Landscape Design Considerations

Whether you hire a Professional Landscape Designer or you plan to Do It Yourself, here are 8 things to consider in designing your landscape.

Landscape Design Considerations Layout
  1. Create a Vision
  2. Make a Plan
  3. Design with Themes and Spaces
  4. Choose Features to Conserve Water
  5. Install or Renovate 
  6. Irrigation Needs
  7. Growth and Maintenance 
  8. Landscape Design Software
create a vision yard layout
  • What is your goal? 
  • Is it a total yard make-over or minor renovations?
  • How do you want the yard to look and feel? 
  • How do you want to use your outdoor spaces? 
  • Who will be enjoying and using the yard?
make a plan yard layout
  • What type of climate and microclimates need to be considered?
  • What are your soil conditions?
  • What existing plants and structures need to be moved, removed, or incorporated into the plan?
  • Are there views you want to feature or block?
  • Where is the available water?
  • Are there rules or ordinances from an HOA, city, or state that limit your options?
  • How will your theme compliment the lines and style of your home’s architecture?
  • Do you prefer neat, geometric, or symmetrical shapes and structures?
  • Do you prefer asymmetry with soft natural lines?
  • Do you want to include only specific colors?
  • How do you want to create unique areas in your yard such as lawn for playing games,  patio or deck for entertaining guests, benches to sit and watch birds, raised beds for growing vegetables, wildflowers for promoting birds and pollinators, open spaces for wildlife access, or private spaces for meditation.
themes and space wood deck seating
themes and space lush wall
themes and space rock stairs
themes and space secluded bench
  • Where can you include drought tolerant and native plants?
  • How might you use permeable pavers, groundcovers, or mulch?
  • Group plants according to their needs for water and sunlight.
choose mulch lawn

This landscape incorporates shrubs and trees matched to the site’s water conditions, reducing the need for supplemental irrigation. Mulch is used around the garden plants to reduce evaporative water loss from the soil.

This compact, no-turf landscape features drought-tolerant plants, and a unique walk way of permeable crushed rock and cobalt recycled glass aggregate. Drip irrigation efficiently waters the plants.

This lawn combines green space perfect for coaching soccer with the surrounding area using low water use shrubs. A walking path with gravel and pervious pavers allows for extra infiltration.

To create this lush landscape, the owners replaced turfgrass with a granite walkway and native plants, with a focus on drought-tolerant shrubs native to their region. Once established, these plants require no water beyond normal rainfall.

  • Does your plan include installing a sidewalk, driveway, wall, terrace, deck, or patio? Schedule this before adding plants that could be damaged in the process.
  • Are you planting or moving trees? Do this in the early spring or late fall when the plants are dormant.
  • Will the planting beds need soil amendments? Do this before planting. 
  • Are you adding raised beds? Depending on the depth of the raised bed you may want to add a weed barrier under the bed or mulch around the beds.
install patios

This backyard was designed for entertaining with a series of patios that allow water to permeate into the soil. Native, low-water-using plants retain the slope at the back of the property and fill in between patios. A drip irrigation system with weather sensors and timers minimizes water waste.

Install raised flower beds

These raised beds were prepared with organically enriched soil to promote healthy plant growth. Mulch covers the soil between the beds to minimize weeds and retain moisture.

Head to head coverage

Here is a sample of designing an irrigation system  with sprinkler heads placed for head-to-head coverage. Remember to group plants with similar water needs in the same sprinkler zone.

Drip irrigation diagram
  • Are you installing a new irrigation system or retrofitting an existing system? Visit Sprinkler Systems for more information. 
  • Install drip irrigation where possible to direct water to plants roots.
Growth and managing plants
  • Consider each plant’s growth rate, mature size, maintenance needs, and sun and water requirements before planting. Have you spaced the various plants with enough room to reach their full height, width, and depth? Will tall plants shade the shorter plants? 
  • How will weeds be minimized. Dense plantings can minimize weeds. Will you have time to do the weeding yourself or will you hire a professional? Will plants require pruning? How will they be protected during the winter months?