By Vic LeBlanc

A professor of landscape architecture at Purdue University for over 25 years, Greg Pierceall actively practices what he preaches.

Between attending to projects in Florida and Minnesota as well as Indiana, Illinois, Arizona and Michigan and making frequent appearances at conferences and workshops across the country, the man is undoubtedly racking up enough a fistful of frequent flier miles. LandscapeNetwork.com first met Greg at the 2004 Green Industry Conference in Charlotte, NC, where he presented two seminars on landscape design.

The 2003 recipient of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) International Award of distinction, Pierceall has authored several textbooks on landscape-related topics, his latest design book, "An Illustrated Guide to Landscape Design Construction and Management" is well-organized, full of pictures and plans, and an easy read besides, he says. An earlier self-published text called "Interiorscape" is slated to be republished sometime in 2005 as "Interior Foliage and Floral Design."

An industry leader and scholar, Greg is also a gifted artist and (luckily for his clients and students) communicator. He graciously agreed to share his unique perspective on the elements of good landscape design and current trends.

'Good bones' beat blue gravel

He laughs, "Twenty years ago we were working with seven (most commonly used) perennials and were taught to never to put color in the front yard. Public and private spaces were two separate things.

"The '60s and '70s were into painted pea gravel in adventurous blue, green and purple rock and landscaping was static, not kinetic. Clients didn’t have a lot of involvement and people bought what they were told they needed."

Today, he emphasizes, "The much more informed consumer has books and the Internet. The whole information trend began in '70s, and, in fact, my book, Residential Landscapes, was among the first."

"Neighboring" Chicago and environs, one of his main client markets, is also one of the country's largest design build markets, he says, and over time he notices that homeowners keep going back to favoring the crisp cleanness of traditional design.

"A lot of gardens there have what we call 'good' basic design structure," Greg notes.
"Make sure it has 'good bones' and structure and, like the 'little black dress' my daughters talk about, it will have that simple elegance that can be dressed up or down with potted plants or accessories with changing seasons or whims. It's not static but it’s solid and a foundation for those who buy once, versus those who are more consumptive and like to be trendy and things out then they get tired of them."

For another Indiana-based client, Greg created an Asian-influenced backyard oasis using a student-designed pergola that frames the woods beyond in an extended view. The minimalist garden, comprised mostly of pea gravel, contains a small square bubbling fountain that operates via a remote control, and a stylish sitting area of antique garden furniture colored by chartreuse pillows, floral accents of Impatiens and potted Sanservia (also known as Mother-in-law's Tongue), and a bowl of bright green Hedge apples. Photo by Greg Pierceall.

It's all about the client

Unlike landscape designers who lead with the desire of making a personal artistic statement, Greg prefers to focus on giving the client what they need.

"It's about the client...although some art is just to make a statement and some is functional, landscape has to be both," adding that successful landscapes should work with and reflect the factors of change within their climate.

"I work in Florida and Minnesota, two extremes, and I've found that in Florida, seasonal changes are far more subtle and it's the moisture regime that creates opportunities to incorporate plants that reflect seasonal diversity, not the sunlight, as it is in Minnesota."

He says he finds that if a client works in a regimented and organized professional environment they will either want their landscape design to be the same or they will crave something completely different as an "escape."

"One rule I try to use is the '80-20' rule; spend 80 percent (of design focus efforts) on solutions and only 20 percent on the problems," Greg states.

"The client is most judgmental and needs to be given ideas to sort and then judge later. Design is an exploration of ranges and opportunities, and through the design process, designers can help guide. Then, of course, it comes down to need to make choices."

Since it is difficult for most clients to express what they want in words, visual communication is extremely important. Greg encourages his clients to determine the qualities and characters they prefer by leafing through books and other publications for images that appeal to them.

"The designer can only be as good as the communication and dialog he or she gets from the client. Design is like geometry and there are basic rules. You need a starting point and destination to design…decide where you want to be, define it and then pull back to figure the 'steps to achieves.'

Greg finds is best to let his clients interests guide their collaborative efforts to determine design forms for the five basic landscape design elements to be considered: land form, pavements, constructive features, plant materials and water elements.

