Landscaping
Steps in the Landscape
Design Process
Basic Principles
• Isolate the elements
• Establish priorities
• Develop general solutions
• Bring the parts together
• Integrate
• The hard decisions
– What to keep
– Phasing the installation
Questions Before You Begin
• Do you need off-street parking?
• Is the entry clearly defined?
• Will you need outdoor lighting?
• Will the entry walk accommodate two persons?
• Do you want the entry more interesting?
• Do you want street side screening?
• Do you want shade trees on the southern side?
• Do you want a turf grass lawn?
• Can you walk or push a wheel barrow completely around the house?
• What’s the soil quality?
• Outdoor terracing (decks)?
Questions Continued
• Dining outdoors?
• Cooking outdoors?
• Privacy outdoors?
• Seating outdoors?
• Outdoor storage of furniture, etc.?
• Outdoor storage space for the service area?
• Screening the bad views?
• What about areas for young children?
• Garden space? (vegetable or flower)
• What about pets?
• Heavy construction in the future?
Six Basic Steps
• Develop a plot plan
• Conduct a site analysis
• Assess family needs
• Locate use areas
• Develop use areas
• Design, construct, and plant
Develop a Plot Plan
• Show boundaries and physical features
• Property lines and angles
• Placement of the house
• Location of driveway and other hardscape
• Utilities (overhead wires)
• Existing trees and shrubs
• Features on or near property lines
Conduct a Site Analysis
• Environmental features
– Sun and shade
– Wind
– Sights and sounds
– Soils
• Aesthetics
– Neighbors
– Major roads or streets
– Water, gas, electric meters
– Air conditioner
Assess Family Needs
• Access to the house
• Family activities
• Maintenance
• Service space
– Garbage container
– Clothesline
– Dog pen
– Firewood
Locate Use Areas
• Use the needs assessment
• Develop use areas
• Public
• Private
• Service
• The bubble chart
• Think outside the box
Develop Use Areas
• Public and entrance areas
– Front walk
– Foundation plantings
• Family activity areas
– Recreation
– Entertaining
• Utility or service areas
– Accessibility
– Screen those things that are unsightly
Design, Construct, and Plant
• There are no rules
• What do you want to see
• Personal requirements
• Group plantings
• Provide privacy
• Specimen plants
• Energy conservation
• Construction materials