Using the Principles of Art Chapter 6

The Art and Science of Growing Plants • • Horticulture is referred to the art and science of growing plants.

Landscaping is the segment of Horticulture pertaining to the art and science of growing plants in an outdoor setting The art of landscaping deals with visual art. Which is pleasing to the eye.

The Art and Science of Growing Plants • • • Plant Selection process is often the most time consuming step in producing a design.

All the plants must fit well with the other elements of the design to make it look attractive. The major design qualites to consider in selecting plants for the landscape are line, form, texture, and color.

The Art and Science of Growing Plants • • • • What is line?

So everything in the landscape has line. Whether it is natural or artifical.

Line gives the viewer’s eye direction and movement.

Lines also create emotional and psychological responses form the viewer

The Art and Science of Growing Plants • • • Line Cont..

Vertical Lines are severe and when used in excess causes a feeling of tension and nervousness Horizontal lines provide relaxing pleasant emotional responses

The Art and Science of Growing Plants • What is form?

• It is the three demensional shape of the plant. Examples of forms or plant shape include: Columar, Wide -Oval, pyramidal, round, vase shaped, and weeping

Wide-oval • • • • • Much wider than tall Often a small tree Branches low to the ground Works well to frame & screen A focal point plant

Wide-oval

Vase-shaped • • • • High, wide-spreading branches Usually gives excellent shade Allows human activity underneath Make excellent street trees

Vase-shaped

Pyramidal • • • Shape is less noticeable as the trees mature Accent plant Large, high branching trees allow human activity beneath

Pyramidal

Round • • • • • Width & Height are nearly equal Usually Dense Lawn trees Can be to create grove effects If large, can be used to create heavy shade

Round

Columnar • • • • Much taller than wide Accent Plant Frames views & structures Useful in formal settings

Columnar

Weeping • • • • Very Graceful Attracts the eye (focal point) Screens Not useful if you want to use the lawn underneath the tree

Weeping

Weeping

The Art and Science of Growing Plants • What is Texture?

– It is the appearance of the pant in terms of coarseness or fineness, roughness or smoothness, heaviness or lightness, denseness or thinness.

The Art and Science of Growing Plants • There are some rules of design to keep in mind as you consider the texture of plants.

• Monotony results if all the plants in the landscape have similar textures. Therefore use some variation to add interest.

The Art and Science of Growing Plants • What is Color?

– It is the final design quality of plants to consider. Color has the greatest visual impact of all the design qualities

The Art and Science of Growing Plants • • Color Cont..

The colors of visible light are divided into two many groups: – Warm Colors – Cool Colors

The Art and Science of Growing Plants • • Color Cont..

Warm colors are : – Yellow – Orange – Red – They appear to be striking, stimulating, and cheerful and advances toward the viewer. High in visual energy

The Art and Science of Growing Plants • • Color Cont..

Cool colors are: – Violet – Blue – Green – They have a low visual energy – They invoke a feelign of restfullness and peacefullness

The Art and Science of Growing Plants • The main purpose of using plants in the landscape is to provide a natural green setting that creates an atmosphere of restfulness

Principles of Design • The selection is based on the principles of art or design. The principles of design referred to in the book include repetition, variety, balance, emphasis, sequence, and scale.

Principles of Design • What is Repetition?

– Keeping the plants simple by repeating forms, texture, and colors of the plants throughout the design. The repetition of the design qualities of plants contributes to unity in the landscape.

Principles of Design • What is Variety?

– This is where you provide variety in the design by selecting some plants with different qualities of line, form, texture, or color from the mass of plants

Principles of Design • What is Balance?

• • This is where the design is classified as formal or informal.

Formal is where the design is symmetrical and has the same plantings on each side of the view

Principles of Design • Balance Cont..

• Informal designs are said to be asymmetrical and have different plants and different sizes of plants on each side of the view

Principles of Design • What is Emphasis?

– It indicates dominance of some elements of the design over others.

Principles of Design • What is Sequence?

– is the uniformity of change from one item in the landscape to the next. Changes of at least one quality of form, texture, or color form one area of the planting to anther gives transition

Principles of Design • What is Scale?

• is the proportion of one object to another. It also means the relationship of an object with a designated standard such as a building or a person

Shrubs • • Multistemmed Used as the wall element

Selecting a Shrub • Pay attention to: – The silhouette of the shrub – Its branching structure – Size – Texture & Density – Color Contributions

• Pay attention to: – Attraction to birds & other wildlife – Existing soil conditions – Hardiness – Resistance to attacks by insects & disease

Types of Shrubs • • • • • • • Globular Low & Creeping Spreading Arching Pyramidal Upright & Loose Columnar

Globular • • • • As wide as is tall Attracts attention Accent plant Use with a single pyramidal to create a strong eye attraction • Does not mass very well.

Globular

Low & Creeping • • • • • Low growing Much wider than tall Masses well Use to edge sidewalks or cascade over walls Controls erosion

Low & Creeping

Spreading • • • • • Wider than tall Medium to large shrub Masses well Use at corners of buildings Useful for screening, privacy & traffic control

Spreading

Arching • • • • • Wider than tall Graceful Softens corners Background for flowers & statues Provides screening

Arching

Pyramidal • • • • Taller than wide Attracts attention Usually evergreen Use to mark entries

Pyramidal

Upright & Loose • • • • Taller than wide Used for screening & framing Used to soften buildings Can closely space to create privacy

Upright & Loose

Columnar • • • • Width about half of height Flat topped & dense Use for hedges if closely placed Mass closely to create a solid wall

Columnar