Form Follows Function: Setting Your Goals Before You Landscape
People often don’t look at the big picture before beginning a landscaping project, and as a result, have a project that can grow out of control, says Wayne Rayfield, Principal of Watts Landscape Service of Verona. “If we don’t work with the customer to identify the customer’s needs and expectations, we can’t have a satisfied customer in the end. Therefore, we spend extra time on the front end of the process so that we meet customer’s needs and expectations.”
Many homeowners don’t realize everything impacting a landscaping project and often a limited view skews their understanding of the planning and design process. A good design and build firm will help broaden the awareness of a client, help the client to define how they want to use an area, and create a personalized outdoor space.
Function Dictates Form
How you will use an area and your preferences are what should be defined first.
The best place to start is to ask yourself a few questions, for example:
? How will you use your yard?
If you plan on entertaining you will want to consider hard surfaces, decks,walkways, flow-through from your home, night lighting, etc.
? Do you want privacy?
A higher degree of privacy leads to hedges or privacy fencing and/or walls.
? Do you have pets?
Will a dog run be needed, or a kennel or other structure for your animals?
? Given your location or estate, do you want a theme to be introduced to the plan?
For example, living by water relates to a nautical landscape theme,while a ranch or rustic home setting may have a more natural these to match your home with its surroundings.
? Do you want your design to match the feel of your architecture?
There are many variations of design, but to illustrate this concept, consider that a more contemporary structure may have a design with sharper lines,while a more traditional look will look better with a symmetrical design and a more natural looking building will feel better with a rolling, less structured layout.
? Do you want specific texture or colors?
Plants can be a major component in any plan. The leaves, blooms and colors of the plants can inject a textured feel to any design, providing an entirely unique dimension. Additionally, how plants present themselves in winter can add a year round quality to any landscaping project.
? Consider your past experiences.
Childhood often provides fond memories of plants or physical structures adding a great deal to your final design (and enjoyment).
? How much maintenance do you want to do?
Many enjoy working in their yards while others see it as complete drudgery. Your preferences and interests can help you identify features for design such as ponds, plants that require active pruning, lawns that are “mower friendly,” etc.
? Consider the size of your ground.
If you have larger grounds and want to reduce maintenance, certain areas can be left wild, or prairie grasses and natives can be planted,providing a pleasing outdoor area that requires much less attention. Smaller grounds lend well to cozy personalized spaces such as front entrance courtyards (serving as an extension of your home.)
“In summary, your first job is to understand how the outdoor space may affect your day to day living. From this, your needs can be identified and a wish list can be produced and incorporated into the final design. ” Wayne Rayfield, Principal of Watts Landscape Service.
