Your Landscape Design
By David Housel
A FLAWED PLAN IS BETTER THAN NO PLANPAINTING YOUR UNIQUE PICTURE. Many artists evoke their ideas on canvas in different ways. In your mind's eye you may enjoy the work of one artist much more than another’s. This does not mean that one artist is correct in his work and another is not. Most people buying artwork for their home want something that has lasting value and will fit into their home decor.
The outside of your home is also a work of art. Most people want something that is pleasing to the eye with lasting value and that fits into the architecture of their home.
This work of art (your landscape) is like a pet. It will grow and mature. Most people do not want a large Doberman in a small apartment. Like animals, plants may also be small and cute when they are young but can outgrow the area quickly.
EAST, WEST, NORTH, SOUTH
The first thing you do when planning your landscape is put down the footprint of your home and property. The footprint is an aerial view of the place you would like to landscape. A total footprint of your property may seem overwhelming to design. You may want to start with just one area, such as the front foundation. Even if you are starting with only one area, you should have a total overview in your mind or rough sketch on paper of what you want to accomplish.
On the footprint be sure you indicate the exposure (sun and wind) for each area you are designing. In Southeastern Michigan, the basis for foundation landscaping would be the following:
EAST will have morning sun and afternoon shade.
WEST will have morning shade, afternoon sun, and the prevailing wind.
NORTH will have mostly shade.
SOUTH will have sun and prevailing wind.
PICK YOUR PLANTS
Within hardiness limits, you may choose any plants you like and use them in your landscape areas that have the exposure that they enjoy. The United States is divided into 11 hardiness zones based on annual low temperatures. I believe we are in zone 5 (-10 to -20 degrees). You may use some zone 6 plants (-10 to 0 degrees), but care must be used when picking the planting area. You also would not want to use them as the basis of your main landscape. A good rule to follow is to look at the existing plants in your area. If you do not see a type of plant, there may be a good reason. The reason may be hardiness, soil type, cost, or disease problems.
PLACE YOUR PLANTS ON YOUR FOOTPRINT
1. You should mark where the large trees and focal point plants should be put.
2. Mark where the larger background plants should be placed.
3. Now mark where the medium (smaller than in #2) foreground shrubs will go.
You may want to leave areas for smaller perennials and annuals.
Leave plenty of room between plants and your foundation. In most cases this space would be a minimum of three feet. I would prefer five or more feet from your foundation. The area between plants will depend on the variety.
The world can be stressful and complex. Don’t worry, be happy, and paint your picture.
HELP! Need some ideas or have questions? The best thing to do is snap some pictures of the area and bring them in to show us. You can also email us the pictures, and we can get you started in the right direction.
questions@houselsnursery.comWe at Housel’s Nursery are here to guide you to the correct plant for the correct place. You may also hire us to help with planning and installation.