The Landscape Question - What Do I Have To Work With?

By Keith Markensen

Practical Considerations

"What do I have to work with?" That is the first practical question you have to ask yourself before starting any landscape project. Certainly you have a house, or plan to buy or build one; and around the house you have some property. Although the size of the house and lot will greatly affect the ultimate garden, the design and execution of a landscape plan remains basically the same whether house and lot are large or small. Above all, never despair because your property seems too small to landscape. As long as there is enough space and soil to plant a single shrub, tree, or vine, you can improve your property in a satisfying way.

Next, you must determine how much time and money you can afford to spend on your garden. Bear in mind that your garden is not serving its real purpose if it enslaves you. Budget the amount of time you can devote to landscaping and determine what percentage of your income you can set aside for improvements. It is far better to have an easily maintained garden that you can enjoy during your leisure than to have one which demands constant upkeep.

Existing Vegetation

If your property already has established forms of vegetation - trees, shrubs, vines, flower borders - you will have to learn two things. First of all, you must train yourself to have the courage to remove and destroy unnecessary, undesirable, or inappropriate plants. Many people who have never developed this skill spend their entire lives in a man-made jungle of plants.

Secondly, you must learn to look at a property that has plants like star jasmine on it and be able to visualize it devoid of vegetation. Better still, develop the landscape plan on paper by outlining the property lines and established objects such as buildings, driveways, and fences. This will give you a picture of what you have to work with. A good plant for landscape is the star jasmine.

In addition to seeing the property as you want it to be rather than as it is, you must carefully evaluate every piece of existing vegetation. Large trees are, for example, of great value and should be carefully considered in your plans. On large suburban or rural properties beautiful native vines and small flowering trees may prompt you to modify your plans. Do not fail to evaluate all existing plantings before committing yourself to any new landscaping program. - 30228

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