With your plant landscape design, you have an opportunity to combine plants, hardscapes and natural features in an artful way. The best Houston landscapes develop interesting design concepts that are vibrant and in balance. They are landscapes that serve both form and function.

At Exterior Worlds, we are cognizant of three basic areas of your landscape when thinking about creating a memorable plant landscape design. Public spaces, like the front yard, are on view by the public. This includes everyone from the postman to the mom on her way to the grocery store to potential buyers arriving with their real estate agent. Private spaces are most notably the back yard, side yards and any other space shielded from casual view. Utilitarian spaces comprise trashcan, compost heaps, a/c units and pool equipment areas and are best screened from view.

In considering the placement of plants within a landscape, we always acknowledge that plants have personalities. Some are soothing and hardworking, while others are showy and flashy, and still others are here today and gone tomorrow. And just like with a good party, you want a mix of these types. Invite only the quiet ones and you have a totally forgettable affair. Too many show-offs and the place gets overwhelming.

Bush planting helps create the foundation for your landscape. Taller, evergreen bushes create a pleasing backdrop, shorter bushes provide mid-level texture, and flowering bushes provide a dash of color. In Houston, you have the opportunity to choose evergreens that create a year-round structure, while also using deciduous shrubs, such as planting azaleas, that provide ornamental value throughout the year.

Planting annuals supplies the eye with something new to look at. Deep red pansies, pink geraniums and black-eyed Susans delight us and draw us in by providing color and texture. Seasonal color keeps track of each new season, renewing your appreciation of the outdoor landscapes.

Plants can be used in many creative ways, such as a living garden wall. We make these walls by training plant material to grow around a metal frame. As an example, we have used them for our clients to create a seating area within a larger zone. They also can provide protection from the sun and wind.

Soil deserves special mention when discussing plant landscape design. The dirt component is usually a mixture of sand, silt and clay, with one predominant element, and in Houston, our soil has a high concentration of clay, a special challenge for gardeners. We recommend this ratio for planting soil: 1/3 loam (or soil), 1/3 sand, and 1/3 organic matter.

Landscape design tree placement also needs to be discussed near the beginning of the process. Trees are vital components in your design, the structural elements that take the longest to mature. We advise our clients to plant them early and to plant them with their mature size in mind.

Your Houston patio and garden will be enlivened by design conscious decisions that reflect your genuine style. A thoughtful plant landscape design from Exterior Worlds will define you as a serious homeowner, one who cares about lush but appropriate statements.

Call the professionals at Exterior Worlds for all your landscape design and plant care needs. Serving the greater Houston area.