Landscape design is an important step before you start a landscaping project because it allows you to plan effectively and create the best possible results. By taking the time to plan out your project, you can save money, time, and effort in the long run.
First and foremost, landscape design helps you to create a space that meets your needs. By taking into account the size and shape of your yard, the landscape design process can help you determine which plants, trees, and other features will work best in your space. This process will also help you to plan out paths and seating areas, which can make your outdoor space much more enjoyable to use.
By creating a landscape plan, you can also ensure that your project has a unified aesthetic. With the help of a landscape designer, you can determine which plants, trees, and other features look best together and create a cohesive design. This will help your landscaping project look professional and well thought out, and it will add value to your home.
Another benefit of landscape design is that it allows you to ensure that your project is sustainable. By choosing plants, trees, and other features that are suitable for your climate and soil type, you can ensure that your landscaping project will last for years to come. You can also plan for water conservation and use of sustainable materials, which can help to reduce the environmental impact of your project.
Finally, by taking the time to plan out your landscaping project, you can save money in the long run. A landscape designer can help you to identify which plants, trees, and other features will work best in your space, while also providing advice on which materials and tools are necessary for the job. This will help you to purchase the right materials and tools the first time, eliminating the need for costly re-dos or repairs.
Overall, landscape design is an important step before you start a landscaping project. Planning ahead can help you create a beautiful, unified design that meets your needs and saves you time and money in the long run. By taking the time to create a landscape plan, you can ensure that your project is successful, sustainable, and adds value to your home.
Where to Start With a Landscape Design
The first step is measuring the space and taking honest stock of what it gives you: sun exposure, drainage, how close the beds sit to a street or driveway, and how you get in and out of the area. Location decides plant choices more than taste does. A bed at the end of a driveway where snow gets piled all winter is no place for anything salt-sensitive, and we’ve watched plenty of metro landscapes lose good plants to exactly that.
Tell the designer everything on the wish list, even the someday items. Hot tubs, outdoor kitchens, and pools can be designed in phases so the budget stays sane, and simple moves now save real money later. We routinely bury conduit while building a landscape so that when the outdoor kitchen finally happens, nobody has to tear out finished beds to run the wire.
Drawings on Paper or Design Software?
Some companies sketch plans by hand. We use landscape design software that generates 3D renderings, so you can do a computerized walkthrough of the design and see what the finished yard will look like before a shovel touches dirt. Either way, a good plan starts with a focal point (a wall, a water feature, a specimen tree, a corner of the house) and builds balance around it with plants that complement rather than compete.
Planting for Zone 5 and All Four Seasons
Des Moines sits in USDA zone 5a to 5b depending on your side of the metro, so every plant on the plan needs to survive a real Iowa winter. A good design blooms across all three growing seasons and still looks like something in January: evergreens hold structure through the snow, and shrubs like serviceberry or holly carry bright winter berries when everything else has gone brown.
Don’t Forget What It Looks Like at Night
A design that only works in daylight is half a design. Landscape lighting built into the plan illuminates paths and patios and accents the trees and walls you paid for. One West Des Moines project we installed lights the retaining wall and water fountain after dark, and that’s when the homeowners show it off most.
If you’re looking for a partner to help you design the landscape of your dreams reach out to Tebock’s Landscape today!
Design is where every good yard starts, and our full landscaping services carry it through to the last plant. See the projects we’ve finished, or read up on the principles behind our designs and where landscaping is headed this year.