After you have created a plan for your landscape, you are half way there! Remember placing your landscape will not be difficult from this point, so long as you remember you are creating a livable garden. Do not get all worked up about creating a focal point, axial lines, whether it will be formal or informal, or a naturalistic garden. The garden is not to be a theory, but a place to live in. As long as you keep this in mind, the other aspects will fall into place.
The basis for your plan should be the family requirements. These requirements include a lawn, for a picturesque setting, as well as a wonderful place to walk and play, as well as the medium for cooling the place during summer evenings. Your lawn is not always your first thought when it comes to flower or vegetable gardens, hedges, and shrubbery, but the lawn is the foundation of your entire landscape! These other features are enhanced by a lush and green lawn.
Be sure to list out your family needs. This can include closing in a portion of your landscape to keep people from cutting through it. You may need a fenced in play area for children, a clothesline, a patio for outdoor entertaining, etc.
The size of your location determines the kind of landscaping you can create. The amount of shade and sun determines what can be planted. If you want a fruit or vegetable garden you cannot plant these in full shade, but you also cannot plant them in full sun. If you have a hill, it may be beneficial to plant trees to serve as a windbreak, or if you are on the seaside, plant on the basis of the closeness to the sea.
Arrange your space based upon the requirements you and your family need. You should determine the lawn area first, which can be limited based upon your lot size. Your lawn may all be on a side or to the back of your setting. The shape of your lawn will influence the style and shape of your landscaping plan.
Foundation planting is the plants that are set around the base of your home. This is an American invention, unknown in other countries.. There are many critics of this idea, but it has become, nonetheless, a part of American landscaping. Foundation planting needs to be an enhancement to your home, and not be overdone. It should bring out the beauty of your home, and help to hide any flaws.
Foundation planting can add a charming touch as well as wonderful color to your setting. Be sure to take care in determining your base planting; uncared for, stunted evergreens will devalue the look of your home. Be sure not to overplant as well, as this will look tacky, but also result in plants dying from being too close to one another.
If creating a foundation planting plan, the worst mistake you can do is create a line of conifer trees of cedar, pine, or spruce as these trees grow to reach 60 feet tall, completely hiding the house in a few years. Try to choose only a few plants, and not a huge variety. Choosing a few suitable plants create uniformity and add style and direction to your setting.