Garden Gate – October 2019

GardenGateMagazine.com | GARDEN GATE 53

ILLUSTRATIONS: Gary Palmer

Contemporary balance

One-story contemporary homes often have

a large roof and garage. The challenge is to

balance the home’s design.

S tat ely

two-story

This formal home made

of brick has symmetrical

features. It needs a deep

layered bed to balance

its height and keep

things interesting.

One-story casual

Low and linear, this one-story

home needs more height and

something to break up all

the horizontal lines.

The weeping tree at the corner softens

all the horizontal lines and is casual

looking, just like the house. Its draping

branches reach for the earth, drawing

your eye down to the lower hedge.

A columnar tree breaks up the

biggest area of roof without

taking up a lot of space.

Hedges planted at different depths from the

house — one up close and the other further away

— echo the varying levels of the facade.

Tall evergreens on either side of the house out in the yard

grab your attention from a distance while smaller evergreen

topiaries at the front door echo the look, reinforce the formal

symmetry and draw attention to the front door.

Shrubs with a round

habit contrast with

the pyramid shapes

and soften the hard

lines and angles.

Keep a crisp edge to the planting

beds to keep the neat and tidy look

essential to formal garden design.

A mature tree with

burgundy foliage

helps balance out

the big garage on

the opposite side of

the house. Choosing

a species that has

horizontal branching

repeats the low profile

of the home. A weeping tree near the sidewalk

entrance says, “Here’s where you enter!”

Shrubs near the garage

help anchor the house to

the landscape and balance

out the larger planting.

GG14952_57_Foundation.indd 53GG14952_57_Foundation.indd 53 6/26/2019 11:20:22 AM6/26/2019 11:20:22 AM

GardenGateMagazine.com | GARDEN GATE 53

ILLUSTRATIONS: Gary Palmer

Contemporary balance

One-story contemporary homes often have

a large roof and garage. The challenge is to

balance the home’s design.

S tat ely

two-story

This formal home made

of brick has symmetrical

features. It needs a deep

layered bed to balance

its height and keep

things interesting.

One-story casual

Low and linear, this one-story

home needs more height and

something to break up all

the horizontal lines.

The weeping tree at the corner softens
all the horizontal lines and is casual
looking, just like the house. Its draping
branches reach for the earth, drawing
your eye down to the lower hedge.

A columnar tree breaks up the

biggest area of roof without

taking up a lot of space.

Hedges planted at different depths from the

house — one up close and the other further away

— echo the varying levels of the facade.

Tall evergreens on either side of the house out in the yard
grab your attention from a distance while smaller evergreen
topiaries at the front door echo the look, reinforce the formal
symmetry and draw attention to the front door.

Shrubs with a round

habit contrast with

the pyramid shapes

and soften the hard

lines and angles.

Keep a crisp edge to the planting

beds to keep the neat and tidy look

essential to formal garden design.

A mature tree with
burgundy foliage
helps balance out
the big garage on
the opposite side of
the house. Choosing
a species that has
horizontal branching
repeats the low profile
of the home. A weeping tree near the sidewalk

entrance says, “Here’s where you enter!”

Shrubs near the garage

help anchor the house to

the landscape and balance

out the larger planting.