7 Things to Consider When Planning Your Landscape Design

Planning Your Landscape Design|Vegetable Garden Landscape
2020-06-05
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When the Spring and Summer months are in full bloom, a lot of folks in Alberta get geared up to build out some exciting, new landscaping ideas for lawn and garden. When it comes to landscaping, a little bit of style goes a long way. But every landscaping project takes planning, timing, know-how, and the right tools and materials- as well as the occasional professional touch- to make your design shine. Here, we’ll discuss seven important things homeowners should keep in mind when beginning to plan a new landscape design. These are some of our top tips when working with clients to create a blueprint for their ideal landscape for their home. 

1) Consider Who Will Be Using the Space

Many folks come up with ambitious projects with delicate features and cramped spaces that look great on paper and are beautiful to behold. However, when children and pets end up blasting through a decorative trellis or kick a soccer ball into a flowerbed, the layout may not feel as accommodating. Be sure your design is suitable for everyone who will be using it – for your sanity and theirs.

2) Creating Spaces Linked for Standard Function

To get the most out of your design, it’s often wise to create spaces and links between the spaces that make practical sense. Two separate lawns connected by a bridge or path is a great idea. Whereas not connecting like areas, or connecting a stretch of grass for children to play on with a fish pond that’s not ideal for children to play around might be asking for trouble.

3) Getting the Most Out of Planted Features

When planning out the overall look and feel of your vegetable garden landscape, consider the size and profile of any large planted features you are considering. A sizeable rounded treetop and a low, wide-spreading bush, for example, will not only fit poorly into the same spaces- but they will also offer dramatically different effects in terms of visual composition. A matting or spreading hedge will encourage the eye to move, while a tall or bushy tree will catch the eye as a feature. Drafting a simple sketch is an excellent way to concretize the difference between different large plantings. A well sketched out design of your layout will help you fine-tune the details to give you a better visualization of your landscape.

Vegetable Garden Landscape

4) The Design Is in the Details

Considering our point about using planting features with different visual profiles to create the desired experience: using especially unique trees, plants, and ornaments is an excellent way to create the effect that you’re going for. Hemming in a particularly precious species of rose with smaller flowers or a miniature hedge is one great example. Small decorative fences are inexpensive and are an easy way to draw attention to a feature that you are proud of.

5) Protecting Valuable Resources

Selecting plants that have low water needs is one great way to keep resource use at a minimum. The use of low concrete walls around certain features, tarps hidden beneath gravel, or wood chips is also an excellent way to get the most out of not only water but also fertilizers. Installing rainwater catching systems is another excellent way to keep your landscape work eco-friendly. It’s also helpful to keep in mind that low-maintenance plants are often best able to survive a harsh winter.

6) Small Children and Pets

If your yard is bound to serve as a playground for pets and small children, and if you still intend to build in spaces and features that might not mix well with such a crowd- you’ll need to plan carefully. Create more durable areas close to the house, which are immediately accessible and attractive to pets and kids. Make sure children know which areas are not to be romped in, and be sure to accommodate their needs. After all, one of the greatest use of space is an area that everyone can enjoy being in, and a well thought out design can make that possible without feeling like you are making a compromise.

7) Climate & Environment

Finally, when you’re planning your yard and garden landscaping, make sure the plants you choose and the design elements you create are amenable for the local climate through the seasons. Nearly any type of feature can be installed or designed to be more durable in freezing, rainy, or even a dry season. Choosing the right plants for year-round success might take a bit more work. Before installing a major planted feature or creating a specific garden theme, do some research on the plants you intend to use. Select plants that will best endure the current and coming seasons, and those which are best suited to endure in the long term.

If you’re looking for more details about designing or constructing your own landscape ideas, click here for a free quote.

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