| a formal garden, a cottage garden, a Victorian | | | | a simple bubble graph can be used, when planning |
| garden, a rock garden or even a simple, kitchen | | | | the landscape-to-be. It will most probably undergo |
| garden; the key to making it aesthetically pleasing | | | | a few changes at least, from inception; once the |
| and functional, is planning its landscape with due | | | | homeowner/ landscape artist looks at the costs |
| care and consideration. | | | | involved (for some expenditure might exceed the |
| Planning out garden landscaping, first involves | | | | budgeted, whilst other items might prove to be |
| ascertaining the items (both natural and | | | | surprisingly cheaper), and reconfirms the natural |
| man-made), that are currently on-site. The best | | | | movement of the land, and ascertains the |
| way to set about this would be to obtain a site | | | | suitability of specific, selected plants. In this |
| survey, which would be done to scale; and if | | | | instance, referring a few gardening manuals might |
| up-to-date, give an accurate representation of the | | | | prove to be of use, as plant selection, its |
| lay of the land. A site survey can generally be | | | | maintenance and suitability to specific weather |
| obtained with relative ease, as the builder, the | | | | conditions would all be addressed here; a boon to |
| developer or the local records department should | | | | planners who will then have incorporate fewer |
| carry a copy. To verify the precision of the | | | | modifications. |
| site-survey, it is always advisable to visually | | | | After finalizing the bubble graph, the master plan |
| confirm its accuracy. If a site survey is | | | | is then ready to be drafted. Ideally, the master |
| unavailable, a photograph would give a | | | | plan should indicate the properly lines and the |
| bird’s eye-view of the plot in question, | | | | boundaries, the walkway, the existing structures |
| while with the use of a measuring tape and graph | | | | or trees that are to be kept and those that are |
| paper, a site survey can be drafted by the | | | | to be newly built /planted, preferably using |
| home-owner/landscape artist himself. | | | | different colors so as to differentiate between |
| Then, it is important to identify key features of | | | | the existing and the proposed, both of which |
| the land; namely the location, the soil, the slopes, | | | | would come together in forming the new |
| the irrigation, the lighting and the seasonal weather | | | | landscape. |
| conditions. A quick scan of the neighborhood | | | | Landscaping software, irrigation suppliers and soil |
| would be beneficial so as to ascertain what | | | | tests (designed to ascertain the adequacy of |
| foliage, crops or flowers, flourish best in the area | | | | nutrients in the soil), are freely available, enabling |
| in question. | | | | you to fine-tune your plan prior to implementation. |
| Now that the practicalities are established with | | | | An internet search engine can also be used, so as |
| regard to the current landscape and environment | | | | to glean relevant knowledge, helpful information |
| (and we know exactly “where we | | | | and practical tips, all of which may prove |
| are”); the next step is to envision what | | | | invaluable in the long run. |
| our ideal garden would be like. Different garden | | | | Finally, the success of planning a tasteful, |
| styles need to be looked into, and one that is in | | | | functional, landscaped garden; depends on the |
| keeping with the overall appearance of the house, | | | | optimal utilization of available space, the ease of |
| and which facilitates the home-owners lifestyle | | | | maintenance, its affordability and most |
| needs to be adopted. | | | | importantly, the joy it brings to the homeowner. |
| Once the type of garden has been decided upon, | | | | |