ContentsIntroduction, 1Landscape Style Options, 2Landscape Planning, 3Landscape Design Principles, 11Selecting Landscape Plants, 15Landscape Structures, 21Low-Maintenance Landscapes, 25Finishing Your Landscape Design, 26For Further Reading, 31For Assistance, 32

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IntroductionThe area around your home is an impor-tant part of your living environment. Attrac-tively and functionally landscaped, it canadd to your enjoyment of your home.Landscaping can also increase propertyvalue, invite wildlife into your yard andconserve energy.

knowledge of landscape design. You haveto consider your home’s architectual

Successful landscaping does not just hap-pen. It requires careful planning and some

features, neighborhood landscapecharacter, the effects you want to create,

scape appropriate for you and your home.

and how you want to use your outdoor liv-ing space. It may take several years of

It was written with only slightly landscaped

planting and construction to achieve yourgoals, but the first step is planning anddesigning what you want to end up with.

This publication will guide you step-by-stepthrough planning and designing a land-

or unlandscaped homes in mind. We em-phasize “conventional” landscape design,which usually includes flowers, shrubs,trees and structures arranged in variouspatterns.

You can get many other landscaping ideasfrom books, magazines and other publica-tions. Some homeowners may prefer tohave a professional landscape architect orlandscape nurseryman develop a land-scape design.

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Landscape Style OptionsIn the past, most home landscapes were either formal or informal.Formal designs are geometric and symmetrical, with plants andlandscape structures precisely spaced and arranged. Informaldesigns make use of more natural-appearing, irregularly placedplants and structures.

Today, more people want their home landscape to meet physicaland social needs. Partly as a result of the environmental move-ment, which fostered a greater appreciation for nature, we tend tobe more interested in informal or naturalistic designs.

The geometric forms of buildings and natural landscapecharacteristics both suggest design patterns. As a result, a homelandscape that blends geometric and naturalistic patterns is oftensuccessful. Today’s landscape styles can be divided intocategories in which varying proportions of geometric andnaturalistic patterns are combined:Geometric-Structural – geometric structure is primary andplants play a minor role.

Geometric-Natural – structure dominates, but plants and othernatural elements play an important, perhaps nearly equal role.

Natural-Structural – plants, rocks, water and earth formsdominate, but there is a clear sense of geometric arrangement.

Natural – natural elements and materials dominate and there isno obvious human-determined form or structure.

As you go through the planning and design steps that follow, youshould have in mind which of these general design styles you wantto achieve.

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Landscape PlanningToo often, homeowners plant before theyplan. Careful planning will help you avoiderrors that may interfere with your finallandscape design, such as improper plantselection or placement.

This section takes you through the re-quired planning steps. You will find theseitems helpful:–Large white paper or 1/10 or 1/8 inch

graph paper (graph paper is easier touse)

–Solid table or board to draw on–Masking tape to hold paper in place–Ruler or scale marked in eights or ten-

ths of an inch–Lead pencil–Eraser–Lightweight, “see-through” tracing

paper–T-square, triangle, circle template and

compass

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Step 1. Draw a Base MapIf you own a new home, you probably have a lot or plot plan thatshows your home in relation to the property boundaries. If you donot have such a plan to work from, you’ll need to determine ac-curately – with a tape measure – where the house is located onthe lot. In addition, determine:–Outside house dimensions–Overhang dimensions–Window and door locations–Height from ground to bottom of windows–Locations of water faucets, dryer vent,

air conditioner, window wells,downspouts, electric and gas metersand fuel fill spout.

–Any other important exterior house features

Draw your lot lines on the paper. If you live on a large parcel ofland, limit your base map to the area you plan to landscape. It’susually most convenient to draw at a scale of 1/8 or 1/10 inch perfoot–1/8 inch or 1/10 inch on the paper equals 1 foot on theground. In one corner of the paper, indicate which direction isnorth and the scale of your drawing.

Next, draw the location of your house, using the same scale. In-dicate windows, doors, overhang and other exterior features.You’ll need this information later to develop a successful plantingdesign. Also sketch in interior room arrangements; this part of thedrawing will help you consider views from inside the house andpatterns of movement between yard and house.

Still using the same scale, draw in existing lot or yard features, in-cluding:–Garage, if unattached–Other buildings in the area to be land-

scaped (such as barn, silo and storageshed)

–Driveways and sidewalks–Underground and overhead utility lines:

electric, telephone, water and gas–Septic tank (or drywell), drain field and

vent or sanitary sewer lines–Trees, shrubs, and other plants to be

preserved (don’t bother noting those youplan to remove)

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Step 2. Analyze your lot or farmstead

To develop the best design, you need a physical and visualanalysis of your lot or farmstead that takes into account bothnatural and man-made features.

