Table Of ContentPLANNING AND PREPARING
MEASURING YOUR EXISTING SITE
T
ransforming a bare or bedraggled yard into
a private paradise is more than a willy-nilly
procedure. It's a step-by-step operation that in
volves measuring and drawing a map of your
site, sketching the new landscape possibilities,
choosing a final plan, and, lastly, staging the
work according to personal priorities, logical
work order, and budget.
• Taking measurements
A map of your lot may already exist. Check with
the builder or architect, with the local FHA,
VA, or mortgage office, or with your deed.
Your town or county building department may
have a property survey on file, too. Check any
plan for accuracy, especially if it is old. If you
find plans, ask also for any topographical data
that may show grade changes and drainage.
If no plans exist, don't worry. Just follow the
directions below, and in less than an hour you
can do the measuring. Or hire a surveyor (espe
cially if property lines are in question). Most
people, however, can do their yards themselves.
Take a notebook, the largest measuring tape
you have, and a pen or pencil, and head for the
outdoors. Someone to hold your tape and dou
ble-check your measurements will help im
mensely, but you can do it alone. Just use an ice
pick, a skewer, or a large rock to hold your tape.
If your yard is large, pace off the measure
ments. To be most accurate, measure a strip 50
or 100 feet long. Walk this and count your
steps. Then convert paces into feet (for exam
ple, 50 feet at 20 steps equals 21/2 feet per step).
First, make a rough sketch of your house and
property. Next, accurately measure property
lines, then locate the house by measuring from
each corner perpendicular to the two nearest
property lines. Finally, measure and mark all
other structures and all trees and plantings you
plan to keep. Put the figures on your rough
sketch as you go.
Now or later you will want to mark the eaves,
first-floor doors and windows, downspouts, me
ter locations, relevant utility and water lines,
and anything else that may affect your plans.
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39
PLANNING AND PREPARING
DRAWING A MAP OF YOUR EXISTING SITE
W
ith the rough sketch of your property
drawn and accurate figures gathered (see
pages 38-39), you are well on the way to rede
signing your yard's landscape. Now, go back
inside and turn the rough sketch of your yard
into a detailed, drawn-to-scale map. The sooner
you do this, the fewer trips you'll have to make
back out to recheck any measurements.
This base plan will give you a good picture of
your yard as a whole.
A drawing board and T square will make the
job easier, but they aren't essential. All you real
ly need are any flat surface (a breadboard or
large piece of cardboard makes a fine portable
one) and a piece of paper large enough to draw
your yard on. Most yards up to a half acre can be
drawn on graph paper 18 to 24 inches square or
vellum 17 to 22 inches square.
Use a scale of 1:4 (1 inch equals 4 feet or 1/4
inch equals 1 foot) for a small yard down to 1:20
(1 inch equals 20 feet) for a half-acre lot. The
larger the second number of the scale, the small
er everything will appear on paper.
Graph paper and vellum come with 4, 8, or
10 light grids per inch. These will not repro
duce on a blueprint but will be helpful prior to
that stage.
If your yard is very large, you may want to
make one map of the whole yard at a small scale
40
first, then later make separate plans of individ Join them for lines. Mark the trunk positions of
ual areas at a larger scale. the trees and shrubs you plan to keep. You also
As an aid, you can use a professional scale may want to sketch in the present branch lines
(see photo, opposite, top). An architect's scale is with thin but solid lines and keep the possible
calibrated in eighths of an inch, an engineer's in future spread lines in mind.
tenths. You can buy one scale that combines
both. Or you can just use a ruler.
Tape your paper to your surface with a sturdy
but removable tape such as masking tape.
Draw an arrow pointing north. You can, of
course, fill this in later, but it is best to have the
north point at the top or side of your paper for
quick reference. It will tell you much about the
sun patterns and govern many plant and placing
decisions (see pages 96-113).
Then, using pencil, draw your map, starting
with the property lines. Fill in the lines of the
house and other structures. Measure with scale,
compass, or ruler and make dots on the plan.
