Consider asking often what the rest of the family thinks about the plan. Taking up everyone's ideas and desires will help in assessing and implementing the plan, and in the ultimate success of the landscape.

Concentrate on problems and solutions at this stage, not fine detail.

You may think of the plants as architectural forms: background or specimen trees, high or low screens. You may save the decisions about varieties for later.

Considerations

Kick Around

Remember that your scale plan is accurate, but flat. You may expand on it by walking around the yard and pacing off proposed changes, and by sitting on the step and visualizing the finished scene.

Use some props, too.
- Lay out hoses to indicate the edges of patios.
- Put up sheets to mark the height of fences.
- Go out after dark and shine a flashlight to give the effect of night lighting.

Draw some simple elevation sketches. Consider, they don't have to be as accurate as those shown here, though you can use the same tools and methods as for your base plan to make your elevation sketches just as detailed; and the greater the detail, the easier it will be for you to picture the results.

For a quick elevation view, blow up a photo of your house, lay tracing paper over it, and then sketch in possible changes.

It may be a good time to make separate, large-scale plans of various sections of the yard. In a certain moment, you also may want to draw up specific plans indicating lighting, drainage, or other special construction needs.

Be sure these detailed plans will greatly help those doing the work.

Think Thoroughly

When testing the pros and cons of all ideas, think of how things will look not just when the work is completed, but also in five years, in 10 years, in 25 years. Make sure how your landscaping needs may change over time. Finally, landscaping is an evolutionary art form that's never really finished.