This plan covers the entire lot. Remember, you can work on areas over time knowing they will all fit together in the end. View and print a larger version of this design.

It’s a gorgeous, sunny weekend. You’ve been chatting with your neighbor out on your flower-accented front porch while the kids ride their bikes up and down the sidewalk. When it’s time to eat, you walk along the side of the house, checking out a few new blooms along the way. In the back yard, the grill’s fired up, and your family enjoys a delicious meal out on the patio, amid the flowering trees and groundcovers. The kids run off to chase the dog around the lawn as you relax and watch from your patio chair. For dessert, you’ll have popsicles under your favorite shade tree. You’ve enjoyed nearly every inch of your garden today. For you, this is outdoor living.

It doesn’t matter how large or small your property or how expensive your grill and patio furniture. If you create an inviting outdoor living space that matches your personal tastes and interests, you’ll find yourself enjoying your garden in a whole new way than you ever did before. And when all elements of a landscape seem to come from the same personality, you’ve achieved unity in your garden – a key in successful design.

This beautiful design for an entire property site can be easily modified to meet your particular needs and tastes. The functional plants you choose to grow alongside your home, patio or property line – from flowering accent plants and groundcovers to hedges and trees – work together to create attractive outdoor rooms that encourage you and your guests to relax, play, read, or just stroll and admire. Screening or hedge planting along the back of your garden help block views of curious neighbors, while a colorful front yard is warm and inviting. And because the top three criteria that realtors and homebuyers look for in a landscape are curb appeal, outdoor living and privacy, a design plan like this can help boost your property valve!

As you pick your favorite plants that match the appropriate function and site requirements (shade-loving plants for your shady areas, etc.), you’ll see your vision, personality and landscape come to life! The results will be stunning – because you haven’t just created a garden, you’ve created an experience. And it’s one that will take your outdoor living to new heights.

Remember, when you shop for plants, pick the ones you like that match the functions identified on the plan!