To get your desired landscaping in your yard, you need to follow the laid-out processes of planning and execution. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to turn your dreams into reality, and below, you will learn five steps to follow in creating the garden and hardscape of your choice. Additionally, learn how to select your preferred plants and other elements that will help bring your garden to life.
Understand Your Yard
Understand the site upon which your garden and hardscape will sit. Take accurate measurements of your yard, as this will help you determine the total size of your gardening project. Observe the sun, wind, drainage, slopes, and trees. This will allow you to build your garden to work with what you have to work with.
Ensure that you observe these patterns over multiple days to confirm what you have to work with. Note the problem areas, such as soggy soil or ugly views, which you will have to remedy, and assets such as mature trees or good soil, which will be additional to your final plan.
Define Your Goals
The next step is to define the goals and style of your garden. Make a list of priority areas such as the play space, entertainment, edible beds, and water-wise. Rank the list of priorities in order to gain a perspective on the areas that should be handled first. Choose a theme that will guide the overall look of your garden. You can choose a modern, tropical, or native theme.
These would guide the plants, color, and material choices and will contribute to a cohesive yard design. Use mood boards to create a visual representation of what your yard should look like and the elements you wish to incorporate.
Create a Thorough Plan
Your master plan should include the design for your yard, complete with hard numbers and measurements. Create a bird’s-eye to-scale plan of your proposed garden on paper or suitable software. This plan should cover everything, including the driveway, doors, utilities, house, and paths.
Ensure that you adhere to the actual measurements of your yard when creating the design of your garden. This will ensure that your plans can be accurately recreated using the right measurements and reduce the risk of the project encountering problems. Ensure your pathways link spaces comfortably to ensure a seamless design.
Apply Design Principles
Be sure to apply design principles used in the creation of gardens and hardscape to ensure a cohesive unit. Unity and balance should be your goal, and you can achieve this by using repeated elements, such as plants, colors, and materials. Layering is another technique that allows you to get the most out of your gardening and hardscaping.
Taller trees should be at the back, medium-sized trees should be in the middle, while the smaller plants should be in front. These plants should be scaled to the level of your house structure. Using design principles like these allows your yard to be more visually appealing and inviting.
Choose Landscaping Elements
Selecting the garden and hardscaping elements for your space is when you need the expertise of professionals like D&J Landscaping. Select plants that are suited to your climate, sunlight, and soil. You should prioritize plants that are drought-tolerant and allow you to save water and create a low-maintenance garden.
Patios, paths, walls, irrigation, and lighting are all hardscaping elements you should choose for your yard. Install these in conjunction with trees and other elements in the relevant phases for a cohesive build.
Endnote
Designing a beautiful garden and hardscape is the dream of many homeowners. Following the steps we have outlined above will bring you closer to your dream of creating a great project. Ensure that you collaborate with your contractor to get the best outcome for your available workspace. Create a budget and inform your contractor of the amount you are willing to spend on the project.
