Plant Shapes
Professional landscapers choose plants by their shape first, to fulfill a particular function. Only then do they select the species. Here’s how to choose plant shapes.
For shade, select a broad-spreading or vase-shaped tree for lawns or a small round tree for patios. If you want sun to come through in winter, select a deciduous tree.
For a screen or windbreak, plant a group of pyramidal or columnar trees in a large yard, or choose shrubs with a horizontal form.
If you like the look of a sheared hedge, choose shrubs with an upright-vase shape.
You might choose a tree or shrub as an accent or specimen plant for its striking shape alone. If so, plant it where you can enjoy the view.

How Big Will it Get?
Before deciding on a plant, find out how big it will grow and how fast it will reach its mature size. Don’t plant a tree where you only want a shrub.
Think ahead. Will the tree you planted in the middle of your yard end up casting too much shade and destroying all sense of proportion? Will a shrub grow to block a view or require hours of pruning?
On the other hand, you may want shade or privacy in a hurry. If so, look for plants that mature rapidly.

Local Conditions
If you want your plants to live a long and healthy life, choose those already adapted to the conditions in your yard. For example, if you live in the Southwest, you’ll do best with plants that tolerate drought, bright sun, alkalinesoil, and–at higher elevations–cold winters. In the Northeast, plants that can withstand freezing winters and hot, humid summers will do best.

Minimizing Maintenance
Take a hard look at the plants you’ve chosen—and at how much effort they’ll take to maintain. Here are ways to cut maintenance time:
Select a slow-growing lawn grass so you won’t have to mow as often. Plant a smaller lawn to save on mowing, weeding, fertilizing and watering. Take out the lawn and plant a low-maintenance ground cover, right, cover the ground with mulch, or build a patio or deck.
If you don’t like to prune, plant a natural shrub border instead of a hedge. Or build a fence.
Plant trees that don’t drop lots of fruit or leaves. You’ll spend less time raking.
Choose healthy plants adapted to your environment. You’ll have fewer battles with pests and diseases.

Continual Color
The colors in your yard are like movements in a symphony, shifting in mood and tempo throughout the year. Orchestrating color can be fun as well as challenging.
When you’re choosing trees at the nursery, look at leaf color. Leaves are present for most or all of the year, whereas flowers and fruit are transitory. Plan color for each season. Think about fall foliage color and colorful stems, bark, or berries for winter. Use colors that harmonize with your house and its surroundings. Keep your palette simple, or the effect may be confusing.

Designing for Texture
The distinctive textures of leaves, stems, buds and bark will add variety and contrast to your landscape. Textures can range from fine and airy to coarse and dense. Some design tips:
Don’t alternate abruptly between coarse and fine. Shift gradually to maintain continuity.
Think about how plant textures will combine with the textures of building materials, decking, and paving.
Keep in mind that deciduous plants change in texture as their leaves come and go.
Remember that the farther a plant is from you, the finer its texture appears.

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