Design Considerations

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Phone: (408) 858-3742
Fax: (408) 890-4824
Email: info@cereuscorporation.com

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Cereus Corporation

Here are a few of the considerations we address in our designs:

Connection With The House:
Landscaping can alter and improve the overall "flow" or feng shui of the house as it relates to the garden, to the street/sidewalk, and to its surroundings. Certain features can be enjoyed from inside the house, like a fountain that you see and hear from the kitchen, or a fragrant Daphne you can smell from your bedroom window. Each important window in your house may be the picture frame for a beautiful outdoor view. Most homes have a "heart" that is the place where most people often gather--usually a table next to the kitchen. It's great when a patio or deck can be placed right next to the heart of the house.

Drainage/Grading/Erosion Control:
Water enters the landscape as rain, but then where does it go? Large amounts of water from the roof must be diverted away from the foundation of the house, possibly into rainwater sequestration systems (that store water for later use) or into drainage swales (that hold rainwater until it percolates into the earth). Pathways, driveways, and patios should have a "positive slope" that keeps runoff from pooling. When the ground is fully saturated and a heavy rainfall occurs, then there is an "overflow" condition that must allow water to reach municipal storm drains. This is particularly important in landscapes with a significant grade change because unregulated overflow can quickly become a small stream that cuts right across the landscape. Slopes should be protected with strong-rooted plants to stabilize the soil, or by terracing the earth to slow down and distribute the flow of runoff. Silt barriers, erosion control netting, and straw wattles are temporary measures used to control erosion during construction.

Style/Curb Appeal/Aesthetics:
The overall style of the landscaping is a reflection of the personalities of the home owners--it's not so much that you choose a style, it's more that a certain style fits who you are. Your landscaping can accentuate or downplay certain architectural features of your house to alter its overall style. The front yard is part of the public "face" of your house that people see from the street. A clear entry pathway from the sidewalk to the front door makes a house seem welcoming to visitors.

Solar Orientation/Sun Path:
How does your home relate to the seasonal variation in the path of the sun? What can be done to mitigate the effects of too much sun?

Pest Management:
Discourage pests by planting a diverse range of species; "monocrops" encourage successful pests to rapidly spread and multiply. A principle of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) is to use the least environmentally harmful means of pest control first, like hand-picking off aphids or spraying them off with a hose. One such approach is to encourage beneficial organisms, like ladybugs that eat aphids, to take up residence in your landscape by providing these "beneficials" with the sorts of food and habitats that they like. Mechanical means of control, like gopher wire and deer fences, are a great chemical-free way of reliably controlling certain pests.

Security/Privacy/Screening:
There are many ways of transitioning from public spaces (the sidewalk) to private spaces (the inside of your house). A gradual transition may include spaces like a front entry court or porch (semi-private) or a nook off the main sidewalk before the front gate (semi-public). A very open front yard may make you feel like you are under inspection from people on the sidewalk, whereas a semi-permeable screen of plants, like a row of 4 foot tall roses, makes pedestrians feel like they would be intruding to stare too long at what's behind the screen. Taller, denser screening may be used to block unwelcome street noise or unsightly views. Sturdy fences physically secure certain areas of the landscape.

Color:
A "palette" of planting and hardscape materials is a set of samples group together to show the harmony or contrast between each element. Hardscape materials are often chosen to compliment the color and materials of the house. A group of plant pictures can show how the colors of the plant palette change through the seasons.

Ergonomics/Human Scale:
Houses and landscapes are often designed with a "one size fits most" approach that unfortunately does not work for everybody. Older folks often appreciate having a generous landing out the back door with several steps that are 4 inches tall, rather than a single step landing that is 7 inches below the door with another 7 inch drop to the ground. Major pathways should be sized properly for one person (3-4 feet wide) or for two people walking abreast (6-7 feet wide). A patio is the right size when it comfortably fits a table and chairs with plenty of room for circulation all around.

Low Water Use Landscaping:
Hydrozoning is the practice of grouping together plants of similar watering requirements and watering them separately. A sophisticated irrigation system uses less water by tailoring the watering schedule to meet the requirements of each individual hydrozone. WUCOLS (Water Use Calculations of Landscape Species) is a list of common landscape plants that shows how they compare to the regular turf grass in terms of water use (in inches of water per day per square foot of planted area). WUCOLS is part of the overall landscape water usage calculation required by the new California Water Ordinance for new construction.

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