As with any process, the key to success in landscaping is identifying exactly what you're trying to accomplish, developing a step by step plan, and then sticking to it.

Start by determining your real goals and budget. With these in mind, create an overall plan that focuses first on features you’d like, then on organization, and then on style and details. These basic steps will help you create a backyard that’s attractive, comfortable, and that expresses your taste and lifestyle beautifully.

1) IDENTIFY YOUR “REAL” GOALS

Normally in landscaping when we say “plan” we're talking about a physical drawing on paper, but the plan actually begins before any drawing with a conversation about what your real goals are. I say “real” goals because we find that there's sometimes a difference between what someone says they want and what they're really trying to achieve. For example, a client might say “I want a 6' fence on the property line,” or “I need steps down from the kitchen to a new patio” or “We'd like a built in firepit”. Sometimes those items may be exactly what they'd like, but other times what they really mean is “We'd like privacy from the neighbors, a comfortable space off the kitchen and a patio where we can sit around a fire.” Identifying what you're trying to achieve generally can open up options that are more interesting, attractive and versatile than simply taking what seems to be the obvious utility route. In these cases, a bed of taller plants for privacy can be less expensive and more attractive than a fence. A patio that’s elevated to the kitchen level and that includes shade, a spot for the grill and small herb garden is much more convenient and feels more like an extension of indoor living than a flight of steps to a ground level patio. And a patio centered around an attractive portable fire pit can allow more dining area when entertaining by simply swapping the firepit out temporarily for a table. What would have been a space with only a single use now accomplishes the original goal, and also provides additional value without the expense of adding more patio area. Think first about what you're really trying to achieve and then consider all your options before settling on a specific solution.

2) CONSIDER YOUR BUDGET

Budget is a major factor in all renovation projects, and it's no different for landscaping. Having a realistic idea of your budget ahead of time will help you prioritize and focus, and will save time, headaches and potential disappointment later in the process.

Our designers provide rough budget ranges for various features during our initial visits to help our clients plan accordingly during the design process. Keep in mind that, unlike most interior projects, a landscape plan can be easily phased, so you can plan both immediate and long term budgets.

3) CHOOSE FEATURES

With your budget, lifestyle and goals in mind, decide which features you'd like incorporated into your new backyard. Sometimes our clients are prepared with two lists when we meet, one with “must have” features and another with “would be nice” features. Many times, though, they're just not really aware of what's available, which is where a designer is helpful. Fireplaces have been very popular for the last couple of years, and pizza ovens are the latest buzz. Patios, hot tubs, built in grills, outdoor kitchens, pergolas and arbors, fountains and ponds are just a few of the countless landscape features available. Consider how you'll be using your outdoor space and then prioritize which features are most important to you. As always, keep your budget in mind while dreaming.

4) PEN TO PAPER: ORGANIZATION FIRST

Basic organization is the first step in the actual design. A well-organized backyard will always be more attractive than one that is less well thought out, regardless of the features included, which plants are used, the size of the space, etc. A good designer will think first about the general location of features based on how you plan to use them, convenience, views, etc. For example, if you’re incorporating a built-in pool and you have small children, will you want the pool adjacent to all rear doors of the home so that the interior flows directly out into an expansive pool/patio area, or is it more important to separate the pool area from the rear of the home with a fence for safety, and to develop a lawn area for the children to play just outside the kitchen doors for easy viewing?

Traffic flow is the next consideration. Just as with the interior of a home, it's critical that people are able to move easily through and between outdoor spaces without having to step around obstacles or make awkward turns. It’s easy to draw a patio shape that looks good when it’s empty, but if furniture, grill and planter placement aren't considered during design, you’re going to have issues with traffic flow down the road.

This is also the time to consider the first of four critical design elements: Line. Bed lines, lawn and patio edges, walkways and linear plantings like hedges are all examples of Line. They all play a part in relating one area to the next, sometimes by tying them together and sometimes by separating them into distinct spaces. Using Line wisely will make the difference between a loose connection of disjointed items and a finished plan that “flows”.

5) PERSONAL STYLE

With the basics in place, now it’s time to incorporate your personal style, which is where the other three design elements come into play: Form, Color and Texture. Some of our clients are very organic in their tastes. They prefer curved patios and bed lines and loose, carefree plantings. Others prefer a more more defined structure with patio shapes or hedges that pick up on the architecture of the home, and yet others are looking for a blend.

Texture becomes important with stone and some other hard elements, but especially with plant choices. Making the right decision here can mean the difference between beds that look “weedy” and those that look full and lush, yet somehow still organized, so consider your plant choices for texture as much as for color and bloom time.

Whatever your preferences, these final details are what transform an otherwise well-thought-out and organized plan into something unique that expresses your personal tastes and style.

6) BUILD IT: ALL AT ONCE OR IN PHASES

Now that the design is finished it’s time to make decisions on how to implement it. Again, one of the advantages of landscape projects versus some others is the ability to install it all at once or in phases as the budget or other factors allow. Determining your short and long term budgets will help you make decisions about where to start and stop for each phase, and because you started with an overall plan, you can be confident that each phase will fit perfectly with those that come before and after.