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Good advice is the key to designing a landscape
By MARY COLLISTER I have been wandering nurseries recently trying to get new ideas for my front yard. The project is going slowly, as I anticipated. I first transplanted the plants I want to keep to the back yard, and now I'm removing the larger plants that will be replaced. I don't have a shredder, and my compost pile is not large enough to handle the volume of plant material, so I place a few shrubs out for the garbage collectors to pick up each week. This has thus far saved me a trip to the dump. My list of unwanted plant materials is quite long. Plants can earn this dishonor for a variety of reasons. Many are just overused in the Florida landscape, and I want something different. Some are not cold hardy and may require being covered on cold winter nights. Others are high maintenance, or I just don't care for the aesthetics. I have a short list of "must haves" and a longer list of "these are okay." If you are doing any major renovation or designing from scratch, you may want to start similar lists. If you decide to use a landscape designer, these lists are a great place for the designer to start. If you frequent a particular nursery or plan on purchasing all your plant material from one place, you can often have a design sketched by nursery personnel. The more advice you have the more likely you are to end up with a pleasing design. First, it's important to understand the difference between simply planting and landscaping. Landscaping is the laying out of your property according to a plan. This will save you time, money and labor. Two of the most important tools you use will be a pencil and paper. Ask yourself these questions: Are you more comfortable with a formal or informal design? School yourself about the differences. Look at houses similar to yours and see which design makes you more comfortable. How much maintenance are you willing to do? Do you want a design requiring low, moderate or high maintenance? Be honest with yourself. Remember our summers. That design requiring hours of work each week may not be so appealing when it's 90 degrees with matching humidity. What's the orientation of your house? It's important to know how the sun moves across your property. This will affect where you place your outdoor living space as well as which plants you choose. How much lawn do you want to take care of? Grass is a high-maintenance item. How much mowing, watering and fertilizing do you want to do? Do you have a need for large expanses of lawn for children or pets? What are the functional areas needed in your yard? Do you need a service area for garbage cans, wood storage or a clothesline? What about play areas, an outdoor entertainment area, pet area, work area or garden spot? It's important to define the roles your yard will play before you start digging. Ask your family members what they expect from the yard. Do you need plantings to help muffle noise or to ensure privacy? Large hedges can do both. What plants do you truly like and want in your yard? Go back to those lists you started. Walk around nurseries and get the proper names so you have the correct information to give to your designer. Are there any plants you are adamant about not including? I do have a list of plants I just don't like. Everyone's list will be different. Will you be including any specialty plants such as bulbs, roses or others? These often require more care. Make sure you're willing to provide it. If you take the time to answer these questions, your design will be easier to create and you'll be much happier with the results. Another important but often overlooked aspect of landscape design is those elements of your design that are not visible. This includes drainage and underground irrigation systems. We receive a lot of rain in Florida, and good drainage is important for the health of your plants. Drainage can be improved by changing the slope of your yard, adding French drains (simply digging a big hole and filling it with gravel), or using perforated pipe to carry the water away from unwanted areas. Underground irrigation systems can be real time- and water-savers when installed and used properly. If you're a novice, you might ask for some professional advice. Sprinkler zones should include plant materials with similar watering requirements. This allows for a wiser use of water. Designing a landscape doesn't have to be a solitary challenge. Sources of help include good nurseries, the cooperative extension service in your county, master gardener clinics, the Internet, garden columns and magazine articles, and garden shows on television and the radio. It really isn't a complicated task. Just remember to ask the right questions and secure professional advice when warranted. You'll end up with a design you will enjoy for years to come.
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From the Times |
