Design Your Own Garden!
If you have decided to re-vamp your back (or front) yard, the first thing you must do is to measure it and commit the measurements to a piece of graph paper. The recommended scale is one inch equals ten feet, which is a good size while you are experimenting and roughing out your draft plans. Once you have decided upon a plan, you may wish to transfer it to one foot equals one inch (1′=1″ scale).
Make sure you point which way is north, as this will be handy when you need to choose which plants you want. Map out any utility pipes or cables if necessary. Next thing to go on your ‘map’ will be existing trees and shrubs that will stay where they are already placed.
Other factors you may need to consider are wind in your yard, slopes, privacy and the basic features that you need in your yard. To determine this, you have to consider whether you are primarily designing a children’s play garden, a peaceful haven, a flowering paradise or just a low maintenance lawn with shrubs. (more…)