Inventory the following categories of natural features on your lot:

Vegetation. Your homesite may already have trees, shrubs orother plants. Before deciding whether to include them in your land-scape design, you must know what kind of plants they are –some may be considered “weeds,” while others may be valuable.Consider also the general appearance or quality of the plants,whether they interfere with the rest of your landscape design, andthe shade and sun patterns they create.

Topography refers to the shape of the land’s surface. Some lotsare flat, while others have a variety of ground forms. It’s importantto decide whether the existing topography can be preserved orwhether it must be modified to meet your family’s outdoor needs.

The drainage patterns on your site may greatly influence yourhome landscape design. Note the direction of runoff and low spotswhere water may collect. Monitor drainage carefully to make surethat outdoor use areas will be suitably located, that water willmove away from buildings and that plants will grow well where youplace them.

Your lot or farmstead’s soil is important because it must supportboth plants and man-made structures. Soil tests, available throughyour county Extension office, will tell you whether your soil has theproper chemical makeup for good plant growth. Your county SoilConservation Service can determine whether the physical proper-ties of your soil are suitable for landscape structures.

Climate will influence your landscaping plans in several ways.Winter temperatures determine which plants are hardy enough togrow on your lot. Spring and fall frost dates determine length ofgrowing season. Average precipitation (about 30 inches for mostof Wisconsin) may not be enough for some plants; but you cansupply additional water. Humidity affects the spread and severityof plant diseases. In Wisconsin, prevailing winter winds are fromthe northwest, and most summer breezes come from thesouthwest. You will want to provide winter wind protection and totake advantage of summer breezes. The U.S. Weather Bureau andcounty Soil Conservation Service and Extension offices can pro-vide climate information more specific for your location.

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During your analysis, take into account man-made structures andnatural landforms seen from your house and lot. You will probablywant to screen from view such off-site “nuisances” as highways,power lines, industrial centers and junkyards while keeping or en-hancing good views. You may also want to block out annoyingnoises from automobiles, trains and other sources.

It helps to take pictures of your lot or farmstead. Often we see on-ly what the mind “wants” to see, rather than what really exists.Photographs or slides help you see the site as a visitor would.They also serve as reminders of what the house and site look likewhile you are working on your design.

Photos should include views of the house from all sides. Photos ofoff-lot views, from both inside and outside the house, will help youidentify those you want to keep or enhance and those that shouldbe screened for beauty or privacy.

Record lot features by sketching them on tracing paper placedover your base map. On the tracing paper, indicate with arrows orother symbols:–Major differences in land surface eleva-

tion – include hills, depressions androck outrcroppings

–Topography and drainage patterns–Prevailing summer and winter winds–Good views to be kept or enhanced.–Poor views and annoying sounds to be screened–Other features that seem significant

Step 3. Analyze how your Lot or FarmsteadRelates to the NeighborhoodA survey of your neighborhood will suggest landscape possibilities.It will also help you avoid developing a design that is out of place.

Don’t be limited by neighborhood examples, but if you do decideto use a very different kind of design, do it unobtrusively-youmay want to restrict its full impact to the back yard, for example.You may also want to share your plans with neighbors to gaintheir understanding and to get their suggestions.

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What building materials, colors, plants andtypes of screening have others used?Which home landscape in theneighborhood do you like or dislike? Earth-tone home colors, dark roofing materials,organic mulches and uniformly greenfoliage usually create a visually pleasingneighborhood.

Some communities have zoning, buildingsetback and fencing and planting restric-tions you should know about before mak-ing landscaping plans. Check with yourtown, village or city clerk or zoning ad-ministrator. You should also check deedand subdivision restrictions for other possi-ble landscaping constraints.

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Step 4. Analyze your NeedsNow is the time to stop and think about how you want to use thespace you plan to landscape. Do you want an outdoor living area?What will you use it for? Eating, cooking, sunbathing? A patio,deck or grassed area would be appropriate for these and otheruses. Do you want a vegetable or fruit garden, outdoor play area,kennel, sports area or flower bed? You need to list all your ac-tivities and space requirements.

Do you want to attract birds and other wildlife? If so, plan to uselots of trees and shrubs, including fruiting ones, in your landscapedesign.

Do you want a low-maintenance landscape? If so, consider havinga small lawn, placing trees, shrubs and ground covers in mulchedplanting beds and using plants that are well-adapted to your siteconditions. Improperly designed plantings often require a lot ofmaintenance. Low-maintenance landscapes are discussed in moredetail in another section of this publication.

If you plan any substantial landscape changes in the future – ad-ding a swimming pool, tennis court or greenhouse, for example –reserve space now so you won’t have to move plants or structureslater.

