You stare out into your backyard and imagine what could be. In your mind you see trees to the left, shrubbery to the right, and a stone walkway snaking through a series of flower beds. In order to make that vision a reality, you first need to create a project plan. That plan will help you nail down your landscaping goals, and offer insight into how much you’ll need to budget to see the project through to completion. Here are a few steps to get the plan going.
Find some inspiration
You may have some general ideas for the transformation of your property, but it helps to source some specific images of the landscape elements that you want to incorporate into your design. Home and garden magazines and Pinterest boards are great places to find pictures of hardscape elements like walkways, decks, and patios, as well as softscape pieces like planting beds and water features. We also provide examples of our own work here.
If there’s a particular type of flower, plant, or tree that you want to use in your new outdoor environment, having names and pictures handy will ensure you and your landscapers are on the same page.
Keep your needs in mind
As you’re piecing together the parts that you’d like to include in your landscaping project, consider how you’re going to use the space once the job is finished. Will you be hosting parties? Will there be enough room for seating? How often do you fire up the grill? Keep those sorts of questions in mind as you’re deciding on what needs to be included in your design, and what can be left out.
Measure your space
To properly plan out your project, you’ll need to know the area that you’re working with. Measure the perimeter of your yard, or whatever area it is you’re looking to spruce up. If you’re unsure about taking measurements, talk to one of our landscapers who would be happy to help.
Knowing the approximate size of your design elements will help create a more accurate estimate of the costs of purchasing and installing them. With accurate measurements, you’ll also be able to sketch out the elements that you want to install and see how and if they fit within the space available.
Start sketching
Either on paper or on a computer, sketch out your ideas. Don’t worry about getting a perfect design done on the first attempt. Sketching out design plans is a process, and you’ll want to try drawing a few variations before deciding on the final plan.
Start your sketches with the fixed features you can’t or don’t want to change, like buildings, trees, and driveways. Then play around with the placement of your elements: shrubs, decks, stone paths, flower beds, and so on.
Get a quote and make a budget
With your pictures and sketches at the ready, contact us for a free, no obligation landscaping quote. We proudly serve the Hamilton, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Burlington, Oakville, Brantford, and Caledonia areas. We’ll work with you to determine the best way to turn your vision into reality, and give you an idea of how much the project will cost. With that information you can set a budget for the project that you’re comfortable with.