A Planting Diagram versus a Planting Design
It's wintertime and living is easy-and inside if you live in Tennessee. It has been cold! So this week I thought I'd talk about something inside-garden designs. Today I'll talk about the planting diagram specifically.
When I was in advanced landscape design class the instructor gave us an assignment to do a 'planting diagram'. To me all designs were planting diagrams so I drew up the design and added all the symbols just like normal. Imagine my surprise when a few (only the professionals knew the difference between a planting design and planting diagram) of the students in the class turned in designs that had no symbols but only circles for plants? The amount of time it took to draw circles versus symbols is considerably less. I learned from that point on to draw only circles when a planting diagram was requested. To illustrate the differences between a planting diagram look at the planting diagram below. It is simple and easy to read. Now look to the next picture; which is a big picture of the same garden in the context of its surroundings; and you can notice the total differences between the two.
Generally, a planting diagram is used by the landscaper to install the plants. The landscaper doesn't usually need an artfully drawn design in order to plant the specified plants so it makes sense to draw the design for the client and a separate diagram for the client's landscaper. This is what I did in the case of this client (name and address blocked out for privacy reasons but she fully approves of my posting the designs-thanks Barbara!)
Barbara wanted a native wildflower garden on the southern edge of her driveway where runoff from the driveway tends to take away some of the soil. The area is under a large maple and white pine though some sun does reach the garden from the southwestern side. Because the majority of the plants were wildflowers in mass, if you'll look at the design above you'll see the 'balloons' so many landscape designers recommend. I did not draw each plant but instead used dots to represent the plants when massed. The shrubs are drawn out though and are toward the back of the design (top as you are looking at the photo) Each group of massed perennials was colored a different color and a heavy line was drawn around the groupings. (Note: due to the larger sized drawings the copy machine I used to duplicate the design did not have color capability or I would post the color one). On the planting diagram (first picture) the individual plants in groupings can be identified by a line drawn from the center of each plant to the next. All plants are identified by a two letter code that can be deciphered when you look at the planting schedule (list). I will talk about this particular plant schedule in Friday's posting and will post a larger picture of it so you can actually read it. You may wish to refer back to this post when Friday's posting comes out, but for now I hope you can see the big differences between a planting diagram and a planting design....
in the garden....
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,
In the Garden
I do not feel there is any need for diagrams of any kind.
ReplyDeleteIt is just a way of complicating life unnecessarily, who understand them? Except the one making it to charge the ignorant a bundle.
With one hundred identified species,
a garden in an urban context and certificate from the New York Botanical Garden, I beg to disagree with the need of such useless tool.
Antigonum, Thanks for your input on the diagram. It's great you can design without a diagram or design but many people who love and want gardens don't have certificates and training so a diagram is a great tool to ensure the garden is planted properly. For myself I wouldn't use a diagram either but do like to have a design to help keep me on the right track. It just makes it simpler for this garden designer:)
ReplyDeleteI wish I was talented enough to put together one of these diagrams. Most of my garden I kind of designed in my mind. But I have done crude drawings for new beds just to get an idea. This was a interesting post, thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Tina, I don't know how you could have people install plants for you without a detailed diagram to communicate the plan. As a home gardener doing my own planting, I certainly don't need that level of detail, but a basic plan helps so much, even if it does get tweaked along the way...
ReplyDeletethx for the lesson..as a budding designer I do think it is helpful to do a diagram for some...I design gardens but do not install so a landscaper or the homeowner would benefit from a diagram of some kind...this was very informative and helpful!!
ReplyDeleteI really like the design, seems as if I can vision the elevation or sloping to it, although in the diagram, it's cool how the mass plantings are held together.
ReplyDeleteOur system estimating is quick sketching too, window sizes, brick or motar, etc and then the formal one arrives! Helps everyone to a point especially the consumer.
Racquel, With a few simple tools like a circle template the diagrams are most easy. Crude drawings work too! We all have to find our own way to design beds.
ReplyDeleteCyndy, the diagram really is a lifesaver and easier to read than the design. Otherwise you never know what the landscaper will put in or where. Tweaking is good for us gardeners-for me it is like the only way in my garden, though maybe not the best way.
Donna, Hello! I tried to check your blog do you have one? Do you do diagrams as a designer? I never knew of them before class of course and can't find info on my landscape design book so was just wondering. They are just so much neater and simple-much less time to draw too.
Dawn, I can imagine installing heating and cooling systems would need diagrams to be precise. Just like building a house. I was just thinking about my house on this frigid day that I surely would've put vents in different spots and am wondering if the installer here had a diagram.
