The beauty of landscape design is that you can make ANY landscape, big or small look amazing. Just as you’d accessorize your outfits, you can “accessorize” your landscape by adding in layers of texture which add depth and excitement.
Sure, pretty flowers make for a great landscape, but why not step out of the box and play around a bit? Let your imagination run wild and have a stellar yard to show for it.
Through the combination of various plants and materials, you can create texture in your landscape that adds an exciting element and feeling of flow to your outdoor spaces.
What is Texture in Landscaping?
This is something we call “visual texture” and it’s established through the artful combination of components such as size, shape, form, color, and space.
In your outdoor spaces, this is achieved by an arrangement of plant forms, fruits, colors, leaf textures, and plant placement along with construction hardscapes.
Why Your Yard Needs Texture
Texture can create an experience and an ambiance that can set your intended mood for your backyard. Second, only to color, texture is a crucial building block in creating a sense of place.
Additionally, if you have a smaller space than your content with there are some “tricks” you can use to make your space appear larger than it really is.
The right artistry will create an illusion of depth that will make your backyard space look and feel larger.
How to Add Texture
You have a few options when it comes to creating the texture: foliage, plants, and hardscapes.
Foliage
Foliage is the most popular option when creating texture. Consider the following popular examples in your landscape design.
Acer Palmatum Dissectum
These start out red-orange and eventually fade to yellow-green and have leaves with a unique texture, they’re very delicate and almost appear to be lace-like.
Red Mohican
Long stems with burgundy florets at the top, you’ll get color and interesting texture with this choice.
Cotton Lavender
A great choice for summer months, this Mediterranean plant has silvery green foliage and bright yellow button-like flowers that bloom in warmer months.
Euonymus “Harlequin”
This eponymous is a low-growing shrub with thin leaves and changes colors throughout the year.
Hosta Leaves
A great addition to any garden, these broad leaves add weight to existing landscapes.
Hardscapes
Another option for creating texture is the use of hardscapes, to spark some ideas we’ll break hardscaping down into three texture-related categories.
- Coarse—for a strong presence in your landscape utilize rough-cut, irregular or natural stone, large boulders, or fencing.
- Medium—this will include brushed concretes or polished woods.
- Fine—smooth stones such as river rock and delicate metal trellises.
Keep these suggestions in mind the next time you walk through your landscape and try to imagine what additions may be right for you. Need a professional opinion? That’s what we’re here for!
We Can Help
Schedule a consultation with one of our design experts, and we’ll be able to transform your property in ways you didn’t even know were possible.
