Basics of Landscape Design Part 2: Evaluate your Needs

The second step in developing a landscape design is to consider your needs. How will the area be used? Who will be using it? Do you want an area for a veggie or flower garden? How about a play area? An area for Fido? Are you looking to incorporate an outdoor kitchen, swimming pool, she shed or greenhouse? These are just some of the questions needing answers to incorporate key wants and needs into the landscape design.

Would you like to attract birds and other wildlife to your yard? For many people, myself included, having an appealing landscape isn’t just so you can look at it. It is also enjoyable to watch wildlife enjoying it. If that is a goal, specific plant selection will be important. Your landscape design will likely include different types of trees and shrubs including those that offer a food source and shelter for birds, insects, and other wildlife.

Another important consideration is your budget. Completing a master plan for the entire property at the beginning of planning will help you avoid expensive adjustments later. Maybe that swimming pool is on the 5 year wishlist, but planting trees is on the immediate horizon. You want to make sure the future pool area, and access for installation, is kept clear. Having a master plan would ensure all short term and long term plans are followed in a logical sequence. 

While considering all your needs, develop a list of all your space requirements. The list should include all the activities you want to be able to use the space for. Consideration should be given regarding whether each area of the property will be a public or private space. Indoor rooms will also play an important role in determining the outdoor space. For instance, it will likely be more convenient to have the outdoor kitchen near a home entrance and the indoor kitchen. 

Public areas will be seen by passersby so thoughtfulness on how it will affect the neighborhood aesthetic may be a consideration. The front yard, main entrance to the home, driveway, and sidewalks are some of the areas generally considered public areas. Consider how people will move from the sidewalk and/or driveway to the home’s entrance. Snow removal will also be something to consider in Wisconsin or other northern climates. 

There are areas you will likely wish to keep private from the public street view and neighbors. Consider views into the yard such as from neighbor’s windows, streets, and sidewalks. Screening plants or structures could be useful to create privacy and minimize unwanted views both looking onto and looking out from the property. Areas to store garbage cans, wood, and service areas should be accessible, but kept out of view.  

After all the needed information is gathered, add a layer of tracing paper over your initial base map. Sketch out the use areas such as garden, screening, play area, wood storage etc. You can make several general sketches on separate tracing paper until you come up with something that fits your needs. Keep it basic, just use circles, ovals, squares, and basic shapes to mark out the general areas you will utilize for each need. 

Basics of Landscape Design Part 1: Assessing your Site available @ https://www.shawnlvieth.com/basics-of-landscape-design

Next : Basics of Landscape Design Part 3: Landscape Design Principles