Consider how much you can afford to spend on home landscaping.Many landscape architects and landscape nurserymen recom-mend investing about 10% of a house’s value on the landscapingaround it, although an acceptable landscape can be accomplishedfor much less. Once you’ve completed your plan, planting andconstruction can be spread over many years. To reduce costs,you can buy small plants and get do-it-yourself construction plansfor patios, walks, decks and other structures. Even though yourbudget may limit your landscaping activities now, considereverything you want to accomplish eventually in your presentscape planning.

land-

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Step 5. Plan Outdoor “Use” AreasThe location and design of outdoor use areas will depend on fami-ly needs and preferences. The particular uses planned andamount of space available will determine use area size. Considerrelationships between indoor and outdoor activities. You’ll want tokeep areas near bedrooms quiet, while locating noisy outsideareas near the kitchen, or perhaps away from the house if spacepermits.

Two general areas should be part of any home landscape design– public and private areas.

The public area usually includes the front yard, driveway,sidewalks and entrance to the house. On a corner lot, the publicarea may also extend into the side or backyard areas.

The entrance and front yard are the most public parts of mostpeoples’ yards. You can design the entire front yard for publicviewing or – because of small lot size or a need for privacy –enclose parts of it with plants, fencing or both. Remember thatyour entrance and front yard contribute to overall neighborhoodappearance – trees, shrubs, flowers, lawns, fences and otherlandscape structures should fit in with the neighborhood’scharacter.

Driveways and sidewalks link your home to neighborhood streets.Consider safety, topography and lot character when locating them.Keep grades as gentle as possible and make as few road cuts aspossible. Remember the need for snow removal and landscapemaintenance. Keep in mind how you want visitors to move fromyour parking area to the main entrance.

The private area of your yard or lot consists of living, service,recreation and multiple-use areas, depending on the needs youidentified earlier.

An outdoor living area may include such features as terrace, deck,patio, screened porch and grassed areas for outdoor cooking, sun-bathing, entertaining and just relaxing. Try to estimate the numberof people who might use the area at one time so you can design itaccordingly

Many homeowners like to have a service area for such things asvegetable and fruit gardens and wood and garbage storage.Choose these areas carefully. Vegetable gardens and manyflowers need full sunlight and suitable soil. Wood and garbagestorage areas should be accessible, but out of view.

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You may want outdoor recreation areas for lawn games, swim-ming pool, tennis court, greenhouse or other purposes. Lot size,family needs and finances will determine how much space youcan devote to outdoor recreation.

In many yards, space is limited. You may need to use the samearea for several activities. Multiple-use areas may serve as living,recreation, and service areas at appropriate times.

Step 6. Make Use Area SketchesNow, after the necessary analyses (Steps 1-5), it’s back to thedrawing board! With tracing paper on top of your base and lotanalysis maps, make a number of alternative general use sket-ches, fitting the use areas together in ways that take into accountsite features and family needs. Use circles, ovals and rectanglesto locate specific spaces within your public and private areas.Keep the sketches that seem to suit your lot and family needs.Discard those that do not.

While making your sketches, consider these questions: Does theexisting vegetation that you wanted to keep still fit into your plans?Is the slope of your property appropriate for your proposed out-door use areas? Do your use areas make the most effective use ofsunlight? After answering these questions, you may want todiscard some use area arrangements and consider alternatives.

Grassed or hard-surfaced travel routes must be planned to provideconvenient movement between different use areas. Indicate theseroutes with arrows on your plans.

So far, you have been collecting and combining informationabout your homesite and your needs. To give specificshape to the general use areas and to complete your land-scape design (Step 7) you will need some understanding ofdesign and composition principles. The next two sectionsgive an overview of these principles.

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Landscape Design PrinciplesHome landscape designs vary accordingto family needs and preferences, but suc-cessful designs have certain underlyingprinciples in common.

A landscape has unity when its predomi-nant features have some visualcharacteristics in common. For example,plants with similar forms, colors and tex-tures can create unity, both on your lotand in your neighborhood. This is also trueof lawns and paving materials. Repeatinga design pattern, color or texture inseveral different locations helps createunity.

Plants and landscape structures of similarvisual importance help create balance ina landscape design. With color, form, tex-ture, size and other features, you candirect attention to several areas of theyard. Balance may be symmetrical (“for-mal”), in which each side of the yard issimilar in pattern, or asymmetrical (“infor-mal”), in which each side attracts thesame attention even though objects andspacing are not repeated.

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Accent areas or focal points to which at-tention is drawn create emphasis andkeep a design’s unity and balance frombecoming monotonous. A single contrastin color, texture, form or height – such asprovided by a bench, tree, pool, or flowerbed – can provide emphasis.

Scale refers to the size relationshipsamong plants, structures and openspaces. A 4-foot-high shrub with a 4-footspread may be too large – and thereforeout of scale – in front of low windows.Next to a high-rise building, however, thesame shrub would be out of scale becauseit is too small. In some home landscapesituations, group plantings will compensatefor plants with too-little spread.

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Space. Your entire lot can be considereda block of space with dimensions oflength, width and height. Plants, fencesand buildings are used to divide the lot in-to smaller living spaces analogous to therooms of your house. These outdoor“rooms” should have separate identitiesand should meet your use area needs. The“rooms” should have openings that directmovement from one to another.

