Balance and Proportion in Designing a Garden

When we look at an object or group of objects, our eyes and brain work together to analyse the different components.  This can be a tree, shrub, wall or house.  Without being aware, we automatically size up the height and width of each object.  We make comparisons between each structure.  Balance is critical to successful designs and brings a feeling of equality to your garden.  There are two types of balance when it comes to garden design, symmetrical and asymmetrical.  Symmetrical designs portray equal visual weight or mass on both sides of a central axis and are commonly used in formal gardens, creating a sense of stability and order.  Formal balance does not always suit a garden design however, so asymmetrical designs may be more flattering.  Asymmetrical balance is achieved by arranging features so that size, texture and colours are equally weighted but are not identically arranged and aims to look more natural.  An example is balancing a large tree on one side with three smaller plants on the other.  Attaining an asymmetrical balance can be harder to achieve than a symmetrical design.  You can balance a small area of strong colour against a larger area of light colour or an element in the foreground can be used to visually balance something that is further away.  It is important to consider the foliage of your plant specimens as one may be denser than the others even if they are the same height, resulting in an unbalanced design.  Balance in the garden is achieved when the space is harmonious.  For many years garden design has been based on following certain rules.  One of these rules is using a mathematical ratio of 1:1.6 to create a sense of harmony and scale.  This is also known as the ‘golden ratio’ and is closely related to the ‘rule of thirds’ commonly found in nature.  The placement of different elements in a design must be considered in relation to each other as this helps to establish harmony by directing the eye towards different focal points.  Proportion is the scale of different elements in relation to the overall garden.  When choosing plants and other features to be included in the design, their scale within the garden area should be carefully considered.  Small plants next to large houses or large trees planted over small features will look unbalanced.  To avoid this, you need to ensure that all elements are kept in proportion to the house and garden after installation.  Including objects of different sizes in a design helps to entice a visitor to look around the garden, however, it is important to ensure that the sizes do not vary too greatly as this can cause an unsettled feeling, for example, a small garden bed at the end of a large lawn area, or a small patio connected to a large house.