When starting a new landscape, making changes in your current landscape, or taking on a landscape revitalization project for a total face lift, there are important things to consider.
In this article, I will help you think ahead and make decisions based on the total outdoor experience you want and can afford.
In addition, if you’re a person who likes to do it yourself and get your hands dirty, I will guide you through ideas to consider and questions you need to answer before you begin.
If you’re considering a designer, knowing the answers to the questions below before you meet with your designer will decrease the time needed for the landscape design process and will give you more time to work with your designer in areas where you are undecided or have questions.
Thinking Ahead - What Are the Advantages of Hiring a Landscape Designer?
- First thought – Many people’s first thought is, “I want an amazing design!” And that should be your first thought, and you should get that result; however, there are many very important factors to consider first.
- Solving problems – Working out the landscape problems on paper is much less expensive than having to make changes after the installation has begun or even finished.
- Your style – If you aren’t sure of your style – your likes and dislikes – this is a great time of discovery with a professional who has the experience to lead you through this learning process.
- The budget – Your designer can work with you to keep your project close to your anticipated budget.
- Getting accurate bids – With a detailed design listing all materials, sizes, brands, amounts, etc., you will be able to receive apple-to-apple bids from contractors and have a better understanding of a reasonable cost for your installation.
- Phasing – If your budget works better by phasing your project – completing it in stages – a design outlines those phases for you so you don’t make expensive mistakes.
- A visual – A design also gives you the opportunity to visualize what your landscape is going to look like when finished. This allows you to make changes until you have exactly what you want.
- HOA requirements – If you live in an area where there is a Home Owners Association, you will likely be required to submit a landscape design for approval by the HOA Architectural Committee and HOA Board. You will need to supply your designer with a copy of the landscape portion of your CC&Rs. Hiring a designer who has experience working with HOAs may get you through the approval process easier and faster.
With the list above, it’s clear that there are many important reasons to work with an experienced designer who can save you time, money, and a lot of frustration while delivering your new and ultimate outdoor experience at home.
Colors - What Emotions Do They Elicit for You?
How do you want to feel in your outdoor living space? Do you want to slow down feeling calm and relaxed, or do you want to feel energized, rejuvenated, or excited? Certain colors or color combinations elicit definite emotions as we experience nature. Colors opposite on the color wheel are called complementary colors, and these colors can create a visual electric or vibratory sensation. These are your exciting and energizing colors.
Colors side-by-side on the color wheel are known as analogous colors and tend to produce less energy and a more calming and harmonizing feeling. Can you see the energy difference between these two images to the left? This does not mean you have to choose one over the other? No. You can choose colors that provide both an elevation in energy as well as harmony depending on strategic placement and what you want to accomplish in your garden.
To learn more about the importance and the impact the colors in nature can provide in your outdoor living experience, click here.
Attracting Wildlife - Is This Intriguing to You?
What would you like to attract to your garden? Nature is much more than plants and colors. Butterflies, dragonflies, and hummingbirds as well as other wildlife can add beauty and interest to your garden.
If you have a desire to attract this part of nature, your designer can make this happen through the right choice of plants, colors, sounds, and possibly the use of water such as a fountain, pond, or waterfall if this is on your design list.
The Changing Seasons -Are the Fall Colors a Favorite?
Even in the more temperate climates, there are trees with leaves that turn yellow, orange, red, and purple and give you that feeling of New England in the fall! There are also shrubs that bloom radiant colors in the spring and summer but provide bright yellow, orange, and red berries announcing the beginning of another season.
If you want to experience the beauty of fall in your outdoor living space, we can do that! Some of the fall announcing shrubs do not lose their leaves but
remain with deep, rich green leaves throughout all seasons. Often these plants display the fall colors through the berries they produce this time of the year.
However, just like in New England, when winter breathes its cold chill on these trees of living color, and the sun sets earlier reducing the needed light to create chlorophyll, the leaves will drop. The trees will stand tall and naked through the winter season. They will bare only a bland mix of black, tan and gray – the neutral colors on the color palette; however, they do produce amazing interest with the lines, textures, and the shapes their trunks and branches create.
When creating your masterpiece – your landscape design – always keep in mind the canvas needs to reflect more than shapes and colors to fill your senses. Textures, lines, light, shadows, fragrances, sounds – these all have their place on the landscape artist’s palette.
Entertainment - Are Summer Barbecues and Pool Parties a High Priority For You?
If so, this is important for your designer to know. How entertainment friendly do you want your backyard to be? Think about a swimming pool, barbecue, outdoor kitchen, a bar, a fire pit, a gazebo or pergola, and how many guests you may have at one time. Large numbers require a different accommodation than small numbers, and this should be called out on your design.
Now think about the details – what do you want included in your swimming pool? A spa, a swim
up bar, lights, a diving board, depth of the pool, width and length of the pool. Will this also be used for exercise or just recreational swimming? These are all important questions to answer.
What would you include in your outdoor kitchen? A grill with or without side burners, a bar (how many seats at the bar), a refrigerator, a sink, storage. You might also include a pizza oven, a smoker, an outdoor TV, fans, lights, a Santa Maria grill, an icemaker, ice storage, a kegerator, and an overhead shade structure.
