If simplicity and boldness were the only requirements for geometrical lines, perfection would be within easy reach. The gardening enthusiast would only need to confine himself to rectangular spaces to achieve both. However, at least some graceful outlines are desired by the eye, and any good gardener will understand that it is worth his time to study up on outlining techniques.



The lawn is sometimes referred to as being the groundwork of the garden picture, no pun intended. The close shaven lawn is the very life of the architectural garden. That is sometimes all the garden there is. Sometimes there simply is no room for anything else, especially if you are planning on hot tub installation, or already own a hot tub Jacuzzi.

Trees, shrubs, and flowers will be cramped if planted in the space provided by a city residence, particularly one located on a busy street, but a little strip of dose cut grass will look clean, cool and comfortable.

A courtyard's main focus is usually a fountain, stone flagging and heavy benches, but here as well there may be some little patches of clipped grass in between. Grass patches like these are like the carpets within a building. Some people are known to have a small steam room or sauna in their backyard, or a modern infrared sauna.

The uncut lawn with grass running amok is so obviously out of harmony with all architectonic features that it hardly even needs to be mentioned. Trees set in rows may or may not add to the effect of the Italian style. If the gardener is planning on using a moderate number of trees, they should usually stand in rows. If they approach and extended geometrical, line they should always be placed parallel to it.

An example of this would be an instance where a row of trees will appear next the long face of a building, or (as is more common) they will follow a drive or walk. It is a favored technique of the landscape architect to form long avenues of large trees. These leafy avenues have always been very successful in satisfying visual pleasure.

A group of trees surrounding your swim pool or swim spa (better if it is an inground swim spa) will have the effect of looking like an oasis of sorts. Street planting has its own amount of general importance, yet it is a duty where a surprising amount of bad taste is displayed. It is enough that we can give it a bit of our attention.

The street is regarded as a geometrical figure, and it should be consistently treated as such. This requires three things. First, the rows should be parallel with the street. Second, the trees should be set at uniform distances. Third, the individual trees should be just as nearly uniform in all respects as it is possible to make them.