How Do I Design My Landscape?

Is your yard nothing more than some grass and maybe a tree or two? You can transform it with the right design. A well-thought-out landscape design will increase your home’s curb appeal while also providing an excellent space for social functions and relaxing. That begs the question, then, “How do I design my landscape?” Check out some tips you can use to design the landscape of your dreams.

How Do I Design My Landscape? Start With Boundaries

You probably have a pretty good idea where your property line is located. However, if you’re off by even a tiny amount, you could end up in a feud with your neighbor. So, before beginning, determine your boundaries. Then, you won’t accidentally cross into your neighbor’s yard, starting a battle.

Incorporate All the Landscape Design Elements

When considering the question, “How do I design my landscape?” make sure you include the four elements of landscape design. First, landscape design should provide unity. That means that you need to tie all the elements together.

Second, you need to provide balance with your landscape design. You can achieve this in one of two ways. First, you can go with a uniform, symmetrical design that looks the same throughout. Or, you can go with an asymmetrical design. The design elements will differ, but the points of interest will be distributed equally throughout the property.

Next, you need to consider the proportions. To do this, think about how large your plants and trees will grow after planting them. You don’t want something that grows so large that it’s out of place, but you also don’t want something so small that it ends up covered up by larger plants and trees.

Finally, variety is important. While you don’t want to go overboard, it’s wise to include various elements throughout your landscape. This is especially fun when you create themes throughout your yard.

Consider Your Needs and Wants

Next, you need to consider what you want and need out of your landscape. For instance, have you been dreaming about growing your own vegetables? If so, you need to make space for a vegetable garden. Also, do you have young children? Adding a play area would be ideal. Maybe you love entertaining, which means you’ll need to designate a space for social events. Spend some time visualizing your perfect outdoor space, and then include as many of those elements as possible.

Think About Privacy

Privacy is also an important consideration when designing a landscape. In fact, if you ask people, “How do I design my landscape?” many people will tell you to prioritize privacy. After all, you’ll want to hang out in your yard when you finish the project, so you’ll appreciate having peace, quiet, and privacy. You can increase privacy with walls, a fence, hedges, and other design elements.

Plan for All Seasons

If you were to ask someone, “How do I design my landscape?” you’ll likely get a lot of advice. However, one critical piece of advice is something that many people don’t consider. You want your landscape to look fabulous from one month to the next, so you need to plan for all seasons.

Look for plants and flowers that bloom during different seasons. Then, your garden will always have a nice pop of color, whether it’s the middle of summer or the winter.

How Do I Design My Landscape? Keep Visibility in Mind

Visibility is also essential when designing an outdoor space. Some people put tons of effort into the design, only to realize they can’t see the street when backing out of the driveway due to the large plants on either side. You don’t want to trade safety and function for nice landscaping, so consider visibility before starting. That way, you won’t have to rip up your hard work after you finish the job.

Think About What Each Space Offers

Simply including all the elements in your landscape design isn’t enough. You also need to think about each specific area of your yard to maximize the space. For example, some places receive full or partial sunlight, while others are in the shade. Keep that in mind during the design so your plants will get ample light while you can enjoy relaxing in the shade

Prepare for Growth

Your plants and trees will get bigger over time, so consider that when choosing the layout. If you fill your garden with plants, you could end up with an overcrowding problem. Thus, leave your plants and trees ample room to grow. Then, you won’t have to go back and remove items.

Choose Focal Points

Choose a focal point for each distinct area. You can make focal points stand out by using various colors, textures, and shapes for your landscape. Remember, you want the same number of focal points for each area if you choose an asymmetrical design.

Draw Your Design

After you know what you want out of your yard, it’s time to put pen to paper. First, create a grid that contains the different elements. You’ll need to measure each space when making the grid so you can account for space.

Then, turn your grid into a sketch of your ideal landscape. If you aren’t very artistic, you can map it out online. Then, finalize your plan for your landscape.

Add Landscape Lighting

You won’t be able to enjoy your landscaping to the fullest without installing landscape lighting. A professional landscape lighting company can work with you to choose the right lighting solution for your design. This might include illuminating focal points while providing ample light for outdoor activities. With landscape lighting, you can show off your hard work while also enjoying the space during the day and night.

How Do I Design My Landscape? Hire a Professional

If you want to take a hands-on approach to landscape design, you can handle many elements yourself. However, when it comes to landscape lighting, it’s best to go with a pro.

PRO Landscape Lighting provides landscape lighting design, installation, and maintenance in Westchester, NY, Putnam County, and the surrounding areas. First, call (914) 494-7629 to discuss your landscape lighting needs. Then, we will provide a free estimate.