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YARD BEAUTIFUL

A landscape designer can help the homeowner choose the right plants for the home’s surroundings

by Deborah J. Carr

Most homeowners appreciate aspects of their property – the shade of a gracious tree; a favorite spot where the morning or afternoon sun hits – but are also aware of landscape irritants: overgrown, mundane or incoherent plantings; a blocked view; an ill-conceived path, walkway or driveway; and, of course, the taboo of demanding maintenance.

Despite the growing interest in gardening and the use of outdoor rooms, many homeowners are intimidated by landscape projects, which frequently play second fiddle to interior-design priorities.
A landscape redesign may be difficult to visualize. Many homeowners understand intuitively if their landscape lacks a sense of proportion, scale, balance or creativity, but they need help translating their intuition, fond hopes or preferences into a cohesive plan.

The principle of marrying the house to the land, or the necessity of proportion, scale, arrangement, texture and material, may make sense, but many homeowners find the concepts difficult to translate into reality, especially if they are unfamiliar with plant varieties and environmental influences. A homeowner may be horticulturally inclined, but landscape language may fall on deaf ears.

Cape Cod landscape designer Mary LeBlanc says, “The biggest challenge is to help clients visualize.” She realizes that an important part of her job is “to make things real” for her clients.

“Landscapes are always changing, growing or dying,” says LeBlanc, who helps clients understand that landscape design is an organic process. “Some plants aren't happy; something may be going on in the microclimate. Some plants may be OK for years and then change. Some plants can get too big; plants don't grow perfectly and may need corrective pruning,” she says. “We need to treat them as a process, an activity rather than a static work.” LeBlanc frequently maintains a relationship with her clients for years after a project is completed, in order to advise them on the ongoing care and monitoring of their landscape.

Whether or not a homeowner is working with a landscape designer, he or she should understand each decision’s implications. For example, multi-seasonal plant performance may be less important for summer residents. Even if a homeowner has a landscape service, high-maintenance plantings may be unappealing for weekend residents.

ENGAGING IN THE DESIGN PROCESS

Before LeBlanc designs a landscape, she encourages clients to talk about landscapes or particular plants they love. If necessary, she drives them around neighborhoods, points out a particular plant or a specimen and assesses their positive or negative reactions. She encourages clients to choose materials that will suit personal preferences, the home's design as well as the site, climate and environment.

She understands the hostility of coastal environments, especially for waterfront properties, where plantings may suffer from intense sunlight, sandy soil, unforgiving winds and salt spray.

LeBlanc, who appreciates different looks, loves massing day lilies as much as she appreciates clipped box hedges, sundials, brick pathways and privet hedges. “It doesn't have to be all loosey-goosey,” says LeBlanc. “It can be both.”

Micro-climates on one property can change from water side to road side, says LeBlanc, who believes plantings need to be functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. “Some native plants are lovely, but for many their job isn’t just to be lovely – they need to hold the soil, control erosion.”

LeBlanc’s Cape clients appreciate her extensive knowledge of the harsh coastal environment, her commitment to the “right plant, right place” school of landscape design, her familiarity with conservation guidelines and ability to negotiate necessary permits and approvals.
LeBlanc is not overbearing, but feels a responsibility to help clients make informed decisions. “I tell them if something they have their heart set on won’t be successful,” she says.

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