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Visualize a Great Looking Yard
These suggestions will help you get started in planning your yard. They work whether you are retrofitting or starting from scratch.
- Evaluate your landscape and how it will be used. Take photos of yards that appeal to you. Creating an overall plan is easy once you have a concept in mind.
- Develop a plot plan map of your lot. Locate all the features that affect your landscaping.
- If you're renovating an established yard, evaluate plants, patios, decks, fences, walkways and irrigation systems which may need replacing.
- Draw or cut circles that represent the size of native plants when designing your new planting areas. Most large canopy-style trees average 40 feet wide; medium trees,
30 feet wide; and small trees, 20 feet wide. Use five- and 10-foot-wide circles to represent shrubs. Perennials are usually one to three feet wide. Place your templates
on your plot plan. Choose trees that frame your home, rather than hide it.
- Plant deciduous (leaf dropping) trees on the south and/or the west side of your house to enhance summer cooling and to allow winter sun to warm your home.
- Although trees, shrubs and plants may look small when first planted, they will eventually grow to mature size, so allow proper space between them.
- Trees can be placed next to turf areas, but don't work as well within the turf itself. Nearly all trees have different watering requirements than turf, which may result in pests, disease and roots surfacing in the lawn.
- Place your shrubs and perennials, grouping zones by water use. A water-efficient landscape will have few "high water use" plants and practical turf area. In general, place the highest water-use zones close to the house, and low water-use zones furthest from the house. View this chart for a list of examples of water use zones based on plant types. For more information on plants that are water-efficient, check the Interactive Landscape Guide section.
- Locate underground utilities. Call before you dig at 1-800-227-2600.
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