41
PLANNING AND PREPARING
DRAWING A MAP OF YOUR EXISTING SITE
H
aving drawn your base map, you now have time, and from your entry ways, noting all the
done more professional landscaping than pluses and minuses of each view.
most people ever accomplish. The next step is to Get out any lists of likes and dislikes you've
tape a piece of tracing paper over your base plan noted about your yard over the years (see page
and go outside again. 22). Write everything of importance on the
This time, on the tracing paper, make notes piece of tracing paper.
about your yard, similar to those shown below. If you are doing this plan after studying your
Indicate any feature that may affect your land yard for a full cycle of seasons, you are ready to
scape decisions: sun, wind, good and bad views, proceed. If not, the plan will help you notice
privacy needs, soil, topography, and any other more keenly how such features as sun, shadows,
problems or special features your yard presents. wind, and views change with the time of day
Put in arrows to indicate directions or intensity. and time- of year. Put your plan in a handy spot
Also include here any notes about the adjoin so you can add to it as needed.
ing properties that may be relevant to your plan: Only after doing such a plan can you put the
nearby trees, for example, or noise, erosion, or information in the rest of this book into the
drainage problems. climate and context of your yard. Combine the
Next, to make sure you fully analyze your lot, possibilities with your own realities, and you
go back indoors. Check the views from the win will make decisions that will enhance the best
dows in the rooms where you spend the most and change the worst landscaping features.
42
DESIGNING YOUR NEW LANDSCAPE
T
he initial design stage is the most important, with this decision, check to see whether your
creative, exciting, and forgiving of all the ideas seem to be tending in one direction. Once
landscaping steps. Let it be the most fun as well. you've selected a style, you can more readily
The process is a simple one: Lay tracing paper choose and reject ideas. This saves you time and
over your base plan, sketch all sorts of ideas, helps you develop a more unified design.
then select or change ideas based on how they
fit together and how they solve the problems or • Bubble tracings
accent the features you highlighted on your At the start, instead of sketching specific ideas
problem plan (see opposite). on the tracing paper, draw bubbles representing
the possible general use areas you see for the
• Ideas yard: entry, outdoor living, service, etc. (see
Be sure to give your plan time to evolve. You'll illustration, below). Most of the front and per
find that ideas may seem limited at first, but that haps some of the side, for example, could be
they multiply as you play with them and they entry area. Most of the back and perhaps part of
interact with each other. (See pages 22 and 24 a side yard could be reserved for outdoor living
for hints on generating ideas.) and entertaining. Drawing such bubbles keeps
You'll want to decide early on if there's a you from thinking in too many specifics too
single landscape style—formal, natural, English early on in the process.
cottage, etc.—you'd like to adopt. To help you
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PLANNING AND PREPARING
DESIGNING YOUR NEW LANDSCAPE,
A
s you do your bubble tracings of general
use areas, you may also want to cut out
some smaller bubbles—from any kind of slight
ly thicker paper—to represent areas that will
have a specific use, say a patio, deck, or pool.
You can move these patterns around easily, try
ing different arrangements within the broader
space you've allotted to that general use.
Be sure when you're considering the general
uses for your yard that you set aside space for a
service area or two (see pages 232-251). These
are the areas in your landscape that will accom
modate everything from trash cans, boats, and
drying clothes, to pets and fireplace wood. Try
to put these service areas in the least conspicu
ous but most convenient spots possible.
As you sketch the bubbles and as you begin to
draw more specific ideas on your tracing paper,
don't forget to refer to your problem plan (see
page 42). Double-check all dimensions to be
sure the pieces you're considering still fit in the
whole. Refer, too, to any lists you made of your
family's outdoor needs. Ask often what the rest
of the family thinks about the plan. Considering
everyone's ideas and desires will help in assess
ing and implementing the plan, and in the ulti
mate success of the landscape.
Concentrate on problems and solutions at this
stage, not fine detail. Think of the plants as
architectural forms: background or specimen
trees, high or low screens. Save the decisions
about varieties for later.
• Three-dimensional thinking
Remember that your scale plan is accurate, but
flat. Expand on it by walking around the yard
and pacing off proposed changes, and by sitting
on the step and visualizing the finished scene.
