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Landscape Design

© Chris Arnold

Maybe its because of where I live, but it sure seems like a lot of folks are moving into new homes. I am of course happy for them, but they are moving into some desolate landscapes. This then brings up the question of what to do with a blank canvas for a yard.

There are several questions that must be answered before you can begin. The first is how much maintenance do you want to regularly invest in your yard. This will pretty much dictate what you do from here. If you're not interested in much work, then I would recommend a minimal amount of lawn, and you must be careful with your planter beds. The second question is what do you plan on doing with your yard. Are your children going to be playing there often? Will you be entertaining guests? Is there a view you wish to preserve? Are looking to some tasteful privacy? These will also dictate what you actually do with your design.

The next step is to draw out your entire lot. You will need some help with this. The best way is to take you measurements first. Measure all the distances. Your house, fences, driveways, vents, views, existing plants, and any other structures. Figure out exactly how far eveything is from everything else. With this knowledge, lay it out on a piece of graph paper and try to get it to scale. Note the layout of the home and yard as far as north and south. Depending on what you are trying to do, begin to lay out some ideas for your lawn, bushes, trees and planter boxes. Since this is just paper, try playing around with different ideas. Instead of a fence, consider a planter box with a lattice secured in the middle with a vine plant.

Keep in mind where your windows are located and any view that you want to keep. Make sure that is located on your drawing. Make a note of shading and sunny areas. This will dictate which types of plants will work in those areas. As you begin to settle in on a design, make sure you are aware of any trees that are not evergreen. These trees are going to look vastly different in the winter. Keep that in mind. This can be a good thing since you can plant these trees in such a way that they give you shade in the Spring, Summer, and Fall, but allow sun through in the Winter when you are happy for the warmth.