Master Gardeners: Plan landscape on paper before planting

By Julie Moore Master Gardener May 29, 2014 4:10PM

This mature backyard landscape design features a beautiful mixture of plant materials, colors and textures that create privacy. | Courtesy of Julie Moore

storyidforme: 67069916 tmspicid: 23905940 fileheaderid: 11747386

A landscape design requires the right tools, and the first ones to pick up are a pencil and paper. A well thought-out plan will be your guide and should result in a more successful project than one that is done piecemeal.

If this sounds daunting, it doesnt need to be, according to Richard Hentschel, University of Illinois Extension educator in horticulture.

The landscape design should draw the eye to the front door, Hentschel notes of the front yard. This can be done using walkway and garden-bed designs that lead the eye to it. Walkways should be wide enough to accommodate two people and can be curved or straight, based on a casual or more formal outcome to be achieved.

The plant beds created need to be large enough to support the desired plantings.

In the backyard, Hentschel says to take inventory of the areas your family will need.

Will the yard be one with a lot of activity or more passive? Do you need a kids play area, or spaces for entertainment, adult recreation, gardening interest or storage needs?

The next step in the design process is a site analysis.

View original post here:
Master Gardeners: Plan landscape on paper before planting