Creating A Basic Landscaping Design

When it comes to landscaping your home it is important that each element blends together to create a soothing, restful and beautiful addition to your property. Creating a basic landscape design is very similar to decorating the interior of your home. It can be just as much fun and inspiring if you have a solid plan. Here are some ideas and tips to help you create a relaxing, personalized and eye-catching outdoor design:

The first thing you'll want to do is take a good look around your property and jot down your landscaping needs. Consider what you want from your landscape design — simply aesthetics, outdoor living spaces like a pool/patio, children's playground or vegetable garden. Once you decide on how you want to use your space you can begin to work on a design.

Sketch a scaled drawing onto graph paper that includes all the permanent features of your property, including your home, driveway, sidewalks, trees and fencing so you can accurately size and place new elements into your landscape design.

Determine which areas receive full sun, partial sun, partial shade or deep shade so you can select the appropriate plants for each location. Since plants can be costly this initial evaluation can help reduce the chances of planting the wrong shrub or flower in the wrong spot.

Another important consideration when planting is determining the type of soil you will need to allow for proper plant growth. Take soil samples to your local garden center for evaluation so you can determine the type of soil enhancement you will need and if it fits into your budget.

You will also need to decide how much time you want to dedicate to maintaining your landscape. For example, we all love a rose garden but this requires lots of attention and upkeep. You may want to plant hardy greenery that can withstand the elements and require minimal watering and trimming. While we all love a green lawn, it is not always practical to grow grass in certain areas unless you are planning to use a professional landscape company to treat and maintain it. Consider using small stones or mulch to cover areas where grass may be hard to grow and cut.

You'll want to select hardscape such as paving stones, bricks, edging and retaining walls in colors that will enhance the exterior design of your home. Be sure to include all hardscape features on your scaled landscape plan, particularly if you plan on adding a deck or patio.

Determine which elements of your design you can do yourself and then look for estimates for larger projects like deck and patio construction.