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Lines may be straight or curved. Land-scape designers frequently lay out patios,decks and planting beds using straightlines that extend – or parallel – houseand lot lines. Equally successful – andmore naturalistic –- designs can becreated with curved lines. Straight andcurved lines can be combined in a design,but it is difficult for the beginning designerto do this successfully.

These design principles will help you givespecific shapes to the areas you identifiedin your general use sketches. But youcan’t design a landscape based only onplacement and size of plants and struc-tures – the main components of homelandscape. You must also select the ap-propriate plants and constructionmaterials.

In other words, from design principles youmay arrive at the proper location andshape for a planting bed. But you mustalso decide what plants to put in the bed.In the same way, you have to decide whatto surface a patio with as well as whereand how big the patio should be.

Both plants and building materials can beselected for their form, texture and color.You will need to keep these elements oflandscape composition in mind as you pro-ceed toward your final landscape design.We discuss them further in later sectionsof this publication.

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Selecting Landscape PlantsThere are three things to consider inselecting plants. They are, in the orderyou should consider them: planthardiness, site conditions and suitabilityfor your landscape design.

Wisconsin is divided into hardiness zonesbased on lowest winter temperatures.Many plants cannot survive Wisconsinwinters.

All plants require a certain set of growingconditions. The conditions your site offerswill determine what plants will grow wellthere.

Soils vary greatly in acidity, drainage, andfertility. Sandy soils are usually well drain-ed, while clay soils may become water log-ged. Few plants do well in both situations.Use the soil information from your lot orfarmstead analysis in selecting plants. It’sbetter to select plants for your soil than totry to change the soil.

dioxide, ozone and fluoride, also damage

Plants vary in their sunlight requirements.For example, the Japanese yew does well

plants.

in shade, but junipers need full sunlight togrow well and look their best. As youevaluate alternative landscape designs,consider shade patterns created bybuildings and existing plants.

Some evergreen trees and shrubs will nottolerate the drying effect of winter winds.On the other hand, most hardy deciduousplants (those that drop their leaves in fall)will tolerate full exposure.

Topography. Some plants have adaptedto cooler northern slopes, while others dobetter with hot, dry, south-facing exposure.

Be aware of possible air and soilpollution when selecting plants. De-icingsalt damages many plants, either as a soilcontaminant or as a spray created by traf-fic or snow plowing. Pollutants from in-dustries and automobiles, such as sulfur

You must select plants that will grow wellunder your conditions or you’ll have trou-ble keeping them healthy from the outset.

Extension publications A2865, “A Guide toSelecting Landscape Plants in Wisconsin,”and A2970, “Salt Injury to LandscapePlants,” contain more information onthese subjects.

Design considerationsPlants have different forms, or growthhabits. Basic forms and their commonuses are:–vertical – usually used sparingly as ac-

cents or to provide height–horizontal – used to provide width and

to “attach” structures to the ground–weeping – usually used only as ac-

cents–pyramidal – used as accents or com-

bined with rounded and horizontal plants–rounded – used to create large

masses, borders or enclosures

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The size of a plant’s leaves, twigs and branches determines itstexture. Fine-textured plants have small leaves and twigs, coarse-textured ones have large, and medium-textured ones in between.You may want to select plants of all three textures. Often, the sizeof a landscape space will determine what texture is appropriate –a small space will seem larger with fine-textured plants than withcoarse-textured ones, for example.

The dominance of one color helps provide harmony in a homelandscape as well as throughout an entire neighborhood. For mostpeople, green foliage creates a restful landscape. But you maywant to select plants with particular fruit, bark and fall leaf colorsto serve as accents as the seasons change.

You may want to consider using some native plants in yourdesign. Plants native to Wisconsin are just as beautiful as non-native ones and are often better adapted to our growing condi-tions. Honeysuckle, buckthorn and other ornamentals that haveescaped to the wild have actually forced some native plants fromnatural plant communities. Certain varieties of buckthorn aredisease carriers for a rust that affects oats.

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TreesTrees – both deciduous and evergreen – help put a house andits surrounding into proper scale. They should be planted wherethey will enhance the overall appearance of your home’s setting aswell as provide shade in summer and wind protection in winter.Frequently, trees are used to frame a good view or screen a poorone.

A variety of small to medium-sized trees may be used as accentplants. You can base your choice on a combination of visualcharacteristics, including foliage and flower color, fruit, bark,fragrance and texture. Fruit trees may be used as accent plants,but remember that they can be messy and require regular spray-ing for insect and disease control.

Consider planting several kinds of trees to minimize the risks of in-sects and diseases. But don’t overdo it – too many kinds of treesmay deprive your landscape of unity. A compromise – plantingseveral representatives of several different types – will provideboth a measure of insect and disease resistance and design unity.

