A well-designed garden repeats plants, shapes, colors and other elements to create balance and flow. Focal points such as garden art can be strategically located to add interest to the yard. (Pam Roy)

A well-designed garden repeats plants, shapes, colors and other elements to create balance and flow. Focal points such as garden art can be strategically located to add interest to the yard. (Pam Roy)

Now is the perfect time to design the garden of your dreams

Find inspiration in gardening magazines, on the internet, in your neighborhood and at nurseries.

The frantic call came in at 5 ‘o clock on a sunny spring afternoon. The caller’s voice bordered between panicked and giddy.

“We just came home from our local nursery after purchasing two truckloads of plants. We’re not really sure where to plant them.”

I’ve also received calls like this: “We bought a few containers 2 years ago, a handful of plants this spring and, oh, yes, we’ve got this beautiful granite boulder that’s been sitting here. Hmm… How long has that been sitting here, Dear? We just can’t seem to decide where to start.”

Does any of that sound like you? If you have a new home with a bare yard, or a home with a mature landscape that needs some renovating, you may benefit from a landscape design. Now is a great time for garden planning, so you can be ready come spring to install new plantings.

Think of a landscape design like an architectural blueprint for the outside of the house. A well thought out landscape design becomes the roadmap to creating a yard that matches your needs and interests (and budget) to the specifics of your property. With a plan in place, it becomes much easier to prioritize projects, time and dollars.

Whether you are phasing in the installation over time, or installing all the elements of the garden at once, a comprehensive landscape design allows the homeowner to focus on a project, create a list of what materials are needed for that project and make efficient use of available time to complete it.

Start by taking a walk around your yard. Make a note of which areas of the yard are sunny and which are more shaded. This will allow you to make appropriate plant selections based on their light requirements. While walking through the yard, notice any areas that stay wet or have standing water. This may indicate the need for drainage considerations or choosing plants that will tolerate moist soil.

If your yard is sloped and seems unusable, there may be the possibility of regrading the yard to create some flat terraces. These flat areas can be retained by a variety of materials, such as large boulders, dry stacked stone walls, concrete blocks or treated wood, to name a few options.

When building any retaining walls, be sure to follow any local codes governing height and location of walls and any permits needed.

Pick up a handful of soil. Does it clump into a ball when you squeeze your hand? If so, it’s clay soil. Or does it run through your fingers? That’s sandy soil. The type of soil will help determine what type of soil amendments to add and also what types of plants will do well in that area.

Now comes the fun part. Take some time to dream! Thumb through magazines, look at pictures of gardens on the internet, wander around the neighborhood, visit a nursery.

If your yard is sloped and seems unusable, there may be the possibility of regrading the yard to create some flat terraces. These flat areas can be retained by a variety of materials, such as large boulders, dry stacked stone walls, concrete blocks or treated wood, to name a few options.

If you enjoy outdoor entertaining, allow some hardscape areas like decks or patios with enough room to accommodate the number of people using the space. Consider adding amenities such as an outdoor grill, a fire pit, a nearby water feature or some containers for seasonal color.

Does the idea of fresh vegetables harvested from your own garden appeal to you? Find a sunny place for edibles. Grow these in the ground, in raised beds or containers. Or sneak them into the ornamental beds.

Plant selection is an important part of good landscape design. Choosing the right plant for the right place in the garden will lessen the chance of plants outgrowing their locations. A good plan offers a pleasing mix of colors, textures and year-round interest.

Once you have a wish list of garden dreams, create a concept plan with the above ideas. Have fun and get creative!

As you put your ideas together, keep some basic design features in mind. Unity gives the feeling of all elements working together and avoids a helter-skelter look. Achieve this by repetition of plants, shapes, colors or elements. Focal points can be strategically located. Balance and flow are also important considerations.

Take your concept plan into the garden and see how it feels. Make a mock up of some of the components and adjust if needed. Many of my clients have remarked that once they had a plan, installing the yard went from overwhelming to fun.

If you need help with this process, a landscape designer can walk you through the above steps and give a fresh perspective to your project.

Pam Roy of Planscapes is an award-winning landscape designer with more than 35 years of experience. Contact her at 425-238-4678 or info@planscapesdesign.com. Visit www.planscapesdesign.com for more information.

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