Get Started on Your New Landscape Design

• Accurate plans and measures are essential. Starting with a plat map is preferable. Most designers prefer to work with landscape plans drawn to a scale where 1 inch = 10 feet or 1 inch = 8 feet.
• Having several copies of your base plan is helpful. Walk through your yard and note the natural paths of movement to get to sheds, gates, pools, play areas, etc. This is where paths or walk ways need to be placed on your plan. Note any existing features such as trees, shrubs, and hardscapes (patios, decks, walkways, etc.) that you want to keep or remove.
• If you haven’t already, now is the time to consider exactly what you want to achieve with your landscape design. Would you like additional space for entertaining? Do you want to reduce the amount of lawn and create a water-wise area for trees, shrubs and plants instead? Are parts of your yard subject to pooling water or are there other drainage issues in the landscape?
• Consider the style of your home, whether cottage, traditional or contemporary. Keeping the look of your home in mind is helpful when it comes to planning your new landscape design.