Plant individual shade trees 30-40 feet apart. Or, for a morenatural, forest-like landscape, vary tree spacing from 5-50 feet. Toobtain the best shade patterns and to avoid foundation damage,plant trees 15-25 feet from the house. Irregular tree placementcreates an informal setting.

In urban areas, check with municipal officials before planting treesin the terrace between street and sidewalks.

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ShrubsDeciduous and evergreen shrubs are animportant part of most home landscapes.Planted in groups, they create screens andbarriers or serve as foundation plantingsor understory plants beneath trees.Although most shrubs work best in groups,they may also be used as accents – ac-cent shrubs can help lead visitors to yourentrance, for example.

Masses of shrubs effectively delineate dif-ferent use areas in the yard, much aswalls delineate the rooms of a house. Aheavy planting of shrubs at house cornerssoftens the transition between verticalwalls and horizontal ground lines.

Foundation plantings should enhance youroverall landscape design. Generally, it’snot good design practice to surround ahouse completely with foundation plantsunless you need to screen an unsightlyfoundation. For under windows and eaves,select foundation plants that will not betoo tall when mature.

Taller plants may shade out understoryplants, so select shade-tolerant shrubs foruse as understory plants.

You can create seasonal variety with com-bination plantings of evergreen anddeciduous shrubs. Remember that land-scapes have a more unified appearancewhen green-foliaged plants predominate.Shrubs with red, purple, yellow or silversummer foliage can become unintended“focal points” and detract from your land-scape design. It’s better to select accentshrubs based on flower, fruit, bark and fallleaf color. You can unify your landscapeby planting the same kinds of shrubs inseveral different locations.

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Avoid planting shrubs too close together – size at maturity should contrast between lawn and planting beds. Mass plantings of peren-determine spacing. Don’t give in to the desire to achieve the mass nial ground covers reduce landscape maintenance.effect of a group planting too rapidly. A mature landscape cannotbe created in one growing season. It will require at least threeyears, perhaps five, before a group planting achieves its intendedeffect.

Vines soften the texture of brick and stone as well as shade housewalls. They will cover chain link fences and help provide screeningwhere space for trees and shrubs is limited.

Tall shrubs are usually planted 5-7 feet apart, medium shrubs 3-5feet apart and low shrubs 2-3 feet apart. Place shrubs slightlymore than one-half their ultimate spread away from the foundationso they can attain their natural forms.

Ground Covers, Vines and FlowersGround covers, vines and flowers complement most home land-scape designs.

Ground covers help unify tree and shrub plantings and provide a

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Flowers add color to your yard. They canbe planted in beds and borders, in front ofshrub masses and to fill in open areaswhile shrubs are growing. Flowers lookbest against a simple background, such asa fence or shrub planting, so they’re notrecommended for the middle of a lawn.Both perennial and annual flowers requirea lot of maintenance.

LawnsA lawn adds unity to a landscape designby linking together the various “rooms” ofa landscape. It is also a good groundcover for recreation and service areas andfor travel routes between use areas.

Publications on planting and maintaininglawns are available at county Extension of-fices.

Planting for Energy ConservationProper selection and placement of plantscan reduce home energy consumption.Deciduous trees planted 15-25 feet awayfrom the house on the east, south andwest sides shade the roof and walls insummer, reducing surface temperatures.After the trees have dropped their leavesin fall, winter sunlight can reach the houseto provide passive solar heating.

Windbreaks, mainly evergreen plantings,located four to six times their ultimateheight away from the house on the northand west sides can reduce winds andwinter fuel consumption. Foundation plan-tings also reduce winter heat loss. Vinescan shade and cool house walls duringsummer. Maximum energy savings will notoccur until your plants reach maturity.Publication G81N1178; “Designing anEnergy – Efficient Home Landscaping”contains more details.

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Landscape StructuresMost libraries, book stores and gardencenter offer a variety of publications thatcontain detailed construction plans andmaterial suggestions for landscape struc-tures. We discuss only the more commonstructures in this publication.

GradingIf your homesite is already graded andeven partially landscaped, you probablywon’t want to change its contours. But ifthe final grading has not been done, youmay be able to create the topographymost appropriate for your landscapedesign.

Actually, the best time to think aboutchanging a homesite’s topography isbefore building begins. This is also thebest time to decide whether shade treesand other plants already there should besaved. Mature trees and shrubs addthousands of dollars of value to residentialproperties.

If you want to keep existing plants in yourlandscape design, they should be pro-tected before constuction begins. Con-struction equipment can damage and killtrees by compacting soil in their rootzones. A simple fence erected just beyondthe branch spread of a tree will protectboth roots and trunk from damage.

If you change the grade around anestablished tree, you must avoid changingthe amount of air, water and soil nutrientsreaching it. See Extension publicationA3072, “Preserving Trees During Con-

struction”, for details on how to ac-complish this.

