At its best, a landscape’s focal points direct you visually and engage you in the full garden experience. Most people typically think of using a specimen tree or statue as a focal point, but there are many other possibilities. The key is finding something that’s different from the rest of your landscape in form, texture or color. To create the most interesting focal points for your landscape, consider the following tips:
Curved paths and beds. In garden design, curved paths and beds are created by using circles, arcs or circle segments. Our minds naturally recognize these shapes as being part of a full circle, whether they’re complete or not. Therefore, the deepest point of an inside curve (which is the relevant center of its surroundings) is a natural place for focal points.
Plants. Adding tall plants to a group of smaller plants can create a natural-looking focal point in flower beds. For a more interesting look, place taller plants in the center of the group rather than toward the back of the bed. Also, remember that any dramatic color change in plants will attract attention. White plants will always be eye-catching, because white is a natural focal.
Garden statues and décor. One of the simplest and most popular ways of adding a focal point to a garden is using statues, ornaments, birdbaths, birdfeeders and other items of décor. Make sure these features are the centerpiece of your design and don’t look like they were thrown in as an afterthought. Try and fit them with the theme of each particular part of the garden.
Borrowed scenery. Having a backdrop of a distant mountain range, skyline, river, meadow or desert is a perfect opportunity to create an outstanding focal point and blend your landscape with its natural surroundings. If you’re lucky enough to have a great view, use it, frame it and build your landscape around it. Don’t plant trees and large shrubs that will eventually grow and block the view.
Trees. Large, existing trees should be left in a landscape design whenever possible. Some trees and large shrubs just need a little bottom trimming to make great focal points. Placing flower beds around the base of these specimens both enhances their effect as natural focal points and creates the illusion that the “new” garden design isn’t new at all.
Other. Gazing globes, trellises, arbors, and large, decorative rocks can make great focal points, but always plan carefully so your design appears well calculated, not just a sequence of pieced together afterthoughts.
