Home landscape planning worksheet

PM 612 Revised August 2007

Home Landscape Planning Worksheet:

12 steps to a functional design

Gather information

Step 1. Make a scale drawing

Landscape designs are generally drawn from a bird’s-

eye view in what designers call “plan view.” To prepare

a base map (scale drawing) of your property use graph

paper and let one square equal a certain number of feet

(e.g. 1 square = 2 feet), or draw it to scale using a ruler

or scale (e.g. 1 inch = 8 feet).

The base map should include these features:

• Scale used

• North directional arrow

• Property lines

You may want to make several photocopies of this base

map to use for the following steps in the design process.

Step 2. Site analysis

A thorough site analysis tells you what you have to work

with on the property. Part 1 of the “Home Landscape

Questionnaire” (see insert) includes questions that

should be answered when completing a site analysis.

Lay a piece of tracing paper over the base map and draw

the information gathered during the site analysis. This

layer should include these features:

• Basic drainage patterns (use an arrow to show

direction of surface water ﬂow or poor drainage areas)

• Location of existing landscape features: house, garage,

other buildings, trees, walks, and driveways

• Doors, windows, porches, and different rooms of the

house

• Septic tank, sewer lines, or underground power lines

• Views (point arrows in the direction of each good view;

also indicate views that need screening)

• Undesirable features of the property or of adjoining

property

Kitchen/ Dining Room

DRive

Scale: 1/8” = 1’

noRth

nice view

neeD PRivacy

Steele RoaD

This worksheet will guide you through the process of

designing a functional landscape plan. The process

includes these steps:

• Gather information about the site and who will use it.

• Prioritize needs and wants.

• Consider maintenance requirements.

• Determine a budget.

• Organize the landscape space.

• Determine the shape of the spaces and how they

relate to each other.

• Select the plants that will ﬁll the landscape.

Base Map and Initial Site Analysis (not to scale)

Step 3. Prioritize landscape needs and wants

Once you know the physical attributes of your site you

can start to determine and prioritize your landscape

needs and wants using part 2 of the “Home Landscape

Questionnaire.” Thinking about your current and future

needs and wants will help you maximize the landscape’s

usefulness over several years.

Step 4. Consider maintenance requirements

All landscapes require maintenance. Knowing how

much time and money you are willing to spend on

maintenance will inﬂuence your major design decisions.

Thoughtful design combined with low maintenance

plants and hardscapes (patios, walkways, etc.) can

greatly reduce time spent on maintenance; try these

suggestions, for example:

• Avoid lawn areas with angles of 90° or less—they are

difﬁcult to mow

• Include more trees and shrubs than annual and

perennial ﬂowers—they require less care

• Apply a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch in planting beds —

it helps prevent weed growth

Step 5. Determine a budget

The cost of a landscaping project is a combination of

time and money. For large, expensive projects you may

want to spread the work and cost over 3 to 5 years.

Developing an overall plan for the landscape helps you

focus on completing parts of the project over that period.

Organize and deﬁne the space

Step 6. Identify home landscape use areas

Just as in a home, a landscape is composed of areas that

are used for different purposes. Most home landscapes

have public, private, and service areas. Each should be

designed to meet your needs and to create an attractive

overall landscape.

Public area

This is most often the front yard and is the area the

public sees from the street. The main purpose is to frame

the house and create a visually appealing and inviting

landscape. An attractive entryway or walkway to the

house is a primary feature and is often surrounded by an

uncluttered area of grass or another type of groundcover.

Private or family area

The private area is often the back yard and sometimes

side yards. There should be easy access from the house

to the outdoor space and features such as outdoor

furniture and lighting should be considered. Privacy

from neighbors also may need to be considered.

Service and work areas

How you plan to use the landscape will affect how large

of a work area you need and where it might be located

in the landscape. Screens—such as a dense planting

of shrubs, a vine on a trellis, or a fence—can make the

service area less noticeable when viewed from other

parts of the landscape.

Step 7. Sketch functional diagrams

Functional diagrams are a ﬁrst attempt at organizing the

landscape space in a way similar to a home’s ﬂoor plan.

The “use areas” described earlier are considered along

with the information from part 2 of the questionnaire. To

create functional diagrams, lay a piece of tracing paper

over your base map and draw bubble shapes to represent

the previously identiﬁed “use areas.”

As you think about different ways to organize the space,

also consider how people will move from one area to

another, and how people will move between the house,

garage, and landscape. As you think about circulation

within the landscape, consider utility locations, drainage

patterns, and plant material locations. These elements

may affect possible design ideas.

Functional Diagram

PRivacy PlantingS

Play

aRea

PRivate aRea/ Family aRea

SeRvice aRea

Semi-PRivate

SiDe yaRD

Patio

Public

aRea

entRyway

Public aRea

Semi-PRivate

SiDe yaRD

PRivacy PlantingS

Step 8. Sketch form compositions

A form composition is created when the different

bubbles from the functional diagrams are given speciﬁc

shapes. For example, the bubble that represented the

lawn area could be drawn as a rectangle if a rectilinear

style is used, or as a kidney bean shape if a more

informal curvilinear style is selected. Using a similar

form throughout the design helps create unity and

structure within the design.

