Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in subsequent chapters of this book. The book aims to show both what planting designers have in common with other designers, and to explore what makes living plants a unique medium for design. It describes how to use plants in the planned, designed and managed landscapes of the twenty-first century. The book explores in depth the formal qualities of planting and considers the underlying relationship between these and the ecological and horticultural characteristics of vegetation. Planting design is a visual subject that relies heavily on drawings, diagrams and photographs to support and complement the text. The book explores the diversity of processes by which designers develop an idea or solve a design problem. It traces the design from project inception to its realization on the ground and shows how design principles can be applied through professional procedures.