Landscape Plans: An Essential Element
Andrew Green

Landscape plans are essential to persons planning to landscape
their gardens on their own. One of the common mistakes is not
properly planning out all the activities in redesigning a
landscape. This can often lead to the feeling that what started
as a simple project is now just too much work.

One of the first steps necessary to landscape plans is
determining the size of the area available to work within. This
information can be obtained in two ways. The first is from
another source such as local county records or the developer
and the second is the do it yourself approach. Both approaches
require measurements of your plot to be carried out. The first
method only requires the confirmation that the plan is accurate
and can then be used as the base of your design. The second
requires more work.

The “do it yourself” method is actually very simple. Using a
sheet of graph paper you can plot your own base plan. The first
thing to do is determine the size of your plot of land. Find a
suitable scale and ensure that the area measured can be plotted
on one single sheet of graph paper. It is then important to
measure the area on the plot that is occupied by structures
such as houses and pools. The measurement of the house can be
determined by simple measurements to the boundaries of the
plot. It is important to make some copies of your base plan as
mistakes do happen.

In the design phase of landscape planning it is important to
put some effort into researching what options are available.
Some great designs can be sourced from neighbors, libraries and
on the internet. There are many styles or themes that can be
followed dependent on the design of your home and the area
available.

The next stage is using your base landscape plans to start
putting in a loose sketch of the activity areas that you
envision. This will include the decisions made in the research
portion of the landscape plans. It should also take into
consideration the movements that have to be made to walk around
your yard as this will provide information on the design of
pathways. At this stage the general placement and size of
plants required should be included. It is also necessary to
include necessities at this stage such as drainage, slope or
gradient changes or other alterations such as stairs. Other
details such as ponds and decks can be included at this stage.

In your final landscape plans you will then include all the
details in a “to scale” blueprint that can be plotted on your
base plan. All the materials needed as well as the particulars
of the types of plants can be decided at this stage.

About The Author: Landscapes and Landscaping
http://landscapes-and-landscaping.com/  helping you to make the
most of your garden space.


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