At TSLC, our landscape architects design gardens and landscapes for spaces small to large, from inner-city courtyards to masterplans for tree-changers. One of the first stages of designing a space is considering the placement of hard landscaping elements, also called hardscape, such as decks, paths, paving, seating, and walls. Once the hardscape elements of a design have been laid out, providing a structural “back bone” to the plan, planting can be considered. Plants breathe life into a garden, with clever species selection complementing the overall aesthetic or style of the space and creating a place that can be enjoyed for years to come.
Our landscape architects love choosing plants for each unique project, taking into consideration a wide range of factors when designing to give your planting, also called softscape, the best possible chance at thriving. There are a range of considerations our landscape architects keep in mind when choosing plants, but there are three main factors we will explore in this article.
- The first factor is choosing plants based on their location and function in the garden.
- The second is considering the style and visual intent of the landscape.
- And the third factor is selection based on habitat value and food production.
Site analysis and choosing plants based on function
Choosing plants based on their location and function may seem simple, but there is more to this than meets the eye. Our landscape architects start all new projects with an initial consultation where they meet you in person on site and talk to you about what your wants and needs are for your landscape. One of the great benefits of this is that it allows for an in-person, in-situ discussion about the site and your aspirations. While walking and talking, our landscape architects are also conducting a site analysis. Landscape architects are trained in systems thinking. This means that in noting down the various traits of the site such as sun position, wind, rainfall, slope, soil, existing vegetation, access, existing uses, etc, they are also thinking about how these factors interact with broader themes and each other as a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.
In gaining a deeper understanding of a site by visiting and undertaking a site analysis, our landscape architects are better equipped to select plants that have the best possible chance at succeeding. This is key when it comes to choosing plants that need to satisfy the dual demands of functioning the way they are intended to in a design e.g., as screening plants, as feature specimens, as groundcovers etc, while also standing up to site specific pressures such as climate. For this reason, native plants are often an ideal choice. In designing with native and indigenous plants our landscape architects are selecting plant species that are uniquely suited to the climates and soils of the locations that they originate from. Some native species are also very resilient and good at adapting to diverse climatic conditions. This makes them versatile options in the face of a changing climate. This means that overall, natives are often a more water–efficient and lower maintenance choice than non-native species, giving plants a better chance at long-term success than their non-native counterparts.
Get the look
The next factor that comes into play as our landscape architects are designing, is the overall aesthetic or style of a design, and how plants can complement and emphasize that. During the initial consultation phase, our landscape architects aim to understand and interpret the overall “look” and feel that you want your landscape to have. As they design, this understanding is translated into lines on a page and ultimately a constructed landscape. Plants are what fills the gaps between the hard landscaping elements. With consideration to the first factor, largely focused on functionality, our landscape architects select plants that suit the feel and “look” of the landscape you want to achieve – melding form and function harmoniously. This means considering the colours of plants and their flowers, as well as foliage texture and shape, size and form, as well as light and water requirements. Appropriate plant selection helps to achieve the overall goals of how you want your space to look and feel.
Planting for habitat infill and food production
The final factor that is considered during the planting design phase is how the plants might satisfy more than just aesthetic outcomes. At TSLC we create beautiful, biodiverse and resilient landscapes. While the landscaped public realm is characterized by street trees, nature strips, and open green spaces like parks, sports fields and trails, the private realm encompasses property which is privately owned. The majority of land in most urban councils in Australia is privately owned. This means that while public landscapes have a significant role to play in providing amenity to us all and habitat for native animals, there is an incredible opportunity to use our front and backyards to contribute to the broader landscape. At TSLC we support this by designing, constructing, and maintaining landscapes that are not only beautiful, but also support biodiversity. Choosing native plants that are adapted to the area contributes to biodiversity by supporting the local ecosystem in providing food and shelter for native fauna such as butterflies, bees, mammals, reptiles, and birds. By landscaping with native and indigenous plants, as well as carefully placed habitat rocks and logs, we can create habitat infill throughout our urban environment and contribute to a range of other outcomes that are beneficial to humans and nature alike. Resilient and long-lived plants and trees absorb and transpire water and provide shade, contributing to the urban cooling effect.
Resilience in a landscape can refer to using plants adapted to their environment. Being able to produce fruit and vegetables in an urban environment also builds resilience into a landscape. With the challenges of climate change and extreme weather events such as floods and heatwaves, and rising costs of vegetables, it is more important than ever for cities to grow local food. Partnering with our sister company Foodcube, we design and build urban vegetable and herb farms and orchards which can produce 20kg of fresh produce per square meter each year. Many fruits and vegetables require pollinators, such as bees. While many food plants and supporting ornamental plants flower in the warmer parts of the year, native plants often flower in the cooler parts of the year, making combining the two in your garden a smart choice to support pollinators for more of the year and boost your harvest. When plants die or leaves fall, they can be composted, contributing to the circularity of a landscape, further increasing resilience.
Plants bring gardens to life. At TSLC our experienced and knowledgeable landscape architects consider many factors when selecting plants for your landscape design. Among other factors, they consider the location and function of plants in a garden, as well as the visual intent, and habitat value and food production capabilities of plants. Together, with these factors in mind, our landscape architects create beautiful, biodiverse, and resilient landscapes for living. Click here to learn more about our design process or contact us if you have an idea for your landscape.
Some native plants that we love – many of these plants provide habitat and food for butterflies, hoverflies, small skinks and lizards, native bees, birds, and frogs.
Dichondra repens – Kidney Weed, occurs in Vic, SA, WA, Tas, NSW, ACT and QLD
Chrysocephalum apiculatum – Common Everlasting, occurs in all states and territories in Australia in a wide range of environments
Pycnosorus globosus – Billy Buttons, occurs throughout much of NSW, as well as Vic, QLD, and SA
Correa alba – White correa, occurs in coastal areas from northern NSW through to eastern SA, and Tasmania
Themeda triandra – Kangaroo Grass, occurs in all states and territories in Australia in a wide range of environments
Viola hederacea – Ivy leaf Violet, a widespread species occurring from northern QLD through to southern SA, and Tasmania
Banksia blechnifolia – Blechnum Banksia, occurs in southern WA
Calocephalus lacteus – Milky Beauty-heads, occurs in Vic, Tas, south eastern NSW, and south eastern SA
Dichelachne crinita – Long hair plume grass, occurs in south western WA, southern SA and QLD, NSW, Vic, ACT and Tas
Myoporum parvifolium – Creeping Myoporum, occurs in south western NSW, central and western Vic, and southern SA
Westringia fruticosa – Coastal Rosemary, occurs in coastal areas in eastern Australia
Leucophyta brownii – Cushion Bush, occurs along the southern coast of the Australian mainland and the northern coast of Tasmania
Lomandra longifolia – Spiny-headed Mat-rush, occurs in eastern QLD, eastern NSW, ACT, Vic, Tas and south eastern SA
