You’re designing a landscape for your home and you’re positive the finished creation will be the next Architectural Digest cover. You’ve watched those British flicks on PBS, fallen in love with topiary and already imagine yourself weaving through a perfectly-sculpted maze of foliage. Imagination soars as shrubbery formed like fairies and wizards thrills your children. Back up for that reality check, please. As with any worthwhile project, you can’t plunge willy-nilly into a landscaping job and expect it to be an artistic achievement. Question your ideas beforehand. There are crucial elements that you should consider while plans are still in the drawing board stage. Here are five:

Appearance
A fabricated concept of dead tree stumps and big boulders leading into palm trees and overgrown grass you may see as unique. Your neighbors will have a different view. How much will your masterpiece veer from the neighborhood’s scheme? Does the subdivision have small-print regulations concerning conformity? If your design is visually unappealing, you may be adding unplanned legal costs into your budget.

Practicality
Will your design allow for a comfortable flow of the normal activities that occur in and around the area? Don’t sacrifice function for fantasy. What impact will that all-rock retaining wall have on the sidewalk or yard pathways? Is there a fence? Remember, function and maintenance go hand in hand.

Upkeep
What will sustain your masterpiece after day one? Unless you plan to employ a professional, are you able to maintain the finished project through the four seasons? Something highly aesthetic can plunge to tacky in a New York minute if it isn’t kept up.

Environment
How will your “own backyard” affect your design? If you select plants and shrubbery that thrive in southern locales and you live in Alaska, expect heartbreak. Know the soil properties and water accessibility in your area. Shun greenery that invites disease or destructive insects. Consider the path of the sun around your landscape. The plant life you choose may depend upon a certain amount of shade in summer. Conversely, will there be a necessary funnel of sunlight during winter?

Affordability
Can your plans on paper be supported by the shekels in your bank account? Your blueprint dream may be elegant, but it’ll be a nightmare if it forces you into hock to Big Louie. Keep in mind that all design elements are interdependent. Every cost, including seasonal maintenance, must be evaluated.