Chapter 4

Many people know what they like and don’t like, but they struggle with redesigning their gardens. Indeed, numerous yards across America demonstrate a re-do gone bad. Often, well intended but uninformed homeowners purchase their favorite plants at the nursery, knowing neither garden design theory nor how and where to place them. It can be a frustrating experience and certainly does not motivate one to jump in and attempt to make radical changes to the front yard.

The goal of this chapter is to assist you in developing your own custom redesign. It will arm you with sufficient information, suggestions, and visual comparisons to help you create a yard that reflects your personal goals and desires and blends well with your neighborhood setting. A successful transition to a non-lawn landscape requires some sense of design, proportion, and Feng Shui (pronounced Fung Schway), which addresses the energy and flow of space.

Once you’ve read this chapter, you will begin to recognize elements of good design wherever you go and apply them to your own garden. The design theory section includes:

• Scale and proportion
• Balance
• Line and movement
• Rhythm and pattern
• Focal elements
• Unity
• Color and texture

Even after the spring blooms have faded, this simple and tranquil space, designed by Landscape Architect, Ed Janelli, provides a calm front yard retreat with its subtle use of materials, forms, colors, and textures.