I'd never stopped to think about the reason for the difference. I just thought it was a personal preference. I've made diagrams. It's important to put those circles together to see how much space a shrub or tree needs.
ReplyDeleteGSS, I love the diagrams for seeing the size a plant gets! That is a real bonus for me. I have this terrible problem though-I overplant and layer and layer. I am really trying to figure out how to show underplantings under trees. Not an easy thing but the circles make it easier to see for sure. Spacing for gardeners is right up there as one of the biggest mistakes they make when planting. The other of course being underestimating the eventual size of the plant.
ReplyDeletetina I blog at gardenseyeview.com every Monday....no I did not know about diagrams either...I bought a great landscape design software to try and will let you know what I find...
ReplyDeleteDonna, Thanks so much! I love your silence post. We sure don't have enough of that in today's world. My biggest pet peeve is restaurants-they all sound like cafeterias now-or it might be the kind I go to. Hard to tell. I could not comment on your post-do you allow commenters. On a good note I found you on networked blogs so get your weekly posts there.
ReplyDeleteI have a landscape design program too called Landscape designer 3D. I should check it out for diagrams but I doubt it will have them as I did not see an option and it uses the symbols for designs. It is not the best and not user friendly even with a tutorial right there but it has its purposes. I've had it over three years and have only recently discovered some of its features. Let me know what you find out with yours but at least if you take a design class you'll know what to do instead of doing like me with the two-design vs diagram:) Stay warm in NY!
love comments...thx..just click on the title of the post and the comments are at the bottom of the post...this is Word Press so it is different....I will be using Pro Landscape...a bit pricey but we shall see...will let you know!!
ReplyDeleteIt is all over my head and when I read a post like this one, I have to wonder where all 4 of my daughters got ther brains!!!!! The big wonderment of it all is that it seems to just flow so easy (the brain power).
ReplyDeleteDonna, Found it finally-thanks! Those Wordpress blogs sometimes confuse me.
ReplyDeleteMom, You gave us all a love for learning with all those books and enrichment activities!
Hello everyone! I am back from Winter vacation and this cold air is killing me! I want my sunshine and warm waters back....... LOL...
ReplyDeleteTina, I don’t use drawings in my gardens. I get a picture in my head and go with it. I sometimes draw out something for the Saint when we are creating something together. I may have an idea in my head that he does not vision so then a drawing helps out.
I totally see where you need to draw out plans for Landscapers and Clients. This would be an asset in the business for sure. This way, things are planted were they are supposed to be planted and not just put into the ground on a whim…
With some of the things I have planted taking over other things, I should draw them out. That Bald Cypress Tree is taking over the Butterfly Island! A Scaled Drawing would have been the way to go with that one. Me thinks two large butterfly bushes will be getting moved next spring…
Thanks for giving an insider's perspective on how this is done -- I'm one of those "eyeball it" gardeners. Although I will admit that I'm currently separated from the land I'll be using next year to garden, so I drew a design to help stave off some of my garden fever! It's a great indoor activity, as you said. :)
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the difference between the two. I like using the design drawings. Boy the two look so different.
ReplyDeleteSkeeter, Welcome back young lady! So glad you had a super fun trip and can't wait to hear all about it.
ReplyDeleteEliza, Sometimes eyeballing it is the best way-it is certainly fast. I bet your design will surely keep you on track and is something you can refer to this cold winter. P.S. I wouldn't consider me an insider-just a budding designer who learns as she goes and then some. Maybe one day I'll be big.
Janet, Thanks! Glad you like to see the two and prefer the design. I tell you I think the designs are works of art-and I don't mean just mine-they are all so pretty and visual. This I like. They are different for sure.
I thought to give you a different perspective. As an architect, we don't use diagrams. The ones we call diagrams are much different and look at site conditions, water, drainage, wind, circulation, etc. We have schematic drawings which are rough drafts, so to speak, then design drawings which go to the client, then construction drawings used for the building and install. All are based on the previous. I use Vectorworks Landmark and the application builds on each phase of the design process.
ReplyDeleteAnd I very rarely post client work or design drawings. Schematics sometimes. There are ethical and legal issues associated with posting legal documents, which stamped drawings fall under. My blog is not about my professional work. Too much seriousness in the work, I like to have fun with the blog.
