design help

[bulldogg]

I have this back yard that the customer wants completely redone. They have expressed interest in installing a solid panel fence along the bottom of the property and they want to keep the play tower and the trampoline. the platform beside the playtower is being built to be a playhouse and they are going to finish that. below the japanese maple is a 2 bolck high wall that they had installed just to keep the soil back. the crape myrtle can go if i want to take it down. any suggestions on what can be done.?

[MarkintheGarden]

I have this back yard that the customer wants completely redone. They have expressed interest in installing a solid panel fence along the bottom of the property and they want to keep the play tower and the trampoline. the platform beside the playtower is being built to be a playhouse and they are going to finish that. below the japanese maple is a 2 bolck high wall that they had installed just to keep the soil back. the crape myrtle can go if i want to take it down. any suggestions on what can be done.?


Start with what the client wants, so far we have a playground, and there is some furniture here and there so you need a sitting location. What else does the customer want? BBQ and eating area? Culinary garden? Bird Garden, Cutting Garden? Do they like more natural settings or do they prefer a manicured look. Is it important that they keep maintenance to a minimum. Do they have a dog? Favorite Plants or colors? Do they want a tool shed? How old are the kids and how long do they expect to be in this home?

Start with a site map. Map out a simple drawing of what is there, marking the hills, the location of the existing trees and shrubs, The slide, trampoline, etc. Make a note of the northern direction, note sunny areas. include utility wires, air cond. units, spigots, etc.

When you have a list of what is wanted and a site map of what is there then you can begin to develop a design that defines the areas that you will have in the end.

I am not trying to complicate things and I know it is easy to get overwhelmed with this approach but it is the kind of path you have to take to get a great landscape that the customer will love.

This of course is just a start. There are a lot of great ideas I could throw out for children's gardens, woodland gardens, using shrubs instead of fences, but you do not want to get too far ahead of yourself. Take measurements, notes, and find out what the customer wants. It will also help to get an idea about the budget the client has available for this project. I tell my customers that we can create a garden for 1,500. or 15,000., or anywhere in between. My customers almost never give me set figure for budget up front, but what I can do is avoid presenting an estimate that they cannot afford or offering too little, and they like the price but are disappointed in the end.