5 Essential Considerations for a Successful Landscape Design Project

Dreaming of lush, fragrant plantings that create a calm oasis? Expanding entertaining options for your social lifestyle? Or just ready for a fresh look? Winter is the perfect time to research and design — always put pencil to paper before the shovel hits dirt.

1. Identify Your Lifestyle

Develop your real estate to suit your lifestyle — a plan that encourages happy engagement with your outdoor environment. How will you use the space: relax, entertain, grow edibles? Need room for kids, pets, camper storage? Prioritize these.

Maintenance is lifestyle-driven too. Every landscape needs upkeep. Consider your time and abilities:

• High-maintenance: For dedicated gardeners who love yard work.
• Low-maintenance: For those who enjoy light puttering outdoors.
• No-maintenance: For those hiring professional maintenance.

2. Identify Your Design Style

A seamless indoor-outdoor transition happens when your home's architectural and interior style — lines, shapes, colors, textures, materials — echoes outside. Whether modern, rustic, traditional, or eclectic, let what brings you joy and your region guide choices.

3. Develop a Plant Palette

Start by listing plant attributes you like: native to your region, fragrant, drought-tolerant, wildlife-attracting, colorful foliage, deer-resistant, edible, showy flowers, evergreen, autumn color. Cross-check with plants suited to your region — your local extension service is a great resource.

4. Do a Reality Check

Before diving into details, understand your parameters (not limitations) to save time and money:

• Budget: Comfortable spending now or over years? Long-term maintenance costs? Design to your comfort level.
• HOA rules: May govern minimum plant sizes, paint colors, fence styles/placement.
• Zoning/building codes: Often safety-focused — deck rail requirements, street-side fence height limits.

5. Work With a Pro

A simple consultation or coaching session may suffice for small projects. Larger, complex projects — especially with hardscape — benefit from design and construction experts' knowledge and experience.