Guest Author - Rosemary Rugnetta

There is just something so nice about a well landscaped home. Through the years I�ve learned a few things about landscaping that I find very helpful. When you are preparing a landscape design, these are some things to keep in mind. These are very basic and easily used for the front of your home. When I post about the backyard, I�ll give some tips about creating little living areas. Steve Boulden has an excellent site that covers landscape design in depth. If you are planning a project, go ahead and do some research at this site:

http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/
�Whether you plan on �borrowing ideas� or plan on creating your own landscaping design, you should have at the very least a basic understanding of the principles of landscape design.�
Steve Boulden of S&S Designed Landscaping

There is also Google Sketchup http://sketchup.google.com/download/ that is free to download and can be used to design your landscape.

Flow

When preparing a design, remember that it must flow together. Shapes, sizes, colors and textures should coordinate with each other. If you are using round red rocks, then you need to only use red rocks. Using a square, different colored one would not allow it to flow. If you are creating a theme with statuary and other elements, then make sure that they relate to each other. In other words, create a theme.

Planting

Start out slowly and with just a few plants. Pick a complementary color for your home and stick with that color when you are first beginning. There will be time to expand with more colors later. If you are trying for a uniform look such as on both sides of your driveway, then you must plant the same identical things on both sides. Always put the tallest plants and shrubs in the back working your way forward to the smallest. It is similar to creating steps.

Be very careful about what types of plants you choose. Remember to look for the appropriate zone. If you live in potential drought areas, pick plants will do well in drought. If you have a septic system, make sure to ask a nursery worker about what plants or trees are suitable to grow near the system. This is extremely important to avoid septic problems and the need to dig up expensive plants or trees down the road.

Shape

Always use a free flowing design shape when creating a flower bed or island. An easy way to lay this out is with spray paint or a hose. Just trace the area and be very free when doing it. Avoid right angles or any type of straight angle or straight lines. It will make a world of difference in your landscape.

It is a fun time of year to get out and work around the yard a little. Start planning your landscape design now but do it slowly so that as you have more ideas, it will be easier to incorporate them into whatever you already have.