Landscape Design Principles: Unity

In my last blog post I listed the eight principles of landscape design. The principles included unity, color, natural transition, line, proportion and repetition. This blog will discuss the first principle, unity.

Unity in a landscape design uses repetition and consistency and should be one of your main goals. Repetition can refer to similar plants, similar plant groups or elements such as boulders. Consistency refers to the elements, that some or all the elements of the landscape design fit together to create a whole. A good way to see if your design has unity is by covering up a section of the plan and seeing if the design is impaired. If it isn’t, that part is unnecessary and most likely destroys the unity of the design. Also important is being able to detect the absence of unity in a design. The whole must interrelate. That includes the design, paths, beds and borders. A common mistake is putting too much emphasis on small groupings of plants as individual tiny pieces. These small groups tend to get lost in the overall design. Again if these groups of plants don’t strengthen the design then discard it. A qualified landscape design company will be able to apply the principle of unity.

The awareness of unity in plant selection for a design is important. Too many plants in too small of a design doesn’t create unity. You don’t want to create a collection. Begin by creating a list of plants based on soil type, sun exposure and your likes. Then use this list of plants masses or groups of plants and repeat in parts of the design. Amongst these groupings focal points are added. For example, benches, arbors, trellises, fountains and specimen plants. In the principle of unity, simplicity is key.

Personally I love doing swimming pool designs for swimming pool builders. I love creating an outdoor living space the entire family can enjoy. Having a swimming pool of my own is the best investment I ever made. Relaxing under the cabana, grilling on the outdoor kitchen or just relaxing in the pool. And with the lush gardens around the pool something is always in flower. I love watching the butterflies on the butterfly bushes and the hummingbirds on the Monarda. And at night the landscape lighting extends the use of the outdoor living space.