Decorative Dendrology: Selecting Trees and Shrubs for Landscape Design

Designing beautiful, sustainable landscapes starts with understanding the woody plants that form their backbone. This text-based course guides you through the core principles of decorative dendrology, helping you decode how trees and shrubs grow, adapt, and transform throughout the seasons. You will transition from guessing which plants to use to confidently selecting species based on their life cycles, environmental needs, and aesthetic features. You will learn to evaluate how woody plants interact with their climate and soil, ensuring your landscape designs remain vibrant and resilient year-round. What you'll learn: - Understand the foundational terminology of dendrology, plant anatomy, and classification systems. - Analyze the life cycles and seasonal changes of decorative trees and shrubs to plan year-round visual interest. - Evaluate environmental factors like soil, light, and climate resilience to ensure long-term plant health. - Identify key aesthetic qualities of woody plants, including bark texture, canopy shape, and foliage color. - Apply modern principles of ecological sustainability, including the selection of native versus non-invasive species. - Practice planning plant combinations through written scenarios and design exercises. The course begins with essential botanical definitions and the biology of woody plants before moving into practical selection strategies, seasonal cycles, and modern ecological landscape practices. This course is designed for beginner gardeners, aspiring landscape designers, and plant enthusiasts, with no prior botanical training required. Start reading today to build a strong foundation in the science and art of decorative dendrology.