| By being practical and creative in your landscaping, you | | | | apples fall, for example. Where you place the trees is |
| can create a beautiful and functional space. There are | | | | important to the safety of your home as well. You do |
| some design principles that will make the task of | | | | not want large branches falling on your home. You can |
| designing somewhat easier. For example, professional | | | | place trees close if you plan to prune them adequately. |
| landscape designers divide the available space into | | | | Another thing to consider when planning your |
| areas that they call "activity zones". This will help you | | | | landscape is when to transplant flowers and shrubs. |
| to organize your thoughts and use each space for a | | | | You'll have to research the correct season based |
| specific purpose. You can then concentrate on making | | | | upon the species. This will help keep your garden under |
| each space work well and look great at the same | | | | control. |
| time. | | | | Having a fence in your yard is great if you have |
| Some examples of activity zones are having a garden | | | | children or pets. Some options for fences include a |
| for flowers or vegetables, a yard for walking, a pond | | | | chain link, wrought iron, redwood, or brick. They are all |
| for beauty, and a patio for relaxing, entertaining, and | | | | functional, but have very different styles. |
| enjoying the rest of your yard. Fences, sheds, and | | | | As you plan, keep in mind the amount of time you will |
| walkways are other possibilities. You should plan each | | | | have to maintain your landscape. Some plants take a |
| area as best you can, making sure it works well and | | | | lot more work than others to grow. If you won't have |
| looks good alone and with all of the other activity | | | | a lot of time, you should choose simple plants. Annuals |
| zones. To do this planning, you can either sketch out a | | | | will need to be planted each year, so unless you don't |
| few design options or use computer software to help. | | | | mind redoing the work each year, you should choose |
| You will have to decide which plants to put in each | | | | other varieties. |
| zone and how to arrange them. If you have a garden | | | | The types of plants that you choose should also be |
| up against your house, for example, one quality | | | | based upon how much sunlight or shade certain areas |
| arrangement is to have a step garden with multiple | | | | of your yard can provide. The amount of water they |
| levels. The tallest plants will be in the back, closest to | | | | will get is also important. Some plants need large |
| the house. The next tallest will go in the middle, and the | | | | quantities of water consistently, while others are |
| shortest will go closest to the front. Another option for | | | | drought resistant, with too much water being bad for |
| a garden is to have it be built in a circle so you can | | | | them. |
| walk around it and view it from all sides. | | | | Overall, make sure to take your area's geography and |
| The activity zone that you dedicate for a storage area | | | | climate into account so you will know what to plant |
| such as a shed is also important. You will likely need to | | | | and how to take care of the plants. |
| level the land in these areas. Other areas where you | | | | As you can see, it takes some research and planning |
| will have to level the ground are walkways or patios. | | | | to choose the correct plants for your landscaping |
| You should take this into consideration for your plan. | | | | design Planning ahead of time will save you problems |
| You should think of a variety of different options. Draw | | | | in the future. |
| out the possibilities for things like tree and plant | | | | You do not need to be a professional landscape |
| placement. The type of tree may dictate where it | | | | designer to complete the job successfully. You won't |
| should go. A shade tree would be placed differently | | | | be perfect in your design, but by starting simply and |
| than a fruit tree, for example. Having an apple tree | | | | learning from your mistakes your results will be |
| over your patio can be painful in the season when the | | | | respectable. |