• Balance & symmetry
• Directing attention & Feng Shui
• Similarity
• Contrast
• Progression and flow
• Repetition and rhythm
• Definition
• Grouping
• Framing
  • mulch or other understory
  • companion plants
  • borders on beds
  • lawn
• Composition (how it all hangs together)

Infrastructure

• Shape of buildings
• Countour of land
• Paths, stairs, walls, roofs
• trees & shrubbery
• Water: ponds, pools & fountains
• Supports: arbors, fences, trellises...
• Containers
• Maintenance access

Beds and borders

• purpose determines structure
• layout (may take research)
  • attraction (what do you want?)
  • suitability
  • compatibility
  • completeness
• niches
  • ground cover
  • foreground
  • middle
  • background
  • accent

Single Plants

• Architechtural elements in the design
• Specimen / accent plants

Furniture & statuary

Maintenance

• Deadheading, trimming and pruning
• Mulch and weeding
• Compost
• Fertilizer
• Chemicals
• Irrigation