Just as home construction projects utilize highly detailed blueprints, landscaping projects require comprehensive plans in order to be completed as effectively as possible. There are numerous factors to consider when planning a landscape design—from hardscaping and budget restrictions to plant location, size and variety—so to achieve the best results, it’s important to work with a trained and knowledgeable landscape designer.
“A detailed design is essential for keeping a landscaping project on schedule and within budget,” says Mervyn Salt, owner of Mervyn Salt Landscapes in Saratoga. “Reputable contractors don’t work without solid designs. A lot of people say they don’t want anything fancy, but without a plan, the workers have nothing to follow, which means the foreman has to be present and costs increase. It’s very risky for someone to undertake a landscaping project without a plan.”
The first step to creating a landscaping plan is preparing a scaled base plan of your property. A base plan indicates the position and dimensions of your house/lot and the location of utilities, existing garden plants, property lines, buildings, driveways, walks, easements, topographic features and ground characteristics. If you’re developing a landscaping plan for the first time and are intimidated by drawing a base plan to scale, you can obtain a scaled base plan from your builder, developer or local government property records.
When it comes time to start adding features to your landscape design, consider the following tips:
• Skyline or background trees can be used not only as settings or frames for your house, but also to add depth to the landscape. This is the reason taller trees are most often planted at the rear of a property and smaller ones are planted at the front.
• For ease of maintenance, plant lower growing shrubs under windows. The effect will appear more natural if the shrubs reach their ultimate height naturally, with very little or no pruning.
• Use taller shrubs between windows. When you’re selecting shrubs, remember that plants of similar leaf textures group together well.
• Don’t leave too much foundation exposed—the house will appear barren. Conversely, don’t overpower the house with too many shrubs.
• Plant foundation shrubs far enough apart so they can mature naturally. Use a large, sweeping curve when planning the shrub border.
• Make sure your plan provides a convenient service area that’s screened from general view by fencing, shrubs or vines. Also, plan to screen unsightly objects such as trash cans, clotheslines and power poles. Use hedges, fences or trellises that can be covered with vines.
• Keep in mind that some plants require more regular attention than others. If you’re inexperienced with plant care, start with a few easy-to-grow varieties, like sunflowers or borages.
• Large, comparatively expensive specimen plants give an immediate effect, but smaller, less expensive stock can be trained easier and, if necessary, may be moved easier. Beware of cut-rate, low-quality plants.
