You Must Know This Before Hiring a Landscaper

You might be surprised to learn that there's no one purpose for landscaping design.  In fact, as I discovered, there is as much variety in landscaping design philosophy as there is variety in people. There are landscapers who focus on the natural environment. They might be interested in exhibiting it's beauty or preserving its sustainability.There are landscapers who are interested in healing what they consider to be the man nature split. Some of these landscapers are concerned about getting man in harmony with nature. Others are interested in having nature serve architecture. There are landscapers who are mostly into the creation of a work of art, that just happens to be using nature as the media. There are landscapers who emphasize the importance of serving the client's needs. Finally, there are landscapers who see a landscape environment as serving religious or meditative principles.

You can read our full article about the purpose of landscape design here.

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Defining the purpose of landscape design is a challenging undertaking, as it requires synthesizing the many explanations of the phrase, which seem as vastly different as the number of landscapes So much so that creating a summary of outdoor design philosophies can become a bewildering task. I made the task more manageable by dividing the different types of landscape design in to five broad categories.

At the basic level, landscape design serves nature. These landscape designers use concepts related to sustainability, ecology, and preservation of the natural habitat. This level of landscaping mandates being responsive to natural problems such as water runoff, soil erosion, flooding, but may also include aesthetics and the desire to preserve the natural habitat in a way that will transform it into a thing of beauty

At a higher level, most landscapers strive to bridge the perceived gap between man and nature. Scapists employ contrasting language to describe this function. One artisan describes it as combining culture and nature. Another talks about the reconciliation between man and nature. Another specifies the purpose of landscape design as blending "man-made buildings into the natural setting. Another landscaping company writes about "blending man's technology into the natural setting." An Islamic landscape designer teaches that the building versus outdoor opposition can be resolved by maintaining "fluidity of movement between the two spaces." While some landscape design companies give equal importance to culture and nature, some give more weight to one or the other. In referring to nature, one site designer talks about the need to strengthen the client's "sense of connection to nature". Another outdoor planner termed it slightly differently and wrote about the need to enhance man's connection with the land." On the side of technology, some practitioners see nature as serving man-made structures. In their opinion, the importance of landscape is to ensure "a beautiful setting for a building," "protect the home from the elements," or in the words of another planner "create a beautiful environment around the building."

A number of landscape engineers focus on the artistry of their work. One Harvard trained landscape planner called the natural world her "palate" which she uses to create her artistic work. Reading about what the various practitioners have to say you will find multiple references to "creating beauty." Again with respect to creating a work of art, there is a spectrum of emphasis. Some landscapers talk about bringing out the beauty inherent in the local habitat, whereas others agree about bringing out the natural beauty of the landscape, but won't hesitate to import vegetation, rocks, and other material from outside the habitat, if it will enhance the artistic look they are trying to make." The two views, however, are not mutually exclusive. An Islamic landscape planner describe the principles of art and beauty as one sub-element of her work, which most importantly was designed to express principles in the Koran .

Some designers place the greatest emphasis on the client's perspective. They describe this aspect of their work with phrases such as "expressing "the client's vision," bringing out the beauty of the natural world in ways that are "responsive to the... client," or taking cognizance of the landscaping " needs of the user." At the same time, many designers emphasize the practical benefits their landscape designs bestow upon clients. These boons include "provision of the necessities of modern living;" "comfortable seating, scenic and seasonable variety, practical areas for family leisure, child play, entertainment, play space;" "well shaped land for people to use and enjoy;" "a healthy breath for occupants;" and "an inviting and soothing atmosphere." Landscape artist Michelle Derviss emphasizes the emotional response her work will bring out in visitors to the site." She wants her outdoor scapes to move her visitors, fill the senses, inspire the visitor's vision, and enliven their heart ."

The Islamic designer Emma Clark reaches past the client versus nature debate and talks about an overriding goal in her work to express a religious truth re the environment. He purpose is to use the guidance of her religious teachings in the Koran to bring out the spirit of the locale." However, she emphasizes that her work is not imposing something alien onto the outdoor environment, rather bringing out a spirituality that is inherently present.. Some landscapers might take exception with her philosophy, claiming that her theological approach is an imposition of something stiffing to the innate spirituality of the visitors to the spot Some site engineers create gardens that serve as havens or places of meditation and contemplation. At first glance, it might seem that these modern planners have walked back in time to the philosophy found in "Walden," by Henry David Thoreau. However, these modern Thoreaus are more likely to work around and even incorporate contemporary technology and incursions of civilization into their managed retreats.



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In the Westchester County and Putnam County areas in New York, call the Turf Barbers for accomplished landscape design help. 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; 914 302 2469; http://www.theturfbarbers.com