just particular generalities. Each and every project is different so there are no hard and fast rules as to how to select a particular contractor. One of the first steps I usually take in determining which contractor I want to recommend to a client is in examining the complexity of the design, particularly the main type of hardscape material that is being used in the design.

An example might be a landscape design that calls out a good deal of stamped and stained concrete. Some landscape contractors sub-out (hire a subcontractor) for all their concrete work and do none of their own installs, while other firms are truly great in working with concrete and thus are truly artistic in concrete installation. Having this simple criteria available to me as a designer is instrumental in helping me make my recommendation to the client and this generally becomes a recommendation I can take great confidence in. A phone book ad, or even a referral from another client can't possibly reveal these subtle differences quite as well as a recommendation that a knowledgeable and well informed landscape designer can provide.

Understanding Basic Landscape Planning and Use

How well your individual landscape is planned and used, regardless of what your particular preference or style may happen to be, depends mainly on your understanding of the four basic areas of your landscape, the proper uses of those four basic areas, and how well that understanding has been incorporated into your existing landscape or the landscape you plan and envision for your home.

The four basic areas of planning and of use for your landscape are the Public Area, the outdoor Family Living Area, the Service Area, and the Private Living Area.

Consider every aspect of the landscaping of your home - the outside, just as you would the interior of your home. Unfortunately, this concept is one of the most overlooked by many homeowners. The Public Area of the interior of your home is the portion that is seen by everyone coming into the home. This includes the front porch, the entry foyer, and/or the reception room. In some homes this can also include the living room.

The Family Living Area includes those rooms of the house that are used for family activities and for entertaining friends. Rooms such as the living room, dining room, family room, and game room fall into this category.

The Service Area includes those rooms of your home that are designed and used to meet your family’s operating needs. These include the kitchen, the laundry room, sewing room or separate office and the utility room. The garage, while not considered a room, can sometimes fall into the category of the service area.

The Private Living Area of the home is used only by the members of the family for their personal use and activities. The bedrooms and private bathrooms comprise the major rooms of this area. Dressing rooms, if present, are also included.

By understanding that the outside of your home, in terms of proper planning and complete satisfaction of use, is no different than the interior of your home, the proper structure, enjoyment, and value of your landscape can begin to be utilized and your own personal satisfaction with your home can be realized.

The concept and implementation of proper landscape planning and use is one of the most vital in enjoying your landscape, and increasing your homes overall function and ultimately, its resale value. That's just one of the many reasons why hiring a professional landscape designer to review your property can be such a valuable asset and tool in developing the maximum potential of your landscape.

When things in the landscape (no matter what they may be) are out of place, disorganized, or seemingly done without a reason or purpose, the value of our property can be diminished and our overall satisfaction, enjoyment and use of our property suffers. With the cost of travel increasing day by day, many people are beginning to realize that an investment in the landscaping of their own property can create a vacation oasis right at home. By understanding the proper use of our individual property we can begin to understand the full potential our property offers.

Exactly what is Xeriscaping?

Xeriscaping essentially is the art, process and development of establishing a water-wise landscape.

Xeriscape, pronounced "zeer-escape", is the term used to describe the techniques of landscaping that conserve water. Contrary to popular understanding it does not necessarily mean exclusively using native desert plants. Harmonizing the plantings of various plant species into zones where all plants can benefit from specific watering is called hydro zoning and can be and should be incorporated into a Xeriscape landscape.

There are many benefits to understanding and incorporating Xeriscaping and hydro zoning into your landscape. Of course, there are the economic benefits. Water costs money. If your landscape uses water wisely then it stands to reason that your water bill should be lower. There are also benefits to the community in general. This does not mean that you need to remove all your plants and your lawn and replace them with rock or concrete. You may simply switch one resource hog for another. Too much hardscape material around the house, especially too close to the house, can actually cause temperatures inside the house to be higher than desired during the summer and colder than desired during the winter, thus raising the cost of cooling or heating the house. You’ve simply traded wasting one expensive resource for another. Rather, sound and thoughtful planning can lead to lower cost of water and maintenance, thus increasing the beauty, enjoyment and value of the overall landscape.

There are also environmental benefits. Anything that reduces the demand on a region’s water supply and this is especially important in our region, must be considered beneficial. Many plants are inappropriate for their sites, surviving only because of excessive supplemental irrigation, fertilization and horticultural technology. This places stress on local resources, and especially, your wallet.

Then there are the aesthetic benefits of Xeriscaping. Many people, when they hear the word Xeriscape, think of a landscape that is all cacti, no color, dull and unimaginative. Yet while some landscapes that are simply all cacti and little else can be quite beautiful and interesting, simply by starting and using a well though out landscape design plan, using effective watering and planting techniques, and incorporating hydro zoning, a quite stunning, beautiful, interesting, and especially water-wise landscape can be created.

There are 7 specific principals that have been prepared by the National Xeriscape Council that serve as a guide to the development and maintenance of landscapes that use water wisely, not wastefully. They are as follows: Proper Planning and Design, Proper Soil Analysis, Appropriate Plant Selection, Practical Turf Areas, Efficient Irrigation, Proper Mulching, and lastly, Appropriate Maintenance. All work in harmony to create landscapes that are beautiful, functional, easy to maintain, and most important, conserve water and reduce excessive fertilization. Use of these principals can add value to your home.

Here are just a few suggestions to help with your Xeriscape ideas: Reduce present lawn size and increase bed size of low-water use plants. Regard all planting beds as hydro zones. Use as many low water-use hydro zones as possible. Choose plants that adapt well to existing soil conditions around your home. Place trees where their shade will benefit the most plants underneath them. Use water retention rings around trees. Use organic mulch whenever possible in that inorganic mulch, such as gravel and rock, can bake the soil underneath by retaining solar heat. Use landscape fabric to prevent excessive weed growth. Always water in the early evening, or early morning, and for a period of time that will “soak” the root system of plants, including lawns. Don’t water plants and lawns everyday! Plants and lawns need deep soaking, not an everyday deluge. A 20-30 minute soaking every 3 to 4 days is more effective and cost saving than watering 3 times a day for 5 or 10 minutes at a time. Mulch often and regularly, using organic mulches, especially in early spring and late fall.