Purpose – What would you like the landscape design to incorporate?

Entertaining family and friends, heightening security, to provide privacy, natural winter warming, natural summer cooling, food production, children’s play area, plant and animal biodiversity, improve health, low maintenance, reduce energy costs.

Being clear about what the gardens going to be used for is helpful in designing an emphasis for the space. Quite a few of the elements listed above can overlap into one garden. Perhaps consider what you need vs what you want to make it easier to decide.

Hardscape – What do you want to include in the garden? 

Deck, pergola, outdoor kitchen, swimming pool, arbor, firepit, rainwater tanks, raised garden beds, screening, rockery, water feature, cubby house, retaining walls, fencing, paving and paths.

These are just a few things to consider for what you want to incorporate into the garden. What is realistic will be discussed as the process gets more in depth. If you have a budget in mind, bring this up in initially to allow a realistic landscape design to be created to suit your purpose.

Plant decisions to make for the garden. (this can be quite general)

Trees, shrubs, ground covers, climbers, grasses, hedging, fruit and/or vegetables, natives, exotics, evergreen, deciduous, water requirements, bird, bee and butterfly attracting, seasonal flower display, erosion control, plant shape, colour and texture.

The right plant for the right spot is a philosophy used by horticulturalists to select plants not only by their appearance, but also based on soil quality, soil type, light availability such as full sun, part shade or full shade, water needs, maximum growing size, coastal or frost prone sites, just to name a few.