Landscaping For Dummies. Lance Walheim

box, terraces, or raised beds by putting in stakes at the projected height and running string between them.

      By this time your property will no doubt be ringed with throngs of curious neighbors who will be sure that this time you’ve totally lost your mind. Fill them in, if you feel inclined, or let them wonder as you walk around your new landscape.

Squint your eyes, throw your imagination into full gear, and check the position of the elements you’ve placed from every vantage point you can think of. Remember, that’s not a plastic chair: It’s a graceful evergreen. Five-gallon bucket? No, a beautiful flowering shrub.

      Shift around any of the parts of your portable garden until you like the way it looks. When you have this part of your yard arranged to your satisfaction, mark your rough plan with revised lines to show bed edges, plant placement, and any other niceties that you want to note. Then move on to the next section of your yard and do it again. Repeat until your landscape plan is finished.

Creating a Final Plan

      After you’re comfortable with each section of your proposed landscape, transfer your ideas to paper in real form — not just balloons (like we discuss in the section, “Putting Your Ideas on the Ground,” earlier in this chapter). Your final plan needs to include the following:

       Hardscape: Be sure to include deck, patio, benches, fences and gates, paths, spa, tool shed, arbor, and so on.

       Plantings: Add flowerbeds, vegetable or herb gardens, trees, shrubs, vines, lawn, and groundcover areas.

       Dimensions: Add dimensions for the house, for each element, and for the entire yard.

Although the example in Figure 3-3 may look a little more professional than your drawing, it gives you an idea of what to shoot for (you can see why you need a pencil and erasers handy). Make a few copies.

       Keep in mind that some hardscape features may require construction drawings. For more complex projects (decks, pergolas, and the like), you probably want to have these professionally drawn so you can get construction bids, obtain permits, and order materials.

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      FIGURE 3-3: The final site plan incorporates needs and features into a functional landscape.

Making a Shopping List

When you’re ready to project spending, this section can help. The easiest way to proceed is to make a spreadsheet (see Table 3-1; you can use it to create your own spreadsheet). You first divide your landscaping project into logical sections (specific types of plants, supplies, building materials, décor, and so forth), and then start filling information and numbers as you can. Lead with your priorities (for example, plants and mulch). Edit, add, subtract, as you progress and refine.

TABLE 3-1: Your Shopping List

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Element	Type	Quantity	Price Per Unit	Total $	Delivery Charge	Installation Charge	Source/Supplier
Perennials
Annuals
Shrubs
Trees
Topsoil/loam
Mulch
Bark chips
Concrete
Concrete blocks
Lumber
Lumber substitute
Hardware supplies