Key Description

1 shaDe tree

2 evergreen tree

3 evergreen shrub

4 Large DeciDuous shrub

5 MeDiuM DeciDuous shrub

6 FLowering tree

Deciduous symbols

Ground cover symbol

Evergreen symbols

Preliminary Design

After you have developed a ﬁnal draft, take time to refer

back to your earlier notes, site analysis, and landscape

questionnaire. Think carefully about the design and how

it will meet your needs.

Plant Symbols

Use these to indicate general

plant types in the preliminary

design and speciﬁc plants in

the ﬁnal plan.

Step 9. Consider spatial compositions

Spatial composition focuses on the three-dimensional

outdoor space. How do the trees, shrubs, low-growing

plants, and hardscapes combine to make the ceilings,

walls, and ﬂoors of outdoor rooms? The choices of

plants and materials inﬂuence how the landscape looks

and “feels.” For example, trees with a tall, loose canopy

create a sense of openness, while a tree with a dense

and relatively low branching canopy creates a sense of

enclosure.

Step 10. Create a preliminary design

This step allows you to convert the loose, freehand

bubble diagrams and form compositions into a more

reﬁned, but still preliminary, design. The space is clearly

organized, the outdoor rooms become obvious, and

masses of plants are illustrated and characterized.

Reﬁne the preliminary design

As you move into the ﬁnal step of the design process,

begin drawing landscape symbols on the tracing paper to

represent speciﬁc landscape elements. Don’t worry about

selecting individual plants, a label of “deciduous tree”

or a mass representing “perennials” is sufﬁcient. Speciﬁc

plants are decided in the ﬁnal step.

Rectilinear StyleCurvilinear Style

7 Large FLowering shrub

8 MeDiuM FLowering shrub

9 sMaLL FLowering shrub

10 annuaL beD

11 perenniaL beD

12 prairie wetLanD

Key coMMon naMe scientiFic naMe Qty.

taunton spreaDing yew

taxus

MeDia

‘tauntoni’ 2

2 DiaboLo ninebarK

physocarpus opuLiFoLius

‘MonLo’ 1

3 bLue Mist FothergiLLa

FothergiLLa garDenia

‘bLue Mist’ 10

4 coraL sunset peony

paeonia

‘coraL sunset’ 9

5 rheingoLD arborvitae

thuja occiDentaLs

‘rheingoLD’ 6

6 bowhaLL MapLe

acer rubruM

‘bowhaLL’ 1

7 techny arborvitae

thuja occiDentaLs

‘techny’ 8

8 paperbarK MapLe

acer griseuM

9 center gLow ninebarK

physocarpus opuLiFoLius

‘center gLow’ 1

10 oaKLeaF hyDrangea

hyDrangea QuerciFoLia

11 tinKerbeLLe LiLac

syringa

‘baiLbeLLe’ 3

12 serviceberry

aMeLanchier

granDiFLora

13 periwinKLe v

inca Minor

Step 11. Select plants

Now is the time to select speciﬁc plants and use

landscape symbols to represent them. These symbols

need to be drawn to scale and should represent the

mature spread of the plant. For example, if you are

using a scale of 1 inch = 8 feet, then a maple tree with

a spread of 16 feet would be represented by a 2-inch

diameter circle.

Select plants for your home landscape based on

environmental requirements (hardiness level, heat zone

tolerance, light, moisture, and soil requirements) and

aesthetic qualities (form, texture, seasonal foliage color,

ﬂowers, fruit, bark, and mature size).

Step 12. Draw the ﬁnal landscape plan

After plants are selected it is time to reﬁne the

preliminary design further into the ﬁnal plan. In

addition to the landscape design, the ﬁnal plan also

includes a planting key. This becomes your shopping list

and includes both botanical and common plant names,

a number or letter abbreviation that corresponds to the

plan, and quantity.

You also may want to include a column indicating the

reasons for selecting each plant (white ﬂowers, red fall

fruit, fragrant blossoms, etc.). This is helpful in case a

particular plant isn’t available at the nursery because it

will remind you what characteristics to look for in the

substituted plant.

Resources

Check these Web sites for publications and additional

information:

ISU Extension Distribution Center

www.extension.iastate.edu/store

ISU Horticulture

www.yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu

Prepared by Ann Marie VanDerZanden, extension

horticulturist, and Diane Nelson, communication specialist.

Illustrations by Liz Crimmins former ISU horticulture student.

Layout by Jamie Quarnstrom, ISU graphic design student.

File: Hort and LA 2

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For the full

non-discrimination statement or accommodation inquiries, go to

www.extension.iastate.edu/diversity/ext.

3 3

Final Plan

tuRF

DRive

PM 612 insert August 2007

Analyze the site

A thorough site analysis helps you

evaluate the existing landscape so

you develop a plan to enhance or

maintain your property’s beauty

and sustainability. A comprehensive

understanding of your site identiﬁes

existing light, moisture, and soil

conditions. This information helps

create a landscape that is easier to

sustain.

