Creating your dream landscape means starting with a blank canvas. Imagine that your entire yard is a canvas and you are the painter. You don’t want to just throw one color on the canvas and call it a masterpiece. Your creation needs to be well thought out and carefully planned so that you create a one-of-a-kind centerpiece.

Measure, Measure, Measure
The first step to success is to measure your yard. Be sure to measure all the buildings, walkways, etc. and include them in your diagram. This first step is very important. If you don’t include these existing structures you may find yourself with a really crowded yard.

Graph It
Using grid paper mark a scale that will work for you. You could make each square represent a certain number of feet. Mark all the property lines, fences, and buildings.

Work Areas
Place tracing paper over your graphing paper and mark the areas you want to work on with circles. Indicate where existing plants and trees are located that you are planning to keep. When doing this step you will get a better idea if you view it from your porch and from the doorway.

The Plan
Now, place a second piece of tracing paper on top of the first. This gives an idea of where you can place new plants, shrubs, and trees. Try different levels of planting rather than placing all your plants on just one level. You can also decide at this point on sitting areas, benches, etc. These will become focal points that catch people’s eye. Think about what you want to stand out in your yard.

The Finish
You have a complete plan of what you want. Take the time at this point to review your placements. Many people find at this stage that there are things that they don’t like. Maybe the shrubs will block existing flowerbeds. This is the time to move things around if need be. Decide where to begin: do you want to work on the hardscapes first? Or would you rather do planting? Once you have decided where to begin and have everything placed the way you want it, you can make your list and head out.

Professional landscapers would like you to believe that successful landscape production is a big secret, but it isn’t. By creating your own blueprint and doing all he planning and work yourself, you are not only saving money, but you are creating your dream yard. This landscaping venture will be sure to provide you and your family many hours of enjoyment.