GWGT, Love those different perspectives indeed. Architects are quite different from landscape designers but might be more closely related to landscape architects (maybe that is what you are?) that also use site plans and so on. In our state they are regulated and have a lot more restrictions and governing on them than landscape designers-such as me. Architect I am not, simply a designer. The landscape architects I know do use computer software and take into account all the things you mention; but I draw all my designs by hand and while I take into account winds, drainage, sun and terrain conditions the landscaper does not necessarily need this to plant a garden. This diagram is for the landscaper to plant the plan for my client. My clients love me posting their designs! And I'm having fun putting my work on my blog because it is a big deal to me and I so love drawing and designing-garden related things. And the best part of my work is it is gardening-the blog is an extension of my love of gardening and all things gardening so naturally I would post my work. I'm very proud of it and if it helps some gardener or designer out there to design gardens (their own or others) then that is great! I totally understand if you don't wish to do so due to your legal responsibilities.
ReplyDeleteDonna, this is very interesting. We have used landscape architects in the past and received a planting diagram. He then arranged with us, what we could do, what he would bring in a crew to do and a staging plan. I was quite impressed. He was very much worth the money.
ReplyDeleteThank you for giving me a peak into your professional world.
Hi Tina. Goodness, that certainly stimulated some discussion! It makes perfect sense to me that client and contractor require different things. I am looking forward to reading about the plant schedule, I alway slearn something from seeing professional's planting designs. I always sketch out planting plans when I am starting a new area. I haven't had to do this for ages, but am planning to use it to work out what to do with my pond border. An actual planting diagram would be a bit of a waste of time because I invariably end up changing my mind when I come to actually plant up, but I do make the rest of the household laugh by laying everything out, staring at it for ages, and then tweaking a few things before more staring...
ReplyDeleteI love that design drawing. It's more art work than just nuts and bolts of a garden. I'm so glad that you're doing well in your business, Tina. This book that I just finished reading has a landscaper as the main character, but the author didn't spend enough time making it all believable. A few descriptions or actual drawings of designs would have helped. You just get the impression that the landscaper is tired and kinda dirty at the end of the day and that she wings it with her planting design.
ReplyDeletelifeshighway, It's great to hear about your experiences with planting diagrams and wonderful you were impressed by your landscape architect!
ReplyDeleteJanet, Lots of discussion indeed. Everyone brings something different to the table. Good thing it is my blog and I post my experiences-this posting is what I bring. Comments are always welcomed because I learn too.
If I could I would lay out all the plants prior to planting too! It's just not feasible for clients but for myself it works fabulously. I can imagine your family wondering what the heck you can be thinking but I'm right there with you. It takes lots of contemplation to come up with a good design!
W2W, Thanks! I consider the designs art. My designs are not stamped, certified, or approved-simply signed by me. The big difference between landscape architects and designers-designers don't deal with structures, hardscape, or buildings and parking area, etc. Prior to taking the college classes to learn how to design, the nuts and bolts, I had never thought I could draw like that. I've read my textbook cover to cover a few times-even prior to taking the class. My first client needed her design before the class. That was fun. It was the first design I posted and people come to the blog for it all the time. The book I used has a lot of designs and symbols. I'll be posting the reference Friday with my planting list information. I should've posted it today but honestly, it doesn't talk about planting diagrams! That's why I wanted to post this because it used amongst designers.
Everyone have a great day! Very cold here still but getting ready for Christmas!
I wish my crude drawings for my new garden beds were as detailed as these, Tina! I understand the difference between the two, but if I were the client, I would really appreciate the second type--it really shows what the new area will look like once planted. Looking forward to seeing your plant list on Friday's post!
ReplyDeleteI learned how to do this when I took the master gardener course. I can't draw and I found it a pain to do. Besides I have a great imagination and it is no trouble for me to visualize what the finished garden will look like. I don't plan on making money with my design skills. :)
ReplyDeleteI wanted to stop back and thank you for your long reply. When I first started, I did all the presentation work by hand. In the essence of time, I had to employ the CAD programs. I do Photoshop images now rather than hand renderings for the quick and pretty as a photo submission. I find them useful for jobs I bid on in landscape design. The CAD does all the building drawings.
ReplyDeleteHand renderings are fun and I miss doing them. I am glad you are having a great time. Your drawings are quite good. Also, I liked the frozen broccoli post.
Interesting. I haven't seriously drawn up either (but should) so I hadn't thought about the difference. I am not surprised you knew ~ you seem very thorough in every endeavor.
ReplyDeleteI can see where having either would be helpful tho. Like you said, it's a great project for the winter months too and you all have really been getting winter!