Soil, slope, drainage

Describe the soil type:

Does soil type vary in different

areas of the property?

Describe any elevation differences:

Are retaining walls needed? Where?

Describe any soggy areas:

Where does water drain?

Sun

Describe sun exposure in public

areas:

Describe sun exposure in private

areas:

Is summer shading needed? Where?

Wind

What is the prevailing wind

direction in summer?

What is the prevailing wind

direction in winter?

Are windscreens needed? Where?

House

Describe location:

Describe the color:

Describe the architectural style:

Describe any unique features:

Describe the most desirable views:

Describe any undesirable views:

Describe location of utilities:

Other existing structures

Describe location and condition of

garage and/or other buildings:

Describe location and condition

of patio, deck, play structure,

fences, water features, and/or other

structures. Are existing structures

in the best location?

Describe location and condition of

existing walks. Are walkways in the

right places?

Describe location and condition of

driveway or parking strip:

Existing Plants

Describe location and condition of

existing trees and shrubs:

Describe location and condition of

ﬂower and/or vegetable gardens:

Other considerations

Describe your preferred level

of maintenance:

Are sound buffers needed? Where?

Describe other conditions that

affect use of yard area:

Home Landscape Questionnaire, part 1

(Adapted from Home Landscape: Understanding the basics of landscape design, PM 2004. Copies available

from www.extension.iastate.edu/store)

This CHECKLIST

will help you

note important

information

during your site

analysis.

___ Scale selected

___ Wells, cisterns

___ North arrow

___ Other buildings

___ House drawn in

___ Doors, windows

___ Good views

___ Bad views

___ Roads, drives

___ Existing trees

___ Walks

___ Existing shrubs

___ Sewer lines

___ Banks, slopes

___ Septic tank

___ Drainage

___ Water lines

___ Winter winds

___ Power lines

___ Summer winds

___ Phone line

Attach this sheet of graph

paper to a clipboard to make

it easier to take notes on site.

Using a tape measure, locate

all features on your site.

This graph paper has ¼ inch

squares. A convenient scale

would be ¼ inch = 1 foot or

¼ inch = 2 feet.

Analyze needs and wants

Answering these questions help

determine how outdoor spaces are

used. Identifying facts/wants/needs

increases the likelihood that the

resulting landscape is a success.

Yard Use

Who will use the yard?

Adults

Children (ages)

Elderly

Pets (describe)

When is the yard used?

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Are you satisﬁed with the front

door/public entry space? If not,

how could it be improved?

Are you satisﬁed with the back

door/family entry space? If not,

how could it be improved?

Are you satisﬁed with the transition

between indoor and outdoor living

areas? If not, how could it be

improved?

Are you satisﬁed with the way

existing walkways connect parts

of the yard? If not, how could it be

improved?

Are you satisﬁed with the current

amount and type of outdoor

lighting? If not, how could it be

improved?

What outdoor structures/ features

would you like to add?

Patio or deck

2 to 4 people

4 to 8 people

8 to 12 people

12+ people

Shade cover for patio/deck

Children’s play area

Cooking/grilling area

Fenced vegetable garden

Raised planters

Dog pen/run

Storage shed

Gazebo

2 to 4 people

4 to 8 people

8 to 12 people

12+ people

Clothesline

Fence(s)

Swimming pool

Spa/hot tub

Sculpture

Fire pit

Boulders

Dry creek

Mounds/berms

Pond

Bench

Fountain

Waterfall/stream

Greenhouse

Putting green

Rain barrel

Off-street parking

for guests

for RVs

for boats

Irrigation system

Other

What items need storage space?

Garden equipment

Garbage cans

Bicycles

Outdoor toys

Sports equipment

Lawn furniture/cushions

Other

Maintenance considerations

How much time do family

members have for yard care?

Is hiring outside help an option?

Design considerations

What is your preferred design style?

Formal

Semiformal

Informal

What themes/styles do you want

reﬂected in your outdoor space?

European

Asian

Natural

Other

What is your preferred shape

(for lawns, walkways, decks)?

Rectangles

45° angles

Circles

Curving/free-form

Combination

Don’t care

List your favorite colors:

List your least favorite colors:

Describe any special considerations

(wheelchair access, etc):

Plant choices

What types of plants do you prefer?

Evergreens trees/shrubs

Deciduous trees/shrubs

Flowering trees/shrubs

Fruit trees/shrubs

Vines

Annual ﬂowers

Perennial ﬂowers

Vegetables

Herbs

Fragrant plants

Wildlife/native

Other

Do any family members have

speciﬁc plan allergies? (List plants)

Is damage from wildlife a problem?

Home Landscape Questionnaire, part 2

(Adapted from Home Landscape: Understanding the basics of landscape design, PM 2004. Copies available from

www.extension.iastate.edu/store)

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For the full non-discrimination

statement or accommodation inquiries, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/diversity/ext.