Design your DIY landscaping like a pro – Show Notes

How to start designing a landscape

Today’s links: ely.how/episode43

• Style your landscape like a pro
• Design basics for your yard
• Today’s Plant: Moss Phlox

• Free Stuff at ELY.how/free!
• Get 1-1 help with Ben
• Ask a question
• Find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest

What you need to do to begin a new DIY landscape design for your yard

Start with a list of needs, wants, and desires

• Needs
  • Functions
  • Access
• Wants and desires
  • Syles
  • Non-necessary functions
  • Enhanced access

Include whole family in process

• Spouse
• Kids
• Pets

Create a base map

• Take photos
• Map out basic layout of property
  • Property boundaries
  • Structures
  • Existing spaces
  • Direction
  • Access points
  • Utilities

Begin to create design ideas

• Overhead view of space
• Side view of space
• Start with different hardscape and garden border designs
• Two options
  • Paper exercise
  • Realistic exercise
    • Rope, hose, etc
    • Take photos!

Think about plant structure

• Structure, not specific plants
  • Big, small, pyramidal, columnar, bush, tree, etc
• Use construction paper, whiteboard, power point
• Not specific plants, just shapes and forms

Think about colors, textures, and time of year

• Blooms, foliage, evergreen, dead material

Get input and narrow in on a design concept

Formalize your design

Today’s favorite plant

Moss phlox – Phlox subulata

• Ground cover perennial
• Semi-evergreen
• 3-6” height
• 1-2ft spread
• Varied blooms in March-May
• Grows in medium to dry moisture
• Full sun
• Sandy, rocky, or clay soil
• Tolerates deer, drought, erosion
• USDA zone 3-9