Trees are a majestic and integral part of a landscape. To enhance the natural feel of the landscape and honor the trees, here are tips for landscaping with trees as focal points in Scarsdale, NY.
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Focal points are important in a landscape. In any landscape, you want the eye to be drawn to something interesting. Large, mature trees are naturals as focal points, but there’s an art to using focal points. You don’t want them to overwhelm the landscape; instead, you want them to draw the eye in a natural way to the beauty of the landscape.
1. Don’t overdo the focal points. The tendency is to want to highlight every interesting tree in the landscape because, in their own way, they are all interesting and beautiful. Choosing too many focal points only dilutes the intention of a focal point, which is to grab attention. A landscape becomes overwhelming if there are too many obvious focal points competing for your attention. Ideally, you want the eye to be hooked by one area of the landscape, and then once you’ve had your fill of that sight, you want the eye to wander easily to other areas. To make a tree stand out, choose just one and make it a main focal point; other trees can play a supporting role.
2. Work with lines of sight to draw the eye to something you want to emphasize, whether it’s an expansive view or something within the landscape. When you use a tree as a focal point, ideally, you want to make sure there is nothing else around it that will compete for attention; but you can create a focal point even in a wooded area of the yard. Once you choose a tree to be a focal point and it is surrounded by other trees and hardscapes, or if it is close to your home, you may need to highlight it so that it becomes the center of attention and not just part of the background.
A majestic oak that’s tucked away in a grove of trees won’t work as a focal point unless you draw the eye to it, for example, with a paver walkway or by clearing a line of sight to it and adding a few solar-powered lights to guide the eye. Lines of sight do not have to be perfectly straight. They can be curved and offer just a glimpse of what’s ahead. This is a wonderful way to encourage someone to enjoy the landscape on their way to the focal point.
3. Work with objects. A tree becomes an instant focal point if you place a bench, swing, or bistro table under it. Benches are visually appealing and invite you to sit under the tree, which then piques curiosity. You wonder why the bench is right there, and this curiosity beckons you to really look at the tree and admire it. Other minor focal points that enhance a tree’s presence in the yard include birdbaths, fountains, and bird feeders.
4. Work with light. Nighttime is the perfect opportunity to make certain trees focal points. They don’t have to be the same trees that take center stage during the day. In a stand of trees, for example, you can choose a tree that’s not especially prominent during the day and illuminate it so that it stands out at night.
The hardest part can sometimes be the decision. Which tree do you want to highlight, if there are several likely candidates? Let our landscape designers assist with this! We will create a visually stunning landscape that highlights the beauty of a few special trees. Give us a call today!
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