New-York tribune., 1922-12-10
BY Armand r. Tibbitts
Laudgc1pe Architect


Design IN Landscape architecture. Ike
design in an the arts, means order.
u IS The organization u forms Tor O.
definite purpose.
Planning and planting the small
grounds about the average home on
the 50xfOO plot, or larger, - nothing
more or less than r. problem in land
scapc architecture; and the smaller the
house and grounds the more difficult
this problem usually becomes.
In any problem OF landscape architec-
ture, and moves particularly with fela-
iion TO the small plot Of ground. the
house becomes the center about which
the planting plan is built up. Whether
or not your Little home is already
bu.N by an means begin by making a
rough plan or the whole or paper
The orientation of the house-its
location on the property and the
planting ng-particularly with reference
10 location Of drying yard. lawn ana the
Hke-should be carefully thought out
before a shoyelful or earth is turned
for the digging Of the cellar eSesva-
ton. II there are trees OF your prop
erty cndeavoT 10 save them.
II your home is already built ana
you arc planning the planting begin oy
making sketch plan on paper BY so
doing the property may be viewed as
whole on = miniature scale. Study it on
this miniature scale aud ~ the same
lmc try 10 visualize IL in natural size
Upon tho small sheet Of paper make
q sketch Of the approximate shape and
location Of the boundary lines OF the
property, fixing the house or house
location. garage. walk. trees or any
and other existing features upon the
sketch. This sketch can then be drawn
70 scale upon a larger piece Of paper.
4 scale o. onc-eighth inch 20 one foot
IS a convenient one 10 work upon for
tho average size city o. suburban lot.
Note Shcs and Distances
on the FIRST rough sketch you should
note actual sizes and distances. With
tape measure OF rule. measure and
locate the distances Of boundary
lines. size OF buildings. etc, putting
them down on tho rough sketch. In
making the larger plan TO scale you
will produce an accurate scale drawing
with these measurements TO guide
you.
Now. being able 70 visualize 70 a Ger
tain degree the wnolc property ~ this
miniature scale i' becomes possible TO
determine what effect planting and
other additions will have on the design
a. a whole. The element Of height OF
. planting will. OF course, be missing
on the hat plan.
After tho prcliminarics OF the de-
sign have been worked out, when you
have indicated the general location
Of shrubbery masses. open lawn. scrF-
ice areas with drying yard, Walks
trees. etc. II your home IS about 20 be
built or is under course Of eonstrue-
tion YOU will want 10 lay the planting
plan temporarily aside until tho house
Is up. Then the element OF height o.
planting can be definitely considered.
or course. II your house Is built you
will 20 right ahead with your land
scaping plan
By viewing the completed house and
all other parts Of the yard from every
angle out cf doors, as we'll az all views
OF the yard and surroundings rom
within the house. ideas may be formeo
as to where high or low planting may
be needed.
For an orderly organization Of our
planting and other garden aeeeshorles'
at leas. two elements Of design are
ecessary-harmony and balance. ny
the recurrence or repetition OF tIees'
shrubs. grass. vines. flowers. aroors'
etc, we obtain something In common;
harmony in line. form in color, II used
correctly. Balance need not be sym
metrical; that Is. an inversion OF mo
tives. which produces the so-ealled
formal examples in design. II may be
unsymmetYical and yet produce n per-
feet feeling Of balance and OF beauty
Balance means the equal opposition
and a constant equilibrium; feeling
Of everything az rest and In harmony.
Shade trees can be located 70 yield
the maximum OF comfort and beauty
and 10 relate % the house and design
"a A whole. The height and size or
material used 20 screen the service
and laundry ward may be studied, also
the planting along the borders and
that used ngainst the house.
The planting against the house
should be carefully thought out - re-
cards the height and size Of the
material used. The house should never
appear 10 rise out Of sea OF shrub
berry. A towering dogwood or white
birch. a hemlock or cedar used where
a definite tall cedar is needed, ~ Tor
t,.t.nrs arrhing over the entrance