In this day and age, jumping into any project requires thought. It is very important to take time out to do a little planning. Several basic garden design concepts will guide your planning. Sit down and consider what is important to you and to your family.
1. Outdoor living spaces for sitting and/or dining.
2. Open spaces for play: swing set, trampoline, and perhaps a pool or spa.
3. Grass for kids and dogs, getting rid of a lawn completely.
4. Trees, shrubs, flowers, and maybe a vegetable garden.
Each of these considerations should be prioritized based upon your family, of course. But, believe it or not, all things are possible. These basic concepts all overlap and intertwine. One can be combined with another. All can be interactive with each other.
Other things to think about for your landscape are: Do you love birds and wildlife, do you want to conserve water, use native plants, or have a tropical paradise? Do you have the knowledge to make these factors work in your yard?
A landscape including outdoor living spaces can be as simple as a café table and chairs on your porch or as elegant as a hidden garden seating area with a small fountain. Prioritize the points suggested above and they will help you define your needs for the gardens surrounding your castle. You will discover what is best suited to you and your way of living. We all can have beautiful garden spaces and privacy, and still provide a yard where it is fun and safe for the whole family.
If you are planning an extensive change or brand new landscape it makes sense to hire a Landscape Design professional, who can guide you through the design and help you to choose between options, provide plans that allow you to get comparative bids from different contractors, and give you advice about style all for less than the cost of the difference between contractors. Be sure to interview a few choices, so that you can find one that you see eye to eye with, or that just “gets it.” With your ideas and the guidance of your professional, you will end up with a finished product that you both can be proud of. If you are on a tight budget, you can install the landscaping yourself.
Julie Molinare has been a Certified Landscape Designer living in the Santa Clarita for over 12 years. Julie teaches the Introduction to Landscape Design Class at CSUN – Tseng College of Extended Learning and is Owner/Designer of The Grass Is Always Greener Designs.
For more information, please call 661-917-3521 and visit www.thegrassisalwaysgreener.net .