Creating Your Landscape Site Plan

Though we may have wild dreams about how we plan to transform our yards with trees, shrubs, and hardscape constructions, the first step of any landscaping project involves taking a good look at the property we already have and deciding what to do with it. By making a preliminary sketch of the landscape as it is, and then adding notes about the ideas that we hope to carry out, we are creating a kind of middle ground where the dreams and practical considerations can meet - without any real-life consequences.

Begin by making a simple walk-through of your property and taking stock of your first reactions. What do you like and dislike? What are the advantages and drawbacks of your yards, as they exist now? What are some possible problems that you'll have to find solutions for? Then, make a rough drawing of the property on a piece of paper. Denote existing trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, natural features like streams or rocks (if they exist), as well as slopes and good and bad views.

Make this walk-through, with paper and clipboard in hand, at various times throughout the day to get an idea of where sun and shade falls. These notes will come in handy later if you want to introduce new plants and match them to the light conditions of your landscape. Consider, also, what seasonal changes may occur. Does water drain away from the walls of the house and other buildings (such as decks or sheds) during the rainy season? Will you have different views when deciduous trees shed their leaves in the fall?

Unwanted views may not be obvious at first. It can be helpful to make notes from inside the house, looking out the main windows. Put yourself in your neighbors' shoes, and consider how much you're exposed to their line of sight. Can you see into their yards? Finally, observe changing light conditions within the house. If the sun blazes through the kitchen windows, you might want to shield the house with trees. On the other hand, a pleasant, mild light might be something you don't want to interfere with.

Once all the existing conditions of your property have been denoted, it's time to let your imagination run. At this stage, one practical consideration will be how long you plan to live in your current home. If you foresee only a few years, then you'll want fast-growing trees and shrubs that will bring the effects you want sooner. Also, think about what you really enjoy doing outdoors. Will you be entertaining a lot of guests, or mostly puttering around by yourself in a vegetable garden? Would you rather have a place to barbecue, or watch pond fish? Children, of course, are a primary consideration for those of us who have them. Their play places should be away from streets and somewhere, ideally, where we can easily keep an eye on them.

Gathering new ideas for a landscape design can be one of the most adventurous parts of the process. With the help of a good site plan, it's much easier to visualize what will be feasible and what will not. If we start out with a good sketch and accompanying notes, we'll be less likely to pursue a project that's doomed to fail - but we won't sell ourselves short on other ambitious projects that just might work, either.