During rough grading, the topsoil shouldbe stockpiled away from the immediateconstruction site. To protect this valuablesoil from erosion for a short time, spreadweed-free straw or marsh hay over it. Ifthe topsoil is to be stockpiled for morethan one season, seed the pile with annualrye grass, oats or another annual plant.When construction is completed, the top-soil should be spread evenly over the lot.A 4-6 inch layer is ideal, although two in-ches may be adequate if it is incorporatedinto the top six inches of soil.

Mounds, berms and changes in groundcontour great enough to require steps orretaining walls help create an interestinglandscape. But they should perform aspecific function, such as outliningspecific use areas or other lawn spaces,buffering noise or screening unwantedviews. Mounds should blend into the sur-rounding topography and look natural.

Your ground elevation must match yourneighbors’ at lot lines. You can ac-complish this with gradual grading or re-taining walls.

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DrivewaysThe driveway is an integral part of ahome’s public areas, providing access forboth vehicles and pedestrians. At mosthomes, it is where visitors arrive, mail isdelivered, trash is picked up and childrenplay. It should be wide enough to accom-modate pedestrians and vehicles at thesame time. If you have enough space,consider constructing a turn court andparking area to permit the unhampered –and safe – movement of vehicles.

For safety, the drive should meet thestreet at a right angle, and plants or struc-tures must not hamper a driver’s vision. Ifthe drive has a steep grade, try to designa nearly level area near the garage and atthe street intersection.

Driveways should have a slope of at least1% (1 foot rise per 100 feet traveled) forproper drainage. But a slope of more than10% will be hazardous in winter.Remember to provide space where snowcan be placed in winter without damagingplants or structures.We recommend that homeowners seekprofessional help to make sure thatunusually long driveways or those onsteep grades fit harmoniously into thelandscape.

WalksMost people find walks already in placewhen they move into a home. Typically, anentrance walk meets the driveway at aright angle and parallels the house to thefront door. Unfortunately, in many casesthe walk is too narrow for comfortablepedestrian use and too close to the housefor proper plant growth.

An entrance walk should be at least 4 feetwide. A large house may require a 5-foot

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walk for proper scale. If you have the op-portunity to plan your entrance walk, leaveat least 4 feet between it and the house.This will provide enough space for an en-trance planting to accent the front door.

As for the driveway, plan the entrancewalk for easy access and winter snowremoval. A slope of 1-4% is ideal. For safe-ty, the slope should be no more than 6%.

StepsWhere the ground slopes more than 6%,you will need to install steps to permit peo-ple to move from one level to another. Nomatter what the steps are constructed of,they should meet a long-established stan-dard for safe and convenient outdoorsteps: two risers (the riser is the verticalpart of a step) plus one tread (the horizon-tal part) should have a combined measure-ment of 26 inches. The most common stepdimensions are 5½-inch risers with

15-inch treads and 6-inch risers with14-inch treads.

A pedestrian may not notice only one ortwo steps, so as a rule a set of stepsshould have at least three risers. If thisisn’t possible, use an eye-catching surfacematerial or outdoor lighting to make thesteps visible. Handrails make steps safer,especially in winter.

Decks and patiosIf you want a deck or patio for outdoor liv-ing, plan for it carefully to make it useful inas many ways as possible.

Location is one important consideration. Apatio or deck should be convenient to theappropriate areas of your house. If you willuse it mainly for sunbathing, you’ll pro-bably want it off the bedroom. If you planto eat or entertain there, place it near thekitchen or family room. Of course, door

locations may limit your placement alter-natives. Other factors to consider are ex-posure to sunlight, summer winds, goodviews and privacy.

Patio size will depend on what you want touse the patio for, yard space available andfamily size. We recommend about 64square feet of hard-surfaced patio spacefor every family member.

A patio should have a 1-2% slope awayfrom the house so water will drain awayfrom the house.

A deck can provide a level outdoor areaover steep ground. It should appear to bean extension of the house. Its color andtexture should make it harmonize with thehouse and surrounding landscape.

The architectural lines of your home;choice of construction materials and otheraspects of your landscape-design will allinfluence the shape of a patio or deck.

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Retaining WallsRetaining walls are used to make abrupt changes in elevation, pro-vide privacy and delineate outdoor space. Stone, brick, wood ties,timbers and concrete are the most commonly used materials.

For steep grade changes, a series of low walls is usually betterthan one high one. The higher the wall, the more it must be rein-forced to withstand the pressures created by freezing and thawingin winter.

For both dry and mortared walls, careful planning and constructionare essential. Consult detailed design books or seek professionalassistance if you plan a retaining wall more than 4 feet high.

FencesFences, alone or in combination with mass plantings, provideprivacy and enclosure in the home landscape. They also serve aswindscreens, “poor-view” screens, accents, space dividers,sources of shade and backdrops for plants.

Fences may be constructed in a variety of styles and from manydifferent materials. If you decide to build a fence, choose a stylethat complements your overall landscape design. Chain linkfences, with or without plastic strips, rarely beautify a yard.Fences made of dark or neutral-colored natural materials usuallydo.

