3.05 The Elements of Planting Design Plant Applications

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3.05The Elements of Planting DesignPlant
Applications
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TreesWhen selecting a tree, consider these
uses Shade Enframement Screening
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Shade The stronger-branched varieties may be
planted closer to an architectural structure
without fear of breakage. Fast-growing,
weaker-branched trees should never be planted too
near a structure because of possible damage
during severe ice or windstorms.
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Enframement Some varieties of trees may also
provide enframement (the framing of a view) for
the approach to a structure. These plants
should be placed just off the front corners or to
the sides to give the lawn or architectural
feature of a specific accent.
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Screening Trees are useful for screening out
undesirable views. When used in
natural-growing clumps, they become objects of
beauty in color for form and draw attention away
from undesirable objects. They may also
provide protection from summer or winter winds.
Dense plantings of deciduous trees and perhaps
some evergreen varieties are also effective
barriers to harsh environmental elements.
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Shrubs Shrubs provide a different spatial
scale. When selecting a shrub, consider these
uses Enframement Screening Accent
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Enframement A shrub can provide the framing
component to a special view into or away from a
landscape space. Place the shrub on either side
of the intended accent and frame it as if it were
a picture.
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Screening Large shrubs can screen undesirable
views or provide a visual corridor into a
landscape space. The object of the screen is
to obstruct a view from one area into another.
A small or medium shrub can also act as a screen
if combined with a landform or construction
feature.
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Accent Shrubs are very often used as accent
features within a landscape space. Too many
accents, or one that is too strong, will confuse
the viewer and create disharmony within the
composition. Groundcovers The term
groundcover refers primarily to plant materials
under eighteen inches in height, of spreading or
creeping habit, that are used to hide unsightly
areas of exposed ground.
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There are two functional classes of groundcovers.
The first is the lawn substitute, used to
cover a large expanse of ground and give the
general appearance of a lawn. The second class
is the ornamental groundcover. These are used to
decorate walks with borders, cover the ground
where grass will not grow, and add beauty and
accent to shrub masses.
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A vine can be a groundcover growing on a
mechanical structure. When combined with a
trellis, decorative fence, or wire frame, this
plant element can be used where space is limited
or as a copy, baffle, screen or barrier. Vines
climb in very specific patterns, and each pattern
should be understood before it is used in an
environment.
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Vines climb in the following ways Twining - a
vertical, twisting growth pattern as plants grasp
small posts or other plants. Clinging - a
habit of growth that allows the plant to adhere
to flat surfaces.
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Flower and Foliage Colors Flowering
materials add interest to any planting design and
care should be taken in their selection. Use
flowering plants together to extend the blooming
season and to maintain the visual appearance of
the total composition.
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Location Considerations Proper planning of each
location will allow many years of trouble-free
maintenance. Here are some locations that should
be avoided whenever possible
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Do not plant trees closer than four to five feet
form drives or walks. As they grow to
maturity, the root system may cause cracks and
separations in the paving elements.
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Do not plant trees or large shrubs under overhead
wires. Utility companies have the right to
prune the branches without the owners permission
(in most cases) and the results may not meet your
design objectives.
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Do not plant weak, fast-growing trees closer than
thirty to forty feet from a structure. These
trees are easily damaged by winds and ice storms,
and the branches may fall and cause damage.
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Do not over plant. A few good specimens in a
mass arrangement are better than a large number
of overcrowded, single-species arrangements.
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Do not plant trees or large shrubs closer than
one to one and one-half times their spread from
sewer, water, or septic lines.
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Do not plant trees or large shrubs too close to
windows or doors or directly in front of a
structure. If you do, you may hide attractive
architectural characteristics.
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Planting Suggestions Follow these general rules
in order to reach the optimum growing conditions
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Select a location where a plant has enough room
to reach maturity. Crowding plants may cause
excessive competition for light, soil nutrients,
and growing space. When planting, use the
measurements of the mature spread of plants to
determine location.
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Choose the time of planting carefully. Some
deciduous trees are best planted while dormant.
Most evergreen materials can be planted during
any season as long as care is taken to maintain a
soil ball around the root system.
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Excavate a generous planting pit and add soil
amendments as required by the geographic area.
If the soil is too heavy or too sandy, it will
benefit from a healthy addition of organic matter
such as peat or humus. Plant as soon as the
material is purchased from the nursery or
collected from the field. Waiting too long may
increase the shock a plant encounter when being
moved.
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Trees more than two inches in caliper (diameter)
should be supported with guy wires. This
allows the growing position to be corrected as
the soil around the root system settles.
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Environmental InsulationInsulation is now
recognized as the essential link in the chain of
comprehensive energy conservation, and the unique
character of the insulation becomes the most
important factor in the establishment of a
desirable living environment.
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Street Plantings  Categories should be
developed to relate to the degree of existing
vegetation.Unwooded street vegetation exists
on less than 30 of the project
area.Semi-wooded street vegetation exists on
more than 60, but less than 80, of the project
area.Wooded street vegetation exists on more
than 80 of the project area.
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From the inventory, functional categories (based
on growth habits) can then be applies to project
needs Overhead zone materials are the major
covering components they have large, dense
crowns of foliage and are used to provide greater
visual impact into and within the project area.
Intermediate zone materials are eye-level
plantings of screens and baffles that are used to
define the spaces on either side of the street
core. Ground zone materials are small shrubs and
groundcovers used to accent the ground spaces and
to identify and control pedestrian areas within
the development.
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Wildlife Habitats   Animals, like people, seek
a landscaped environment for very special
reasons. People often search for the solitude
of space to rest from the complications of the
day. Animals, on the other hand, need from the
space the three essentials for their survival
food, shelter, and protection from predators.