Designing a Home Garden

Perhaps you've just moved into a new house, and you want to totally redesign your yard. Or maybe you've lived in your home awhile, but you're ready for a whole new look. Or maybe you just want to add a little color. Whichever the case may be, here are a few simple tips for planning your home garden.

First, size up your yard. Note the slope of the land; amount of sun; natural water drainage; activities, including play areas, parking and walking; the climate you live in and the existing structures, including the house.

Walk around your yard with a notebook, and mark any slopes, areas that are shaded, bare areas, etc. Then draw up a rough plan of your yard, trying to make the house and other structures as close to scale as possible.

Remember that your house is still the center of attention. Your garden is there to complement it. Choose plants that help create balance, add interest, and go well with your home's design. The colors of your house, for example, can help you choose the colors of your flowering plants.

Work with what you have now. Incorporate current characteristics into your plan as much as possible. A natural slope, for example, may be the perfect place to put a waterfall and pond, or perhaps some stone steps.

When considering plants or trees for a given area, be aware of the size they will grow to. This will keep you from placing large trees too close to the house, for example, or overshadowing your house with a huge, showy bush.

Look into plants that are natural to the area you live in. They will be healthier, and you will have less work to do. Drive around, and note what plants do well nearby. Don't copy any one yard too closely though.

Plan labor saving tips into your design. Your primary work will be weeding, watering and cutting, so look for elements that cut labor (more on this in a future issue).

When planning an area, group plants that have similar needs for shade, water, drainage and soil composition. Look for comple- mentary colors. Go for informal groupings, rather than rows.

Consider an arbor, fence, statue, patio or pond to complete your design.

Build some type of lighting into your yard. Like everything else, it should complement the overall design, and highlight your focal points. Make sure walkways, driveways and entryways are all lit.

Don't allow yourself to get overwhelmed. Consider doing one area at a time. And remember, each new item requires maintenance. If you can't see yourself regularly cleaning a pond, for example, leave it out of the design.

Look for good deals on things you are comfortable with or plants you know. But when tackling something completely foreign to you, consider going to a garden supply store, and asking lots of questions. You might pay more, but you may get a lot of good advice in addition to the product.

A little preplanning can go a long way toward giving your garden a terrific, low maintenance design that you will enjoy for years to come.

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