TABLE OF CONTENTS Plants are an integral part of most site plans. They contribute to the esthetics of a site, to its economic value, and to its ability to function. This chapter is directed toward the functional contributions and durability of plants in the landscape.
Planting plans are shaped by the underlying form of the site plan, but this is not to suggest they are mere eyewash or window dressing. Plants contribute a great deal to the quality of our experience and to the character of a place. The choice and arrangement of plants can be used to frame views, to accent or to hide other site features, to direct pedestrian traffic, to create outdoor spaces, to invite, to repel, to provide comfort, to encourage motion or pause, or to modify scale or the environment. Plantings may be formal or informal, simple or sophisticated, according to the objectives of the site.
Effective planting design is a synthesis of texture, color, line, form, and balance. Lines are formed in the landscape as edges that can be created using plants, paving, reoccurring patterns, or grading. Landscape form refers to the mass and shape of a group of plantings considered as a whole. Texture refers to the appearance of the form as gradations ranging from coarse to fine. Colors play a variety of roles in the landscape. The warmer colors such as reds, oranges, and yellows tend to appear closer to the viewer while the cooler colors such as blues...
