Landscaping

Landscaping can be defined as a branch of art that deals with the representation of natural scenery or to adorn or improve an area of ground by contouring the ground and planting flowers, shrubs and trees.http://www.thefreedictionary.com/landscape Landscaping is considered a profession and many people landscape as a career. A person who landscapes is called a landscaper.http://www.yourdictionary.com/landscaper

Landscapers consider many factors when changing a piece of land. Two main areas are softscape and hardscape materials. Softscape materials are items such as mulch, plants, trees, shrubs and flowers. When considering living materials, landscapers must take in environmental factors such as light, moisture and soil. Shrubs are often considered for boundaries in and around the area of land being landscaped. Flower color and requirements are considered to fit the overall landscape.http://www.plantcare.com/gardening-guides/landscaping/landscape-materials-guide.aspx

Hardscape materials are, in general, non-living objects incorporated into the landscaping. These can be paving brick, stone, gravel, rocks, concrete and timber.http://www.alwerdtsgardens.com/page11.php Paving brick and stone is often used for walkways, patios, entrance-ways and pools. Gravel and rocks can be used to accent flowerbeds, trees and shrubs as well as along walkways. Timber is often seen in patios, stairs and fences.http://www.plantcare.com/gardening-guides/landscaping/landscape-materials-guide.aspx

Archaeologists have discovered landscaped Roman gardens designed with mosaics and water fountains. During the Renaissance, the Villa d”Este in Tivoli was landscaped. Landscaping continued during the 16th and 17th centuries. During the 18th century in England, vast park-lands were created and remodeled by such men as William Kent and Humphrey Repton. In 1928, Gilbert Laing Meason wrote the book, The Landscape Architecture of the Great Painters of Italy. The book used the term “landscape” and while the author meant it to be used for paintings, the word was soon used for changing an area of land.http://www.landscapersregister.com/History_of_Landscaping.php