You are considering a complete redesign of your backyard or front yard landscape or would like to make some upgrades and changes. You should take note of important factors that affect a good or bad landscape design. Do not wait till it's summer to plan your landscape design. It's good to plan now to avoid the summer rush . A lot of people start this process by heading straight to the garden center, buying plants and decor without any architectural planning first.
Beautiful plants, flowers, and shrubs in the garden center are very tempting to buy right away, especially for those who are taking on this project all by themselves with no professional help or general knowledge in landscaping. Most always end up with the wrong plants once the spring and summer temperatures set in.
These 5 steps will guide in creating a plan and set you on the path to designing a beautiful landscape heaven.
Soil & climate 1
You must consider the following when planning your landscape:
the regional climate
the topography of your backyard, front yard or the soil type
One other thing you need to know is that the specific conditions of your land will sometimes create a microclimate. This is usually based on the length, the amount and exposure of sun and the land receives.
What are the 4 Microclimates?
Microclimates are usually broken into one of four categories:
Dry soil/ Lots of sun/ Full sun - great for drought tolerant plants.
Moist soil/Lots of sun/ Partial shade - perfect for water garden
Dry soil/ Shade - ideal for cool weather plants that wilt in the sun.
Moist soil/ Deep shade - perfect for woodland garden
Carefully consider your landscape's microclimate when selecting plants. The topography of your land is important to take note of and how water drains through it. he goal of a good healthy landscape design will all water movement away from the building towards other areas of the yard.
How much are you willing to invest? 2
Whether you will be maintaining your yard or hiring someone to maintain it for you, you must consider what your budget and maintenance preferences are. Be as realistic with expectations and allocated budget.
Have you considered the time investment you have to put into your landscape?
If you are hiring someone, have you considered the cost per hour or per service?
Do you even know how much you need to invest in your landscape to get what you truly want?
Answering these questions will help to get the exact landscape you want. If you can also seek the help of a landscape design expert like The Beaudry Group.
What style are you going for? 3
Having the desired theme will personalize your landscape and also guide you in picking plants and materials. Your themes can be consistent shapes or forms throughout your landscape or can be a variety of forms like a relaxation garden or an oriental garden.
When deciding on a theme for your yard, a good place to start is looking at the architecture of your home. Try to complement the lines and style of your home's architecture in your yard; after all, your yard is an extension of your home.
Personalized themes will give you a plan for placing and selecting plants, decorations, hardscapes, and other structures.
Do you have a preference for measured ship-shaped, geometric structures, and hardscapes in your landscape?
Do you prefer natural elements and visuals with softer lines?
Are you colorful and prefer more color combinations?
Answering these questions will help you choose a personalized theme for your landscape.
Create and link spaces 4
Your landscape space offers more than just a retreat, hosting, or relaxation. It is also an extension of your home. It's more space for you to live and exist. Do not only see it as an outdoor space alien to the house, but as equally useful as your bedroom, kitchen, and family room. So it is important to choose elements and materials that make this extension of your home livable regardless of the weather. Some people have figured out a way to make their backyard landscapes as useful in the winter as a livable space in the summer. It can be a makeshift office, dining area, and place for taking little naps and reading - in any weather condition if possible.
Don't forget to think about how you'll link your spaces. How will people move from one area of your yard to another? Create openings to encourage exploration in your yard and keep people moving throughout the landscape.
Do not compromise on the details 5
The details and visuals of plants, hardscapes, and structures come in different forms, colors, and sizes. Plan how the contrasting element of all these will complement each other. You can buy the most expensive plants and structures into your landscape and make it a whole lot of mess. Cohesion amongst different visual elements on a landscape is very crucial.
And it is not only about the visuals. You must consider the smells and scents of the plants for your landscape. Great-smelling plants enrich the experience for anyone who visits your oasis. Knowing when flowers bloom and give off their fragrance is so important. All these varying smells must complement each other and not be a compound of the awful pungent smell.
