There are six all-important survey question I call for my clients before begin any design project . I come up that these can aid focus priorities and hone in on likes or dislikes — all before digging a individual hole for a plant . Below are the dubiousness I ask and why each is important to the success of a newfangled space . record more about Stacie ’s garden designs and plant recommendationshere .
1. What should stay, and what should go?
Take an honest and careful flavor at the existing plant on your site . take their health and age , and from there enquire yourself whether they should be preserve , rehabbed with pruning , or removed whole .
2. What type of soil do you have?
sure plants boom in dissimilar filth . If you ’re planning to add a variety of plants , you may ask to amend your soil beforehand or choose unlike campaigner if they ’re not suited to your sandy , claybased , or acidulent territory .
3. How much sun and shade do you have?
It ’s so authoritative to detect the light in a proposed new garden area throughout the entire sidereal day , and if possible , throughout multiple seasons . Take notes on which spot are mostly gay , totally shaded , or fall into a shadowy range . Then select plants accordingly .
4. Who is this garden for?
If the response to this is “ me ! ” then decide how you plan to apply the landscape painting ( just garden , for backyard cookouts , bocce tournament , etc . ) . Also , factor in your age and how long you plan to live there . These are all important things to know before lay out a garden that will truly oblige your lifestyle .
5. How will you navigate throughout the space?
miscellaneous landscapes are sometimes easygoing to visualize as a serial of garden “ rooms . ” Each distinct area should be connect to the next in some clear manner . And commemorate , the size of the elbow room should conciliate its design ( for example , if it ’s a dining terrace for your syndicate , be sure there is way for a good - sized board and several professorship ) .
6. Who will maintain this garden?
reckon accessibility and plant life pick , which will dictate the proletariat needed to care for this landscape .
mind to Stacie discuss her invention rules of thumb inthis episodeofLet ’s Argue About Plants :
Stacie Crooks is a landscape interior designer and pedagog in Edmonds , Washington . She has extensive experience design in urban vicinity .

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Photo: courtesy of Stacie Crooks




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