Design a landscape that will work for you

By Laura Firszt, Networx

Spring is coming! It's time to plan your landscape! Have you recently bought a new house? Or is this the year you've resolved to finally do something about your home's drab outdoor style? The decision to design and installlandscaping with a professional flair is a major rite of passage. It means investing in your living space and showing off your personal style to the world. Here are some essential landscape planning concepts to get you started.

Technical Specs

Start with an accurate rendering of the dimensions and shape of your lot, based on information from your home's original builder or your local government archives. Where is your house placed on this lot? Which directions does it face? What are the outstanding physical characteristics of your lot -- for example, slope, views, strong winds? How is your soil? You may want to perform a soil analysis to help you decide which plantings are most suitable for your micro-conditions. Investigate any regional requirements or limitations such as zoning laws and lawn watering restrictions.

Functionality

Brainstorming time. Think about who will use your outdoor space and for what purpose(s). How will you improve the property's functions and its value to you?  Decide how to work with what you have been given. Will you keep it as is or make some amendments? For example, you may be charmed by the natural shadiness of a garden corner, especially if you live in a warm climate. However, if your whole garden is dim, you might want to cut back some of the growth to let the sun shine in.

Care

How much care are you prepared to lavish on your landscaping in terms of time, labor, and financial expense? The amount and level of difficulty of maintenance should be realistic and readily achievable, not just for you as a gardening fan, but also for possible future owners or caretakers. This will guide you in choosing the right plants and layout. Make sure that all areas of the property are accessible to any equipment necessary for their maintenance.

Sustainability

Today's garden must be green in more than just color. Consider water-sparing, sustainable landscape design such as xeriscaping. This might be a good time to set up a greywater system for environmentally friendly watering. Incorporate the idea of soil conservation as well. Design and install your landscape installation not only to prevent soil loss through runoff, but also to actively safeguard and nourish the earth through measures like composting and the avoidance of toxic pesticides.

Safety and Access

Build increased accessibility and safety into your landscape design. Carefully placed walkways and attractive exterior lighting systems will welcome exploration of your garden and increase visitability, while they minimize tripping (and liability) hazards. Take into account other safety issues such as pest control, fire prevention, and home security at the same time.

Beauty

Several principles combine to create a beautiful landscape. Garden elements should harmonize in both style and proportion with each other, with the era and design of your home, and with the character of the neighborhood as a whole. The overall landscape should be simple yet varied, not cookie-cutter symmetrical but harmonious. And it should include plenty of the colors, shapes, andscents which you enjoy.

Individuality

Beyond the classic principles of beauty, there is your own individual taste and those of your partner and other family members. Sometimes, you will choose to incorporate a feature -- perhaps a planting or a bench -- into your landscape that theoretically won't work. It may be way out of proportion or totally dissimilar to the landscape's style as a whole. However, this dissonant element may be the quirkily personal finishing touch that makes your landscape complete.