Composing the Picture: Taking Stock

Question #5 may represent the most difficult part of the process, and it demands frankness. How much time and money can be allowed for the overall plan? Perhaps the best way to answer is to divide this large question into smaller parts on a chart, table or checklist. The focus is to compare money on hand against time available to implement the plan and put it into practice.

How much time and money do I have to budget:

+ During each season of the year;
+ During various times of each season;
+ During any particular week?

Tasks can be designated as:

+ Repetitive jobs such as lawn mowing, fertilizing, raking leaves or deadheading perennials and shrubs;
+ Hard physical jobs such as pruning trees and shrubs, edging beds and borders, or spreading mulch;
+ Dedicated tasks such as caring for a perennial border or annual flower bed;
+ Delicate tasks such as maintaining a rock garden or spring garden of native plants.

A common misconception is that once drawn up, master plans are easy to implement and maintain. So, finally, identify the jobs that must be done and who will do them. Ignoring this issue sabotages the best made plans, soon leads to difficult and down-at-the-heel surroundings, and tumbles homeowners into distress. For example, it is unrealistic for a wife to assume her husband will mow the lawn each week when he'd rather be fishing or playing golf. Then again, if a mother has three young children, she won't have time to properly maintain an elaborate perennial bed. For success and comfort, this question must be realistically addessed.

Some of the questions blur into each other, but they create a beginning for sorting out the many parts involved in creating a realistic and livable master plan, whether it's a simple or complex one.

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