How to Draw Plants for a Landscape Plan

Consider the time frame within which you want to work. Typically, a landscape plan should cover 3 to 5 years. Changes can be made slowly over time to save costs, or performed all at once.

Create a main landscape plan page. The page should incorporate landmarks of the area you wish to landscape and show the boundaries of the area. The plan should note the measurements of the area to scale. Use graph paper to make your scale easy to apply.

Assign a scale to your symbols. The scale you choose will depend on the size of your paper and the amount of detail you wish to show. For example, if 1 foot (or 12 inches) equals 1 inch on paper, a symbol for a 6-inch plant would be sized at 1/2-inch for use in your drawing.

Assign basic shapes or symbols to the plants in your plan. For example, use circles of varying size to represent trees and shrubs, a Y shape for spreading ground covers and a star or asterisk shape for ornamental grasses.

Create a unique symbol and/or shape for each variety or cultivar of plant in your plan. Use color or a design to differentiate among plants if you choose to reuse the same symbol for several plants. Using the leaf shape, branch shape or flower color within your symbol can serve as a reminder and give a better picture of the way the plants may work together visually.

Note the spread and height of each of your plants. Base the symbol size on the spread of the mature plant. For smaller plants and flowers, homeowners can assume a 4-inch spread; for medium sized plants, start with a 6-inch spread. Mature shrubs may have a spread of several feet.

Cut out plant symbols to move and manipulate plants within your plan easily. As an alternative with no loose pieces, create a layer of onion-skin or other transparent paper to overlay your main landscape plan. Make changes and additions on the overlay until you finalize your design.