START WITH A PLAN
Before tackling your landscape project

By Howard Supnik

The 'big picture', a 'roadmap', a master plan - whatever you want to call it - it will save you plenty of heartache and a lot of money in the long run. No matter what size your property is, starting with a plan - a visual, two-dimensional long-term strategy for getting from point A to point B - is essential.
A master plan need not be detailed...it doesn't necessarily need specific plantings or materials or construction methods, but it should show areas and relationships, for example house to street, driveway to path, patio to lawn, and planting areas that define outdoor spaces. Because most people do not implement their entire plan all at once due to cost, the details can always be figured out later, when a particular phase of the plan is ready to be started. Often master plans need to be done in combination with something that helps us understand the third dimension, like sectional drawings or photographs - they allow the mind to better grasp what views may need to be screened or enhanced and framed, as well as more complicated grading issues signaling the need for retaining walls and steps.
Before starting a plan, homeowners should think about how they might like to use the spaces. For example, do they like to entertain...swim, play tennis? Do they want an herb garden, a water fountain... outdoor art? How many cars need to be accommodated, and are there pets to consider? Walk around the house, look out the windows and think about every view... from noises and odors that may need to be addressed to objectionable views of utilities or neighbors, as well as colors you wish you could enjoy. Also think about how the landscape could look during all four seasons.
Some homeowners may be talented enough to attempt this endeavor on their own, but often they will require assistance from a landscape architect, who can think more artistically and pull all the programmatic elements together - sometimes just having an objective, independent party will bring some unique and inventive ideas to the table.

Howard Supnik is a registered Landscape Architect in Lititz, Pennsylvania. His work can be found at www.howardjaysupnik.com

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