Think about what you want and how your family will use your
outdoor living space. Do you envision a special place for
entertaining beneath a vine-clad arbor? Does your family covet an
outdoor fireplace or a children’s playground? Or, does your existing
landscape need a facelift? Terraced gardens, herb gardens, rose
gardens, fountains, decks, fences, gates, pathways are all
possibilities.
Make a
realistic budget. One rule of thumb is to invest 5 to 10 percent of
your house’s worth. Consider amortizing your project over several
years as your time and budget allows.
Start a file of gardens, shrubs, trees, roses, perennials,
pools, decks, fences, patios, stonewalls, etc., that you like—or
dislike. This will help you communicate what you want to achieve - or
avoid. Visit your favorite local nursery or garden center or simply
walk in your neighborhood and take photos or sketch plant
combinations that excite or intrigue you.
