The document discusses sustainable design principles for small landscapes, emphasizing the importance of functional, maintainable, environmentally sound, cost-effective, and visually pleasing designs. It outlines key design principles such as unity, simplicity, variety, balance, emphasis, sequence, and scale, along with considerations for plant selection based on sustainability. Additional design tips for small landscapes include designing for multiple purposes, interplanting ornamentals with edibles, and considering views while ensuring proper maintenance.

1. Sustainable Design for Small Landscapes Julie Weisenhorn University of Minnesota Extension Department of Horticultural Science

2. “… A small plot of ground well ordered, turns to greater advantage than a large one neglected …” - Leonard Meager The New Art of Gardening , 1697

3. Designing small spaces may feel less overwhelming … but more restrictive.

4. Sustainable Design Designing for plant health and longevity; Creating “outdoor rooms”; Important in design regardless of size or cost.

5. Five Considerations of Sustainable Design

6. 1. Functional

7. 2. Maintainable

8. 3. Environmentally sound

9. 4. Cost effective

10. 5. Visually pleasing

12. Site analysis Client Interview & Survey Client interview Activities in the landscape Timeline for installation Budget – install and maintenance Site survey Site inventory Specific, honest evaluation of site features; measurements Landscape Design Questionnaire, Site Evaluation Form

13. Design Principles

14. Design Principle 1. Unity A feeling of “oneness” Mix & match plants based on texture, form Repetition of hardscapes and plants All aspects should complement one another, not compete for attention; The entire design comes together to form one landscape.

15. Design Principle 1. Unity The entire design: Comes together to form one landscape; All aspects should complement one another, not compete for attention; Repetition of materials builds unity.

17. Design Principle 2. Simplicity Large masses and groups Fewer individual species / cultivars Backgrounds, backdrops Color pallets 1-3 focal points in a small space More important in commercial design than residential

18. Design Principle 3. Variety Variety in plants: type, form, texture, seasonal interest; Variety in hardscapes: color, texture Variety in location: areas viewed up close, entry gardens, decks, walkways, etc.

19. Variety vs. Collection

20. Design Principle 4. Balance Formal vs. informal, symmetrical vs. asymmetrical

21. Design Principle 5. Emphasis Integrate focal points, accent, and specimen plants in the landscape

22. Design Principle 6. Sequence The repetition of textures, colors, form and materials to transition the viewer through the landscape.

23. Design Principle 7. Scale The relative size of one part of a landscape to another and to human beings using plants and hard features of various sizes.

24. Plant Selection

25. Select plants for sustainability Right plant, right place, right purpose Select plants based on their elements of design (characteristics) plant type Size Form Texture Seasonal interest

26. Plant selection Plant type

27. Plant selection Select plants based on mature size

28. Plant selection Form

29. Plant selection Form: Go Vertical

30. Trellising & Espalier

31. Plant selection Texture, Mix & Match

32. Plant selection Seasonal Interest

33. Color

34. Color Warm: Focal point, draws attention Cool: Calm, relaxing, larger Neutral: Transitions, softens, expands

35. Design tips for small landscapes

36. Design tips for small landscapes 1. Design elements to serve more than one purpose

37. Design tips for small landscapes 2. Interplant ornamentals with edibles

38. Design tips for small landscapes 3. Consider views

39. Design tips for small landscapes 4. Use tall plants as backdrops

40. Design tips for small landscapes 5. Design turf areas for maintenance Mowing – avoid tight radii Light & moisture requirements Repeated traffic, equipment

41. Design tips for small landscapes 6. Avoid dividing the property

42. Design tips for small landscapes 7. De-emphasize narrow areas

43. Design tips for small landscapes 8. Locate details & variety close-up

44. Resources Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series (SULIS): http://www.sustalnd.umn.edu Gardening Information http://www.extension.umn.edu/gardeninfo Rice, Graham, The Ultimate Book of Small Gardens Messervy, Julie Moir and Susanka, Susan, Outside the Not So Big House Beaulieu, David, “Color Theory in Landscape Design”, http://landscaping.about.com/od/flowersherbsgroundcover1/a/flower_photos.htm Luss, Gunda, “Color Techniques for Landscape Design” http://www.sustland.umn.edu/design/colortechniques.html Boulden, Steve, “Big Help for Small Gardens”, http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/smallgardens.html

45. Sustainable Design for Small Landscapes Julie Weisenhorn University of Minnesota Extension Department of Horticultural Science Email: [email_address]