LANDSCAPE DESIGN PLANS SERIES

Health and condition of trees and shrubs.

Locations of storage and functional use areas.ДЄ site analysis should include an evaluation of existing site features to preserve or improve:.

Existing building and neighborhood architectural styles.

Locations of sunny and shady areas of the property.

All existing tree, shrub and other vegetation types and locations.

Locations of steep slopes, drainage swales, and where site water is draining.

A site analysis is an evaluation or judgement about the conditions of the site elements. Label this sheet 'site inventory and analysis.' A site inventory is a list of all the additional site elements and environmental factors that were not listed on the base plan. Take a clean sheet of tracing paper and tape it over the enlarged base plan.

Compass directions showing north, east, south, and west.

Off site elements including adjoining roads and drives, bodies of water, and structures.

On and off site utilities including electric, telephone, gas, water, sewer, septic tanks, and field drains.

Roads, drives, parking areas, walks and paths, patios, swimming pools.

All walls, fences, utility boxes and poles, fire hydrants, etc.

Bodies of water (streams, lakes, ponds, low areas).

The base plan should show the following information:

If there is no property survey, especially if you are interested in locating permanent structures adjacent property lines such as fences, pavement, etc., it is prudent to have a survey conducted by a reputable surveyor. Use an architectural ruler or an engineer's scale to measure, these supplies are available at most drafting or art shops. For small properties under an acre in size, a scale of 1'=10' is an appropriate drawing scale. To construct your base plan, simply redraw the property survey to scale at a larger size. The property survey should show all property edges, setbacks and right of ways, building and pavement locations, and other permanent site elements. In urban areas and developments, lots have typically been surveyed. The six steps of developing a landscape plan are summarized as follows:ДЄ base plan, or plot plan, shows the layout of the property and accurately locates the permanent site elements on a residential lot. For planning or help with structural features, consult a qualified landscape architect for assistance. This publication is designed to assist you in the steps of the residential design process to help you develop a landscape plan. Fully understanding the property's drainage, soils, and ecology locating all existing site elements developing a 'wish list' of use areas and locating them properly and resolving these elements together into a successful format should be accomplished first. Selecting plant types is actually the last step of the design process.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN PLANS SERIES

A plan is actually the result of a logical series of decision making.ДЄ successful residential landscape plan must work functionally as well as aesthetically. This is because an overall idea was not formed and resolved first, from which the individual components can then be completed.

Often, a home landscape is accomplished in individual, separate steps that do not coordinate as well together when completed. Homeowners that begin their landscape without a developed plan may end up less than satisfied with the results. A well designed landscape can provide years of enjoyment for your familyВ and significantly add to your home's value.

Landscape design plans