Designing your own landscaping can seem like an overwhelming task, but if you are up for it, there is no better time to start than now! Your design should depend on a number of factors, such as how you would like to use the space, what direction the yard faces, or what type of aesthetic are you going for. Below are some landscape design tips to get started visualizing the space you’d like to create.
1. HAVE A VISION OF THE END RESULT FOR THE LANDSCAPE SPACE AND FOR YOURSELF
This means having an idea of how your backyard will serve you and/or your family. Will children (or pets) be playing on it? Will you be entertaining guests there? What sport activities, if any, will you be doing? Would you like to be out under a shade to read or do some hobbies? Do you like the sight of flowers and many plants or just a few? Will you be maintaining your yard yourself or pay someone else to do it?
Your backyard can be designed to have spaces to accommodate different uses. Plants can be placed strategically so as to provide shade from trees or tall bushes. Walkways or paths of different materials can be incorporated to move people from one area to another. You can place a safe playground in one corner for the children.
You can hire someone to maintain your yard or if you don’t have the budget or much time to maintain it, you can limit the amount of plants or grow those that are low maintenance and can thrive in dry conditions. Native California plants are perfect for this and always a recommendation.
2. BE FAMILIAR WITH YOUR BACKYARD
When planning your landscape, it would help to know your regional climate, your soil type and topography. Know that specific conditions of your yard can create a microclimate based on the amount of sun a certain area is exposed to. Your garden space will need specific plantings, such as whether they are meant for areas getting full sun, partial or deep shade. When planting, consider the climate of your region, as some plants prefer warm weather and die in cold weather. Perennials are present all seasons of the year, or grow back every spring, whereas annuals have a lifespan of one year.
Knowing where the sun rises or sets with respect to your yard helps in the placement of trees to create shade for your specific use or activity. Some trees are annuals and some are perennials. Some grow taller than others.
Consider the topography of your backyard as it will play an important role in how water will drain in your landscape. It’s best that your design will promote the movement of water away from your house. By understanding the topography of your backyard, you can explore different ways to modify it to suit your design features. For example, you can create mounds by adding soil or remove soil to make a pond, build a structures for water feature, retaining walls, bridges, slopes, etc.
3. INCORPORATE THEMES INTO YOUR DESIGN
Design your backyard as an extension of your home as well as an expression of your interests. A design theme offers inspiration and assists in making decisions about which features to include, the types of materials used and what kinds of plantings to grow. For example, a desert theme would include cacti and rocks; a Japanese garden would include bonsai, sculpture and a bridge; a minimalist garden would have a limited mix of ornamental grasses and low- maintenance perennials. Once you have decided on your theme, then you can decide what features to include in your backyard. You can create different themes for different spaces and tie them together with walkways or paths.
4. PLANT WITH A PURPOSE
The plants you select will work together as a whole to create a mood or theme for your landscape. Consider what the purpose of the plant would be, whether to provide you with fresh food, colorful scenery lovely scent, shade and much more.
Trees and large plants will provide cooling shade. Strategically placing and choosing your trees can help save energy. Laying turf provides recreational area as well as in filtering water, stabilizing soil and preventing erosion. Groundcover can be a low-maintenance alternative to turf. Dense shrubs can be planted to provide privacy and enclosure. A pollinator garden can attract butterflies and birds.
When choosing what plants to grow, take into account how time would play a role during their growth. Each plant has a growth rate, maintenance needs and mature size. Knowing this information can help you choose the type of plant best suited for your garden.
Planting California native plants is a wonderful idea for the Sacramento region. Check out this article for a few ideas.
5. ARRANGE YOUR PLANTS AESTHETICALLY
Before digging the ground to plant, consider their placement first, allowing space between them, so that they are arranged in such a way that is pleasing to the eye. Know that a vibrant and visually appealing garden has a variety of plants, a diversity of heights, textures and colors. Incorporate varying fruits, flowers and leaves of different sizes and shapes. Consider different seasons of blooming and the plants should complement and contrast each other. The addition of a sculpture or a bird bath brings creates a focal point to your garden.
6. MAINTAINING YOUR GARDENS
Plan on how your backyard will be maintained, how your plants will be watered. Do you have time to water them manually? If not, placing a drip irrigation system would be ideal and can lower you water bill. Design the placement of your irrigation accessories so that it uses water minimally yet allows your plants to grow healthy. Consider laying landscape fabric, spreading bark, rocks or straw to prevent weeds from growing. Removal of dead plants in your garden deter pests and prevent plant disease.
For some design inspiration, check out Calscape’s page.
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