Balance:



You can get balance in your landscaping by different methods. Grouping flower pots in a symmetrical

arrangement will create the balance very easily. You can do this by using one large pot and surround it

with smaller pots. You will also want to proportion your fountain, birdbaths, and sculptures well. A

small fountain on a large wall will look un proportioned and will not suit this area. In this case, you

would want a larger wall fountain. This is also true on the ground. If the cultivated area is

noticeably un proportioned to the birdbath that accents it the balance will, in turn, be un

proportioned also. Remember that you can always use plants to increase the size of your garden accents.

Balance is defined as "a relationship between an item and the space it consumes"

Unity:

To create unity within your landscape you will want to look at colors and textures within the

landscape. Matching these colors and textures throughout different areas of the landscape is unifying

it. Add a terra cotta pot the same tone as your deck on the opposite of the landscape (known as

echoing) stagger your pots as a centerpiece (known as sequencing). These are just a few ideas on how to

add unity to your landscaping.

Softness:

It is important to have a good balance of hardness and softness within your landscape. Adding river

rock, pea gravel, or washed gravel to a bed will add that hardness. At the same time, too much gravel

in multiple beds will overcome the design and disturb the balance of texture. This is also true with

plants. You want a variety of "free-forming" plants to accompany the symmetrical plantings and trees.

This will allow for the natural flow of the landscape.

Accents:

Accents are used in places where the landscape needs that extra "ummff". Keep in mind that eye-level is

not the "best" place for an accent, but rather, one place. Accents should be used at different heights

to produce balance. Also keep in mind that accenting is all about positioning the item correctly. The

contrast of color or texture will provide the accent to its surroundings.