Friends of Greg's at family-owned Mariani Landscaping designed this "charming but not prissy" cottage garden for a Chicago-area back garden that looks back upon a native prairie area. Beer lovers might be particularly interested to note that the vines growing around the rustic, trellised garden gate are hops. Photo by Greg Pierceall.

A little 'Landscape Design 101'

With regard to good design and traditional styles that have evolved, it makes sense to understand the basic similarities and differences. Classical Italian and French design styles, which traditionally used many of the same materials and components, are characterized by how these elements are organized; Italian hillsides called for vertical plantings while leveler French landscapes begged for broad and expansive plantings.

In the mid-20th century, homes began to embrace their surrounding landscape as opposed to existing in it. Now, landscaping integrates indoor and outdoor living spaces, creating more "room to move" and ways to enjoy the nature that is immediately around us.

These days, Greg says, "Trend-wise, there's so much information and options out there it's hard to choose what's right. Finding multiple destinations -- the second, third and fourth 'right answer' gives a range of viable alternatives that work."

As for current trends, he says, "I see eclecticism; everyone's trying everything." In a way, he points out we are harkening back to the economically comparable Victorian times, when people were spending because they could and wanting to highlight their individualism. Now, as back in those times, landscape designs are reflecting a wide array of preferences and a tendency to eschew the rules.

"In growth eras this is common...it's 'open for grabs' time," he laughs.

You’ve got to have a plan

Although many clients may not choose to develop their entire site at once, he strongly advocates adopting a comprehensive master landscape design plan created to help them fully optimize, personalize and harmonize their surroundings, achieving their goals in increments, if need be, through careful and integrated development.

Greg devotes significant time and attention getting to know his clients' needs, desires, interests and how they plan to use the space they want him to create. Major considerations include determining whether a client wants gardens to tend or in which to relax or socialize – or just to admire and enjoy looking out upon from indoors? What are the client's most and least favorite plants, and perhaps even more importantly, what is the budget?

As an educator, he has literally taught landscape designers how to work with their clients and believes that, along with making a careful site inventory and analysis of conditions and optimum locations for various uses, the base design program should essentially include a "family inventory" of those who will be using the outdoor living space to be created since their ages, outdoor hobbies and other needs should help dictate the features.

In the same garden, an Italian terra cotta pot provides an elegantly earthy focal point around which ornamental cabbages eggplant and other kitchen garden vegetables and herbs are planted. Photo by Greg Pierceall.

Johnny wants a backyard spa

For example, families with teenagers have no need for play sets but might really enjoy a pool with a hot tub and/or grassy and paved areas for outdoor games. Households with aging parents in occasional or full-time residence require that the footpaths and other hardscape surfaces be easy to navigate and well-lit.

Gardeners and families with young children may want to have hobby or specialty gardens or planter boxes to grow vegetables, flowers or kitchen herbs. Perhaps there should be space for a compost pile, cold frames or a greenhouse.

Entertaining areas can be designed in size and feel to range from cozy and intimate, the perfect size for a few good friends, to a formal setting large enough for regular party hosts to hold a larger-scale special event.

The family inventory will also indicate options for such considerations as seating, need for shaded (and sunning) and outdoor cooking areas, privacy fencing or screening, lighting, planting materials along with hardscape surface materials and features such as terraces, patios, decks, and gazebos, as well as various components for public and service areas.

Get what you want and what you need

The right answers, Greg says, come from defining what you need and then accomplishing it. "It's about making choices about your life style and cycle and having the design serves that function. There has to be definite application and use to benefit the people who are there."

As he points out, as people age their needs will change; the soon-to-be-driving 16 year-olds won't need a playground anymore but the need to park more cars on site will have to be addressed.
"You don't buy a landscape off a shelf; it has to mature, and that might take five to 20 years to develop if you are going to live there for 20 years."

Greg Pierceall can be reached via email at pierceall@purdue.edu, via his university office phone at (765) 494-1309, and by U.S. mail at Purdue University/HLA 625 Agriculture Mall Dr. W. Lafayette, IN 47907-2010.