Will this be custom or prefab? If it’s custom, what type of finish do you want? Do you want it to match your house or use complimentary stone work such as ledger stone?
Shade - Trees, Structures or Both?
Everyone wants and needs shade to enjoy their outdoor living space on those hot summer days. Do you prefer the natural shade of trees or do you prefer a patio cover, a free standing pergola, a gazebo, or a covered outdoor kitchen? How do you want to enjoy the shade to keep cool when the sun is beyond just a warm summer’s day?
The Sound of Water - How Does it Make You Feel?
Flowing water can soothe and calm. Water is often associated with meditation. It can be visually mesmerizing. The sound alone can be mentally cleansing.
To learn more about the health benefits of being close to a body of water, check out this article posted by Quartz.
Is this something you want to experience in your backyard? Or…
Do you prefer something less formal and more natural? What about a pond with a waterfall? Large or small, the visual and the auditory benefits can be relaxing and peaceful – a place to think, plan, and put life in perspective.
A pond with or without fish can provide a lot of pleasure. There are many water plants that can thrive in your pond and bring life and color to this man-made to look natural environment.
If family members and friends love to play sports or want a great workout, consider a sports court, tennis court, horseshoe pit, corn hole toss, pickleball, volleyball, and more. There are so many options.
Regular physical exercise is important to your health. Finding time on a consistent basis to head to the gym or a place where you can participate in these activities may be limited. But having access to these healthy pursuits in your own backyard is so much more inviting.
Grass - How Much Is Too Much or Too Little?
Depending on where you live, if water is a precious commodity that’s becoming less available or if you’re dealing with drought situations, then grass is a concern. Most people love that green, cooling carpet that triggers strong, positive emotional responses.
In nature, green represents life and growth. It also provides a feeling of renewal and energy. It feels cool and clean and brings a sense of harmony. It is a great place to play with your
children, grandchildren or pets. Yet, if you’re in an area concerned with drought, we have to be practical.
Think outside the box! What can provide the type of recreation you want for your family with less grass? What games can be played on a different surface such as horseshoes on decomposed granite, sports on a sports court, water games in the pool, a swing, a hammock under that shade tree, a playground with swings, a slide and a sandbox for the little ones, maybe even a treehouse!
There are many ways to entertain your family and friends without a lot of grass, and if you live in an area with concerns of water use, there are a lot of low water options for gorgeous gardens.
If grass is a must for you, then consider minimizing the amount of grass and planting a drought tolerant grass such as Bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass, Bahia grass, or Zoysia grass.
Landscape Lighting - A Wonderland Effect!
Landscape lighting adds such beauty to your home. When strategically place, we see that the spaces created by shadows are just important as the spaces created by the light. The balance between the light and the shadows is the final touch to your “dreamscape” masterpiece.
Lighting also provides a level of security and safety. In addition, it can enhance the curb appeal of your home increasing the value. AND you’ll be able to enjoy your outdoor experience at night.
Simply Put - Decisions...Decisions...Decisions??? And We’re Here to Help!
There are a lot of decisions to make when planning a new or modified landscape. The more of these decisions you can make prior to meeting with your designer, the faster the design process can go.
In addition, get the decisions you are confident about out of the way, and this will free up time for your designer to guide you through your more uncertain territory such as aspects of the design you are unsure about or making a decision on the style that best fits your lifestyle.
This doesn’t mean you won’t change your mind. This needs to be a flexible process, because one decision or one problem could possibly change the entire course of the design. And that’s okay. When your design is complete, you should be energized and excited about the garden you will enjoy for years to come.
One last thought – YOUR BUDGET! Write down every tiny detail you can think of that you feel you want to include in your design. Prioritize those details. What are the absolute musts, which ones are negotiable and what’s the fluff? This is of great value to your designer, and it’s of great value to your budget.
If your “dreamscape” has exceeded your budget, some things will need to be carved out. Knowing what those things are in advance, again, will save you time, money and frustration.
The more details you work out before you meet with your designer, and the details you work through with your designer will make your project move forward much smoother. It’s a lot of work upfront but definitely worth it once the installation process begins – and especially when it’s completed!
This information is merely a springboard of thought and creating. It’s a lot to digest. Don’t worry about deciding everything before you meet with your designer. These are just ideas for you to consider. Having given some thought to these ideas will simply help you communicate with your designer regarding your wants and desires and help you formulate questions you may want to ask.
If you want to do the work yourself but would like some guidance, please contact me. With a consultation, I can guide you through the process and provide you with a reasonable approach to accomplish your landscape goals.
Considering a designer? Let’s create a design that fills all your senses and thrives in the nature framing your home. I am excited to work with you! Contact me today and let’s get started!
I work only in Southern California and Southern Utah. If you live outside these areas, search Google for landscape designers or ask for referrals from local landscape contractors.
Hi. I’m Linda Rose. I have 17 years of professional experience as a landscape contractor and landscape designer. I’m passionate about nature and using nature’s palette to create beautiful gardens for my clients. I’m an advocate for the Earth with a mission to encourage people to connect with the Earth and receive the abundant gifts of beauty, health, and balance. My goal is to create your ultimate outdoor experience at home.