GARDEN RENOVATION - PART I

This article is the first of a five part series on Garden Renovation, a guide to help you through the entire process without the expense of hiring a landscape designer or contractor. Hmmm. I am a landscaper and I’m explaining how to avoid hiring one. What have I done?

Step One – The Site Assessment

If you have decided to renovate your gardens, you’ve probably already started this step in your mind. Now you need to commit your thoughts to paper.

Walk around your property with a notepad and pen. Make up a rough sketch of your property positioning the house, garage, sidewalks, driveway, fences, trees, pools or ponds, clotheslines etc. Take down measurements as you wander. Note the location of overhead power lines on your sketch.

• On a fresh sheet of paper, write down the things you don’t like about your garden/yard.
  Write down what you do like and want to save.


• List the landscape elements that need to be changed – overgrown shrubs, unhealthy plants etc.


• Write down views you want to change. Perhaps there are unsightly elements on neighbouring properties you would like to hide or obscure? Conversely, are there views you’d like to enjoy but can’t because of existing landscaping? Write those down too.
• What do you need in your garden? Children’s play area, entertaining and dining area, utility area (clothesline, storage etc)? Write those down.


• What do you want? Perhaps a vegetable garden, a herb garden, rose garden, water garden or perennial garden? Write those down on your wish list.
  
  
  
  Step Two – The Site Plan
  
  Now you have a jumble of papers full of notes and lists, you need to organize them into a working plan.
  
• Using your rough sketch, make a scaled drawing of your property on a sheet of graph paper that you snitch from your kids. Position the house, garage, existing fences and any permanent features such as large trees, driveway, sidewalks etc. Do not include existing garden beds unless you are positive you will not be changing them even slightly.
  Mark the north side of the property while you're at it.

• Make at least three copies of this plan and put the original in a safe place and remember where that safe place is.


• Add overhead power lines to the drawing if applicable.
  NOTE: Should you be considering any excavation work, you will need to have locates done for underground utilities such as gas lines, water lines, telephone and cable lines. This is extremely important and should not be ignored unless you actually enjoy spending money to repair utility lines. Once the locates are done, (usually after the plans are completed and before the work begins) add them to the original and all copies of your scaled drawing. There will be a reminder later on about having locates done.
  
  Congratulations! You have just completed your first site plan! Now you can proceed to the fun part – the landscape design. That will be covered in Garden Renovations – Part II