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Landscaping is the art of laying out gardens or grounds to create a picturesque scene. While landscaping is often done on a large scale, it also applies to the average suburban garden. This rather grand term simply means that people have had a hand in designing, shaping and planting a piece of land. ‘Landscaping’ implies a certain professionalism, while ‘gardening’ suggests something much more familiar and friendly – real gardeners have few pretensions! But why do we spend so much time trying to organize our outside surroundings? We landscape and garden in order to create a beautiful environment in which to live and work, to obtain privacy or pleasing combinations of colour and shade, and as a form of recreation.
These days, many gardens become extensions to the home. They are places where we relax, play, work and entertain for much of the year. The functions of the ‘new garden’ can be quite diverse, socareful planning is necessary to accommodate its various roles. Once you have identified the different roles your garden must play (and they are often conflicting), you will have taken the first
steps towards planning the overall garden. Remember, landscaping does not start with planting trees and shrubs; it begins with identifying how the garden will be used, getting to know the site, and systematic soil preparation.
