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| Equal plantings of hot colored tulips on either side of this pathway create a balanced composition. |
Balance or symmetry in the garden relates to the placement of plants or objects that carry visual weight. In a glance, our eye knows whether or not a garden design is balanced. If the left side of a garden border is filled with bold, hot colored plants and the right side contains mostly green plants, the left side will carry the most visual weight and our eye will rest there. Conversely, if the hot colored plants are positioned so they carry equal visual weight on both sides of the border, it will look balanced and our eye will view it as one unified space.
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| Similar mature clumps of ornamental grasses create a feeling of balance in this landscape. |
Balance in the garden can also be achieved through plant size by including equivalent plant groupings on each side of the garden. For example, if a large clump of ornamental grass is planted on the left side of the border, it will be necessary to plant a large shrub or its equivalent on the opposite side to achieve a balanced visual weight. The grass and shrub do not have to be planted directly across from one another but should be within the same line of sight. This is a common way to achieve balance in an informal garden. To create a balanced look in a formal garden, mirror the plantings (plant exactly the same thing) on both sides of the garden, entryway, or path.
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