LightingOutdoor lighting can be included in your landscape design.Lighting walks and entrances makes them safer, especially duringdark and slippery winter months. Soft overhead lighting extendsthe useful hours of patios and decks. With lights, you can highlightparticular plants or structures. Low landscape lighting – no morethan 3 feet from the ground – can help unify your entire land-scape in the evening.

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Low-Maintenance LandscapesAll plants and structures require somemaintenance, but you have some choiceas to whether your landscape will requirea lot of maintenance or a little. Manyhomeowners enjoy lawn and garden workand knowlingly choose plants and struc-tures that require a lot of maintenance.Others want an attractive and functionallandscape, but would rather not spendevenings and weekends weeding, mowing,watering, edging and pruning. If you are inthe latter category, you should worktoward a low-maintenance landscape.

Mulched planting beds usually require lessmaintenance than the same area of pro-perly maintained lawn. Two to four inchesof shredded bark, wood chips, groundcorncobs or similar organic materials con-trol weeds, retain soil moisture andmoderate soil temperatures, while blen-ding into the landscape.

We don’t recommend placing a plasticsheet under organic mulches, but crushedstone, marble chips and washed gravelmust be underlain with black plastic for ef-fective weed control. These inorganicmulches can reduce aeration of heavy orpoorly drained soils (while providing onlylimited moisture retention), and theysometimes reflect enough sunlight todamage plants. Crushed stone and marblechips introduce exotic colors which violatebasic design principles in many situations.

For those areas where a lawn isnecessary, use a mulching mower to avoidhaving to rake leaf clippings and to reducefertilizer needs (by returning plantnutrients to the soil).

Edging around planting beds reducesmaintenance time – by separating thebeds from the lawn – and helps unify alandscape design. Select an edgingmaterial with texture and color that com-plement the house and other landscapestructures – stone, wood, brick, steel andplastic are all available.

A perennial ground cover under trees andshrubs also reduces maintenance re-quirements. Most ground covers grow wellin an organic mulch and, if planted at theright density, can even be used in place ofa mulch.

Use well-adapted plants that will requireminimal maintenance. It takes a lot of timeto maintain unnatural plant forms liketopiaries, espaliers and pollards.

Space plants properly during the initialplanting. If you overplant, you will have ex-tra pruning, trimming and thinning. If youunderplant, you may have to fill in withmore plants.

Planting flowers in containers and smallplanting beds makes annual planting andremoval easier.

A “natural” landscape usually requiresless maintenance than most conventionalones.

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Finishing Your Landscape DesignStep 7. Putting It All TogetherOnce again, it’s time to go back to the drawing board. Your lastefforts there should have produced a number of alternative usearea sketches. Now you will give exact shapes to the use areasyou want and decide what plants and structures will create thoseshapes and a pleasing overall landscape design.

If it has been some time since you made the general use sketchesyou may want to retrace the steps that led up to them, by review-ing the first three sections of this publication. To complete a suc-cessful design, you need to have a grasp of lot, house, andneighborhood characteristics as well as general design principles.

On the drawing board, place the best use area sketch over yourbase map and lot analysis drawing. On top of this, place a cleansheet of tracing paper.

There are three parts to completing your landscape design:–Draw exact shapes and locations of use areas, planting beds

and landscape structures–Identify specific planting sites–Select plants and construction materials that meet your design

requirements

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First, draw in planting beds and landscapestructures that give shape to your outdooruse areas. As you draw, consider bothfunction – energy conservation, screen-ing poor views, enhancing good ones, etc.– and aesthetics – based on generaldesign principles. You may want to reviewthe relevant sections of this publication asyou zero in on the most successful design.

Draw planting beds and landscape struc-tures accurately to scale. You’ll needsome idea of the types of plants that willgo into planting beds – deciduous vs.evergreen trees vs. shrubs, etc. – tomake the beds the proper size.

Be prepared to draw several alternativedesigns. Professional designers usuallydraw several designs, try to improve them,then select the one that is best all-round.

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Second, identify exactly where plantsshould go, using appropriately sizedcircles on your drawing. Except for verylarge trees, which are usually drawn abouttwo-thirds their maximum size, drawcircles representing approximate matureplant spread. Unless otherwise specified inplant descriptions, spread is usually abouttwo-thirds of listed height. You may wantto differentiate deciduous and evergreenplants with different symbols.

2 9

Finally, decide what plants and buildingmaterials will fulfill your designrequirements. The goal is to select plantsthat will grow well in your planting siteswhile providing forms, textures and colorsthat complement your design.

Also choose building materials whose tex-tures and colors complement your design.Structures should blend in with house andplants. If you have a wood-surfaced house,for example, you’ll probably want awooden fence, and its color should be thesame as or complement your house color.

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For Further ReadingMany publications on subjects related to home landscaping are availablethrough UW-Extension county offices.

