By Kathi Thistlethwaite, Colorado Master Gardener

Welcome back to The Garden Buzz and the third article in our garden design series. Last time, we learned about the design principles of order and unity, and this brings us to the next two design principles of proportion and repetition. Understanding how they work, and the elements of design used to implement these principles, streamlines the plant selection process and helps make appropriate plant choices. Don’t forget to make notes and use the “mood board” introduced in the first article.

Design Principle: Proportion

Why do some areas feel comfortable and pleasing to the eye while others are overwhelming or feel like something is missing? It could be the proportion of the components in the area.

• Relative proportion is the size of an object relative to other objects.

Important relative proportions in landscape design are plant size in relation to other plants, the house, yard and hardscape.

• Absolute proportion is the size of the object. The primary absolute proportion in design is human size (scale).

Landscape features such as plants, structures, paths, etc., should be planned and selected relative to human size (scale). When an area is comfortable and pleasing to the eye, it is proportional to human size (scale), also making it easy to use. Proportion in plants as they relate to people, other plants and buildings also creates unity and the intentionality discussed in the first article.

Proportion can also be used to create void spaces. Most people are comfortable in smaller, enclosed areas with something above them implying a ceiling, i.e., a pergola or a gazebo. This doesn’t have to be solid nor does it need to be a hardscape feature. Overhanging tree limbs of a properly proportioned tree can create the “ceiling” and provide the same level of comfort.

Design Principle: Repetition

Incorporating repetition in landscape design gives a space rhythm. It is as simple as using similar elements throughout the design. Plant material can be repeated. Hardscape material can be repeated. Color, size and texture can be repeated.

It’s easy to go overboard with repetition. Try to strike a balance between repetition and plant variety. As the illustration above demonstrates, too much variety is chaotic and lacks unity. Too much repetition is bland and boring, but the balance between the two is just right.

Now that the design principles of order, unity, proportion and repetition have been introduced, our next article will cover elements of design and how to apply them to the principles.

Happy gardening!

NEXT INSTALLMENT: Elements of Design

PREVIOUS INSTALLMENT: https://conta.cc/3UUlII1

NOTE: All articles in this series and past issues of The Garden Buzz newsletter can be found at https://arapahoe.extension.colostate.edu/cmg-newsletter-archive/

Online resources:

• Plant Select: www.plantselect.org Design ideas and downloadable designs that show plant combinations
• CSU Extension: www.extension.colostate.edu Native plant garden guides with plant lists, planting plans and designs
• UFL Extension: ENH1188/EP449: Landscape Design: Arranging Plants in the Landscape (ufl.edu)