Use some props, too. Lay out hoses to indi
cate the edges of patios. Put up sheets to mark
the height offences. Go out after dark and shine
a flashlight to give the effect of night lighting.
44
Draw some simple elevation sketches. They At some point, you also may want to draw up
don't have to be as accurate as those shown specific plans indicating lighting, drainage, or
below, though you can use the same tools and other special construction needs. These detailed
methods you used for your base plan to make plans will greatly help those doing the work.
your elevation sketches just as detailed; and the VSimple elevation
greater the detail, the easier it will be for you to • Long-term thinking drawings like these can
picture the results. When testing the pros and cons of all ideas, help you make decisions
Or, for a quick elevation view, blow up a think of how things will look not just at the time and better visualize the
photo of your house, lay tracing paper over it, the work is completed, but also in five years, in results of the plans.
then sketch in possible changes (see bottom 10 years, in 25 years. Consider, too, how your Note how the height
photo, opposite). landscaping needs may change over time. After and spread of planting
This may be a good time to make separate, all, landscaping is an evolutionary art form that's materials relate to the
large-scale plans of various sections of the yard. never really finished. size of the house.
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PLANNING AND PREPARING
SCHEDULING THE WORK
N
ow you are ready to get down to the work. Real-estate agents consider it reasonable to
The beauty of having a plan is that you spend 10 to 15 percent of the cost of the house
know where you are going. Even if it takes years and lot on landscaping, not including such large
to get there, all of your work and expense will improvements as pools and patio roofs.
be taking you in the right direction. Relax and If you keep your landscaping costs in this
enjoy the process. range, most of the expense is likely to boost the
value of your property. Some of the work, too,
• Where to start will immediately or eventually reduce the costs
Common sense will dictate some of the work of heating and cooling. And all will make an
schedule you now should add to your notebook. appreciable difference in your quality of life,
Most work in most climates will be seasonal, comfort, and health.
with major planting in spring and fall. Here are Most plans will call for some work that is
some guidelines. beyond the capability, time, or desire of the
• If landscape destruction is involved, do that homeowner to do personally. See page 28 for
first. Clear the site. available help. Then check your local Yellow
• Do rough grading and the installation of a Pages. Begin talking to contractors or doing
swimming pool, drainage system, and all under some comparison shopping for materials.
ground utilities next. Prepare any large areas of To get a realistic picture of costs, generally
soil while you have the equipment there. you're best off doubling any number you come
• If possible, build structures next. If they are up with initially. Figure you can save about half
on the waiting list, keep their areas and equip of the hired cost if you do a job yourself, if you
ment needs in mind as you plant. can. Stinting on such things as erosion control,
walls, utilities, and such could cost you more in
• Trees take time the long run or jeopardize your family's safety.
All the money in the world cannot buy the years
it takes to grow a large tree. Protect any existing • Work in stages
choice trees. You may want to keep less-choice Whether you do your landscaping work over a
trees for the time being or plant temporary, fast- series of weekends or years, breaking large jobs
growing trees until better kinds grow large into small segments makes your goals attainable.
enough. You may also want to move existing Personal priorities can prevail. Ask yourself
plants that are small enough to withstand trans these questions:
planting (you can circle the fingers of one hand • What existing conditions can I live with long
around their trunks; see page 61). est? In a new home, a lawn will reduce glare,
When buying those vital trees for framing summer temperatures, erosion, and tracking
and shade, get the largest you can afford as soon into the house. An old lawn, however weedy,
as you can. They can settle in and grow while may do until the patio and walks are in place.
you are doing the other work. • Which improvements will contribute most to
In distant spots, start smaller trees and put my use and enjoyment of my yard? You will
mulch, ground covers, flowers, or vegetables need a service area right away.
around them until they spread. • Will a new entryway that visitors and passers-
by see every day mean more, or should I build
• Consider costs the deck that will expand my house and outdoor
You probably have been gauging costs instinc living? The most satisfaction and success usually
tively during the planning stages. Now it is time comes from concentrating on one area at a time.
to work up specific figures. Then let your enjoyment of that area spur you
on to and through the next stage.
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