Site planning

Catalog number

G8lNH153

A3382

A2865

G1609

A3434

G2736

A1771

A1817

A1730

NCR356

A3073

A3435

A1990

NCR26

A3383

A2305

Planning a Play Area in Your Residential Landscape Design

Plant selectionContainer Gardening

A Guide to Selecting Landscape Plants for Wisconsin

Landscape Plants That Attract Birds

Lawn Establishment

Prairie Primer

Plant careCaring for Deciduous Shrubs

Caring for Your Established Shade Trees

Evergreens: Planting and Care

Fertilizing Garden and Landscape Plants and Lawns

Identifying Shade Tree Problems

Lawn Maintenance and Problems

Lawn Weed Prevention and Control

Lawn Weeds and Their Control

Mulches for Home Gardens and Plantings

Organic Soil Conditions

Catalog number

A2079

A3067

A2308

A2934

A3134

Plant care (continued)

Recognizing Common Shade Tree Insects

Selecting, Planting and Caring for Your Shade Tree

Tree and Shrub Fertilization

Turf Insect Pest Control Guide

Woody Ornamental Insect Pest Control Guide

Yard Care and the Environment is a series of publications developed byUW-Extension and the Department of Natural Resources. Titles include:

l Rethinking Yard Care

l Shoreline Landscape Options and Plants

l Landscape Practices for Healthier Plants and Improved Water Quality

l Lawn and Garden Fertilizers

l Lawn and Garden Pesticides

l Selecting a Lawn Care Company

l Watering

Other publicationsLandscaping for Wildlife, available from the Department of NaturalResources, Box 7, St. Paul, MN 55155-4007. A landowner’s guide todeveloping a beautiful yard that attracts wildlife.

Livable Landscape Design (141IB-211), available from Cornell UniversityDistribution Center, Seven Research Park, Ithaca, NY 14850. Provides afairly detailed reference on the process and principles of livable residentiallandscape design.

Basic books on home landscape design are also available at libraries,bookstores and garden centers.

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For AssistanceHomeowners who need assistance with developing and carrying Landscape industries that offer some landscape design servicesout a landscape plan can turn to several sources of professional may employ landscape horticulturists – trained specialists inand technical services: ornamental horticulture who may have some experience in plant-

Landscape architects are professional consultants who plan and ing design – and landscape designers – individuals who may

design the arrangement of outdoor areas. Of all the sources of have some experience in residential design, but not necessarily

landscape services, only landscape architects offer assistance any formal training in landscape design.

with site selection and planning, preparing alternative plans andselecting a final plan that includes plants and hard-surfacematerials and working drawings. Some states have regulatory lawsgoverning the practice of landscape architecture. Wisconsin doesnot require licensing, but only a person who has a degree from anaccredited program can properly be called a landscape architect.Most landscape architects specialize in planning and design anddo not sell plants or other materials or do landscape construction,in contrast to the following segments of the landscape industry.

Nurserymen grow plants for wholesale or retail sale. Some mayoffer landscape design assistance, particularly with plant selectionand placement. Some may do the planting. Some nurseriesoperate garden centers.

Landscape contractors specialize in landscape constructionThey do rough and finish grading, seeding and sodding, concretework for drives, walks and low retaining walls. They place land-scape plants and supply topsoil, asphalt and other constructionmaterials. Some install fences, decks, patios, sprinkler systemsand pools. As a rule, landscape contractors do not grow plants,operate garden centers or offer extensive design assistance.

Garden centers sell seeds, fertilizer and plants that they may ormay not have grown themselves. Most sell a wide variety ofmaterials, including bedding plants, pottery and patio and lawn fur-niture. Some may deliver large plants, but few install them. Somegarden centers offer limited planting design services.

Most sod producers sell sod wholesale, but some retail and in-stall sod for homeowners. As a rule, they do not offer landscapedesign services.

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Editing, Jerry L. MosserGraphic Design, Martha FishIllustration, Renee Graef

Authors: Dan A. Wilson and Thomas J. Wilson are University of Wisconsin–Extension community resource agents in Washington and MarathonCounty, respectively. Both are landscape architects. Wayne G. Tlusty is a professor of landscape architecture at the College of Agricultural andLife Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Wisconsin–Extension, Cooperative Extension.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture,University of Wisconsin–Extension, Cooperative Extension. University of Wisconsin–Extension provides equal opportunities in employment andprogramming, including Title IX and ADA requirements. If you need this information in an alternative format, contact the Office of EqualOpportunity and Diversity Programs of call Extension Publishing at 608-262-2655.

© 2003 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. Send inquiries about copyright permission to: Cooperative ExtensionPublishing Operations, 103 Extension Building, 432 N. Lake St., Madison, WI 53706.

To see more publications or to order copies of this publication, visit our web site at http://cecommerce.uwex.edu or call toll-free: 877-WIS-PUBS(947-7827).

Planning and Designing Your Home Landscape (G1923)

RP-02/2004