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Landscape design and construction

Landscape Design and Construction

When either building, renovating, or simply beautifying your home use the following list as a guideline to insure a successful project.

THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING YOUR OUTDOOR OASIS

Develop a Master Plan

  • Select architect and landscape firm to design/build
  • Select a contractor
  • Optimize use of space
  • Determine long term goals of property
  • Coordinate needs of family with space available
  • Determine outdoor living/entertaining needs
  • Determine outdoor recreational needs

Pre-Construction Planning

  • Salvaging plant material
  • Protection of existing materials during construction
  • Proactive feeding and watering of valuable nursery stock

Develop a drainage plan

  • Backfill of foundation with compactable fill to reduce settling and increases drainage properties to weep tiles
  • Reduces problems later for patios, steps, porches and driveways
  • Roof, Gutters and downspouts; determine locations and final destination
  • All grades need to provide positive movement away from house
  • Sump pumps; where will water go to
  • Swales added as needed to facilitate movement of water
  • Properly seal and waterproof areas of raised beds and landscaping against house foundation
  • Proper use of drainage on any patio’s or retaining walls

Site analysis

  • Grade boundary surveys
  • Soil conditions
  • Plant environments / selection
  • Existence of micro-climates

Design

  • Consider all changes of seasons
  • Create different looks for all seasons
  • Be careful not to over plant single species due to occurrences of nature
  • Plan for color and texture through foliage, bark, fruit and blooms
  • Look for layers of interest
  • Consider vegetable and herb gardens to use as a family
    learning experience
  • Use survey to accent/highlight grade or elevation changes
  • Maintenance commitment from installer

Follow up care and maintenance

  • Maintain integrity of original design
  • Proper planning for health, growth and shape
  • Fertilization of turf, shrubs and trees
  • Disease control and prevention

Future Planning for sleeving under any drive, walk or porch

  • Low voltage lighting
  • Irrigation
  • Prepare for outdoor electrical

Irrigation

  • Proper use and separation of zones
  • Plant specific irrigation
  • 100% coverage and control over different site conditions
  • Water management principals to reduce long term cost

Site and bed preparation

  • Cultivation of native soils to ease compaction and stimulate root growth
  • Use of Micorizhae for root growth and establishment of new plantings
  • Amendments of soil for new plantings
  • Mulching of plants; especially for first year plantings