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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view of deck through plants

Photo: courtesy of Stacie Crooks

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