A landscape can be thought of as a personal work of art. As in any type of art, taste will differ from person to person, as we all have different opinions as to what constitutes beauty. Even so, we believe that understanding a few simple design principles can help you decide on the kind of landscape you really want for your Islip, NY, home. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some styles and techniques relating to plant beds:
Border Bed
This is a plant bed that is anchored by a backdrop, which can be a wall, the house, a fence, a bench, or a water feature. These border beds can be created anywhere on the property and not simply against the walls of the outer edges of the property. A good landscaper can build landscape features such as low walls, a small bench area, a walled feature area, pillars, or any other hardscape feature, against which special plant beds can be placed.
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Stepping Stones
Border beds are generally, but not always, long and narrow. The depth of the bed depends on the length and the location of the bed. Beds that are deeper need other features such as paths or stepping stones so visitors can enjoy the variety of plants. These hardscape features also serve the function of allowing maintenance access for tasks such as weeding and watering. Stepping stones can also be used to lead to secret areas and quiet getaway spots with the yard.
Plant Placement in Border Beds
Using groups of three to seven plants of the same kind can maximize visual interest of the plant’s unique characteristics. Taller plants are generally placed at the back of the bed, closer to the backdrop element, medium sized plants towards the center of the bed, and smaller plants towards the front.
Island Beds
These plant beds are not anchored by a backdrop and can be seen from all sides. These beds usually have a center anchor, which can be a plant or hardscape feature. The anchor does not necessarily sit right in the middle but can also be offset to the side for a more asymmetrical look. These central anchors can consist of water features, plant containers, benches, trellises, arbors, or even a tree. Island beds are usually curvilinear in design, however, some modern homes in Islip use rectangular beds, which are either raised or at ground level. One of the benefits of these beds is that they can be reached into from all sides.
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Plant Placement in Island Beds
The right plant placement is just as important in island beds as it is for border beds. The general rule is to use groupings of at least three of the same plant together. Placing just one plant alone does not offer the greenery and texture that most Islip homeowners love. Make more of an impact with plant groupings of 3, 5 or 7, as odd numbers tend to look less symmetrical and more visually interesting than even numbers. Short plants in long narrow groups can be used to create borders along the sides of the bed. Taller plants can then be used in the middle of the bed or centered as an anchor plant.