landscape my yard

I enlarged the plat map some and have created a ‘hard copy’ of where all the existing permanent structures and such are on the map. Now I’m just taking clear plastic over that and working with different layouts and such to get a feel on how things will be as we move about the yard. I also needed to start a running ‘memo’ list of things I need to remember that I tend to forget when I’m working on it, like tall trees fall down in hurricanes so don’t put them there, etc. I have my notes on where the ground tends to stay wet and which way the drainage flows. I need to remember to be careful how I change the land so the water doesn’t start headed to the house. I have a few books I refer to. This is such an overwhelming project but I’m looking forward to once the master plan is penciled in as a keeper, working on the details and fine tuning each area. Some training would be so helpful, but then again they say experience is the best teacher huh? Overall though I’d say what is on paper now is a pretty good start!

This is just too vague…which part of the yard? It’s impossible to do it all in one year anyway….so here’s the plan. During the next week I want to get out the plat map of our property, work from the street back and measure out the inside areas marked with trees I want to keep, driveway, house, where future house and driveway are going, etc. Design a map of how I would like to see things. Then maybe from there get a better idea of how to progress, maybe in a few areas at once or just working on the hardscape. Where’s the rose garden going to go, the putt-putt course? the 2 ponds…ok, and I need to keep reminding myself not to get overwhelmed! So for this step, I’m just going to worry about the measuring, etc of the front half of the property. Can’t get to much of the back half anyhow right now, so draw that out very general.