Introduction of trees in landscape design

Trees play important role in landscape area. In design stage, trees define spaces, making boundaries between parks, outdoor spaces or gardens. The canopies of trees framing views and providing shade. Different height of trees address the scale of building and spaces. Cluster palms and dense trees can screening purpose.

Trees create ambience and character of places. For example, fine leave or weeping form of trees create riverine ambience. Sculptural trees can be focus point and highlighting end of path or turning point of journey.

Trees fulfil environmental functions. The multi-layer of trees are proposed to be noise buffer zone and cleaning air. Trees enhance biodiversity as habitat of birds and insects.

Trees form linkages between one building and another. Avenue trees planting in town and city create network for streetscape views.

Below are some tree species which’s popular to be proposed in outdoor landscape area.

1.Ficus celebensis, Weeping fig. It prefer full sun and moderate water condition. It becomes yellowish at maturity. It growing to reach 25m height. The leaves are leathery, smooth and distichously arranged. We can find it in parks and gardens.

2.Terminalis mantaly ‘Tricolor’, Variegated Madagascar Almond. It’s small and medium tree in tiered form, maximum height 10-15m. It’s easy to grow, tolerant to dry soils. It can be planted roadside, riverine, container planters, under big canopies. It prefer full sun and moderate water condition.

3.Maniltoa browneoides, Handkerchief Tree, Pokok Sapu Tangan. It is small tree and maximum height 12m. Young leaves resemble soft white handkerchiefs, hanging vertically downwards from the branches. It prefers moist soils and easy to grow.

4.Dracontomelon dao, Sengkuang. It is big tree, can grow up to 30m. it’s round in form, large evergreen canopy tree. It tolerant of waterlogged soils, riverine and flooding area.

5.Filicium decipiens, Fern tree. It’s medium tree, reach height around 15-20m. The density of crown provides very good shade. It’s suitable to be planted at roadside to provide shading to walkway. Shade tolerant shrubs and groundcovers could be selected to plant under it.

6.Lagerstroemia speciosa, Rose of India. It’s small tree, rounded form, maximum height 7-15m. Bark used to treat diarrhoea and abdominal pain in Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Japan. It’s suitable to be planted in parks and grass land. Fairly free-blooming in Singapore.

7.Syzygium zeylanicum, Kelat Nasi Nasi. It’s small and medium tree, maximum height 5-15m. The white and fragrant flowers is attractive. It’s suitable for streetscape planting, parks and gardens. It prefer moist and well-drained soils.

Thank you for reading.