Add Photo to Journal
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| Photo Credit: Lynn Means |
| It just takes a few simple tools to get your garden design down on paper. |
When it comes to landscape design, figuring out what you want is the turning point to all good things. If you don’t have a lot of time, a low-maintenance garden should suit you well. If you have an active family, a landscape that takes everyone’s needs into consideration (think play areas, gardening areas, grilling/dining area) is probably more your speed. If you just love to garden and constantly seek new challenges, you need space to let your imagination grow. Whatever your situation, getting your garden’s design down on paper will help you plan for its future.
Organizing the facts is as simple as making a drawing that shows your landscape’s current state of affairs and allows some plans for the future. Your sketch doesn’t need to be a Rembrandt – it’s just a tool to help you see your yard and garden clearly and communicate your ideas to interested parties. Remember, it’s easier to make mistakes on paper than in your garden! | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Lynn Means | | If it’s available, download an aerial shot of your property from your county’s Website – the property dimensions make starting this project a breeze. |
A good place to start is by drawing the exact location of all or part of your house and where it sits on your lot. Grab a tape measure and an assistant and plot a full overhead view of your yard by measuring one or two straight lines from the outside corners of your home to the front, side and back property boundaries. (If you’re only working on one specific area of your yard, just use the side of the house that relates to where you’ll be planting.)
Plot out permanent features on your paper like fences, trees and sidewalks so you can establish a frame of reference. Show any buildings, planting beds, patios and driveways. Include doors or windows that are relevant (so you know what you’ll be looking out at when you’re inside the house), and leave out the garden features you’re sure will be eliminated. Once you start drawing, ideas are sure to flow! | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Lynn Means | | Start by sketching out your property as it is, noting windows, doors, paths and the driveway, as well as any important dimensions. |
Now take your sketch and transfer the measurements to a sheet of graph paper using a scale that fits the size of the page. Using a ¼ inch to equal 1 foot or more is a good scale to start with. (Of course, you can use a landscape design software program, too – either way, you’ll develop an existing framework or basic plan.)
Once that’s done, it’s time to give your plan some direction and style! (Make several copies of your basic plan so you can add all kinds of different ideas without having to start from scratch each time.)
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| Tips |
- If you don’t have a plot map of your property already, get a copy from your builder, developer or county tax office. This can save you time when it comes to sketching out your lot dimensions and the location of your house on the property. Many local governments have their own Geographical Information System (GIS) Websites, too, where you can download aerial views or land surveys.
- Use a separate copy of your basic plan to show where you’d like to add outdoor lighting or a sprinkler system. An irrigation contractor or electrician can then use it to create a bid on professional installation or offer do-it-yourself design assistance. Remember to indicate “sleeves” for water lines or electrical conduits that need to go under paths, pavers and permanent features.
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| Resources |
- Looking for some plant ideas for your yard? Visit our Learn2Grow Plant Database. Even if you don’t know exactly what kind of plant you’re looking for, you can still search for ideas based on plant type, bloom time, flower color, sun exposure and/or size.
Read More... - We’d love to see how your landscape is evolving! Share your design with our Learn2Grow community and post before and after pictures of your landscape in our forums.
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