Landscaping Design Help

Growing Conditions

• The United States Department of Agriculture has assigned each region of the U.S. a plant hardiness zone number. This identifies the growing conditions within that particular area, including the number of frost-free days and the average temperature. Use your hardiness zone number to identify what plants are suitable for your region. The garden's soil conditions affect the plants that you can grow. Test the soil for its pH and mineral content. Add fertilizer or organic compost if needed. Every garden and yard has microclimates, places that have variations in the overall growing conditions, such as more sun or shade or a colder temperature. These elements form the garden's growing conditions.

Activities

• The yard's landscaping needs to reflect your family's outdoor activities and interests. Set aside space for games and recreation, such as a children's play house, a soccer area or a basketball hoop. If you plan to grow vegetables, you need a vegetable bed with easy access for planting, weeding and watering. Entertaining outdoors requires a barbecue area, dining table and chairs. If you're plagued with mosquitoes and flies in the summer, consider an enclosed area, such as a curtained gazebo. Flowers add color to a landscaped yard, but need their own spaces.

Structures

• Landscaping includes any structures, whether permanent or temporary, in your backyard. Wooden decks and stone patios are permanent, easy-care structures where you can place furniture. For barbecuing, consider if you need just a table nearby or a permanent outdoor kitchen. Children's play houses and climbing frames are either permanent or temporary, depending on the amount of space available and your local climate. Sheds are permanent structures for storing garden supplies and accessories in the winter.

Plants

• Landscaping with plants, shrubs and trees adds color, texture and fragrance to your yard. Consider how much time you want to spend attending to the plants. Lawns require frequent watering, weeding and mowing. Perennials add structure to a garden and are easy to maintain if mulched to prevent weeds. Annuals add color. Many flowers and herbs grow well in containers on a patio, or you can move them to the best position in your garden. Growing fruits and vegetables provides fresh flavor for your summer meals as well as introducing children to the delights of gardening.