Design
The first step of any great landscape is the design.  This is the most important and often least thought of step in the process of landscaping.  The result of a poor landscape design can become very costly or unproductive.  I will illustrate this with stories of two different people.  Find out if one of these two people fits your situation.

  Fred

Fred is a real busy person.  He works overtime every week at his job just to pay the bills. He and his wife have been planning the perfect backyard for a whole year but they are still looking at a dirt backyard.  The frustration has mounted as the dogs have drug in mud from the lack of a landscape and Fred really needs to do something this year.  As the weeks roll by and the opportunity faces him every week to make a plan nothing is done.  Not because Fred is lazy but he thinks it will be no problem.  They will just buy some materials and get the project done.  So, in the spring, they buy paving stones, trees, plants, shrubs, grass, mulch and even materials for a beautiful water garden.  His wife is so proud that he took on the job and Fred is a real go getter so he gets through the project as quick as possible.  The landscape looks fantastic and they already seem to have some shade and no more mud.

Just one year later Fred and his wife are looking at a disaster of a backyard.  The pavers he laid are now looking like waves off of a lake.  Two of their trees have died and two of the others already look like they are going to grow into the house.  The water feature has never been cleaned and maybe the leak it sprung during the summer might have something to do with that.  The mulch has been spread all over the yard from the dog running through it and some more has washed out from another down pour.  Fred seems to be devoting all of his time to the yard but he cant seem to even keep the grass green.  Fred is upset and calls a professional to come out.

  Jim

Jim owns his own dental practice and finds himself busy most of the day.  He has just bought a new home and he has plenty of time to make a plan and get the project done.  Jim is a little older and since he is very picky about his work.  He is a perfectionist at heart so he takes his time learning about anything and everything he can about landscaping.  He wants to take on the project himself if at all possible cause he knows the satisfaction he will gain from completing the heavy task.  Spring approaches and he goes to get his materials.  He asks questions with every vendor.  He knows so much about what he is doing that he asks questions that are far above the knowledge of the suppliers workers. He is kind of a pain to deal with but after all is said and done he has all of the materials picked out.  He knows he cannot install  them all at once so he pays for the products and puts them on reserve.

Jim takes his time and gets the paver patio done perfectly but it takes him 2 months.  He plants his trees next just like the design experts suggested to do.  Summer fly's by and Jim does not have a ton to show for but what he does have is parts of a perfect puzzle. He has a section where a water feature belongs but will not be going in until the spring.  There is still a big pile of dirt in the backyard but he has grass, trees, and a patio for entertainment.  He learns more about what he still needs to do over the next winter and works on the water feature right away.  His research points him in the direction of having koi fish and a nice little waterfall.  He again takes his time and makes a very complex but easy to maintain water feature.  He builds a beautiful stone wall that he picked out and plants some flowers to finish.  He puts rock down instead of mulch to keep down on maintenance.  It takes him along time but come the end of summer his backyard is complete. 

One year later his yard is flourishing.  He hires in professionals to do the tasks that he cannot do and he trusts them to do a great job.  His landscape looks a little bear but he knows that as it matures the beauty will grow. 


Notice two completely different outcomes as Fred and Jim put in the same amount of effort with the major difference being planning and patience.  So as you will read about in the other sections of this landscape 101 crash course learning how to design a perfect landscape is the most important part of the whole project.

Here are some things you want to ask yourself before you make a landscape design:

What is the major function of my design?
Examples can include entertainment, family activities, prayer and meditation, relaxation, sporting, functionality, and so much more

How much do I want to spend on my project?
This is very necessary or your project could look half finished for along time. Keep your project within your budget.  Give yourself a range so you can have different options.

How much time can I spend in my yard?
For some people spending a ton of money on a yard they will never use becomes wasteful.

How much time can I maintain my yard?
It is always important to be exact and approach this with a direct attitude.  Never approach this question by saying I probably have 2 hours a week to work on my yard.  If you do not have time to be cleaning out filters on a pump every month then having a water garden is not going to work.

What is the suns cycle in relationship to my yard?
Whoa, so am I asking you to sit outside and watch the sun all day?  You know it!  Knowing how the sun relates to your yard is the difference between plants growing and dying.  So this is essential to pay close attention to. Planting your hostas on the side of your house that gets direct sunlight all day is a good waste of money.

How does the water flow in relationship to my yard?
It is important to know what areas get lots of water cause some plants need much more water. 

What design is my house and what colors work with my houses colors?
What is in a color?  Well sometimes it is the difference between something looking great or looking horrible.  There are lots of options out there when it comes to color so don't go on your first instinct.

How long do you plan on living in your house?
This is a really good question to ask yourself.  It really can change a design from what you would like to what the market likes. 
"We work for you. Not for our boss"