Landscape Design Interview

Expert Susan Schlenger Gives Her Insights

Susan Schlenger, an expert in landscape design, has over 60,000 visitors to her site every month. This is a testimony to the fact that she is the best landscape designer on the internet. I can't believe how lucky I was to get an interview with her which I can present to all of you now.

Susan, I want to thank you, on behalf of my readers and myself, for taking the time to give me this interview. I've prepared 10 questions about backyard design, composed with the idea that my readers will benefit from your answers. Here we go.

1. What new trends (if any) do you see emerging in landscape design?

There are trends in different areas. Let's take hardscape. I am seeing much interest in travertine pavers, which is less expensive than many other natural stones out there. It is beautiful, resists freeze-thaw conditions, and is cool to the touch. This makes it an excellent choice for swimming pool paving, along with patios and walkways.

The desire for drought tolerant plants is also popular. People are interested in conserving water and saving time. People also want plants that are low maintenance. This is fairly easy to achieve in a design by choosing the right plants for the right location. For color, easy to care for perennials can be included.

2. How do you select which plants to use in your landscape design?

First I have to make sure a plant will grow in a particular area, so knowing the plant zone of the project is a must. I also determine if the planting area is sunny, shady or a combination of both. Plants typically prefer certain sun conditions.

I choose from evergreen or deciduous shrubs, depending on where they are being placed. I love to add perennials for color. Trees also are important. Whether they be large shade trees or ornamental trees, they add a sense of scale to a landscape design.

What do I mean by this? It means that if you have a large house, for example, height is needed for balance. If everything is low, it lacks interest.

I consider planting heights, textures and seasonal interest created by foliage and flower colors. If there is a deer problem, I work from a list of deer resistant plants.

Since I have been designing for over 12 years, I have seen both plants that are easy to grow and those that can be tempermental. I try to avoid the latter.

3. a) What's your favorite plant for shady spots - and why?

I would have to say Hydrangea. Although they are not much to look at in the winter, I just love the old fashioned look when they are in bloom. The flowers are showy, plentiful and last for quite along time.

b) What's your favorite plant for full sun - and why?

There are too many for me to answer this question! I'll give you a few at the top of my list. I love the Dogwood Tree. It has lovely flowers in the spring, pretty leaves and form, and great berries in the fall. It will do well in partial shade too.

Lilacs are another favorite, with their showy, fragrant flowers. I like the height of Lilacs also, as they seem to be easy to work with in a design. Sometimes you just need something a little on the tall side. I also like Roses.

I love to do that. If they are of the right size, they add that special something to a design. Sometimes they can be a focal point, while in other situations they can be tucked into a planting bed. These are often used when designing japanese gardens. If used properly in the front of the house, they can greatly add to curb appeal.

5. Can you offer a few landscape design suggestions that will help to increase curb appeal?

Balance your house with trees on either end to frame the house. If you don't have a lot of room, choose some of the narrower varieties such as Birch Trees or Crapemyrtles. Cryptomeria can be used for a tall evergreen and is less wide than many other evergreen trees.

You can also use a single tall shrub if your space is really tight. Use evergreen shrubs as the background in the foundation planting, but add lots of perennials in front of them for color. In this way there will still be some greenery in the winter when the perennials are finished.

6. Do you have any tips for homeowners designing their own backyard landscaping?

One suggestion I would have is to plant in groups of a minimum of three plants of a variety. Don't be afraid to use more...five, seven, or nine. Vary heights of different plant groups so that the planting design does not look uniform.

I'm a believer of having a landscape design. It's a good investment. Mistakes are avoided. If you are spending on landscaping, you might as well figure a design into the budget. It will be well worth it.

7. Is there a proportion of planting vs. lawn that people can use as a rule of thumb?

Not really. It all depends on the size of the property and what the homeowner is looking for. Some are happy with simple plantings, while others feel the more plants the merrier! I have even created designs where there is no lawn at all.

8. What has been your biggest challenge when designing a project, and how did you overcome it?

I recently had a client that wanted a front courtyard area with a large fountain in a formal, circular pond. These types of designs are usually seen on flat properties, but this particular area was on a slope.

What I did was design a custom pool. The pool walls sloped with the grade as they went around the circle, while the top of the pool, its coping, remained level. It turned out beautiful.

9. What is your favorite paving material, and why?

I like both bluestone and travertine pavers. Travertine pavers are wonderful, but they can at times have a more formal look to them. The colors and patterns within the stones are amazing.

Bluestone is more flexible. It's available in different color choices, but I like to use full range, which has mixes of blues and tans. Both materials can be dry laid to keep costs down and for better maintenance than if set in concrete. I just love natural stone.

10. For any young people interested in a career as a landscape designer, how would you recommend they go about getting the training they'll need?

I would suggest they go to school for Landscape Achitecture as I did. If you don't know about grading the land, you are at a disadvantage and really cannot design a complete project. You will be limited.

It's nice to learn about plants and design, but why not go the more professional route? That is what someone advised me when I started out. I wish I could get in touch with him to thank him. So in the meantime, I'll thank you for interviewing me!

If you need to contact me click here. But if you are intending any outdoor projects needing landscape design, I strongly recommend you first visit Susan's website at Landscape Design Advice. There is LOTS of useful information there.