How to Landscape a Garden & Design a Deck

Measure the space you will use. Sketch the whole yard area on graph paper and define the garden and deck space. Create a layout from a bird's-eye view, as if you were looking down on the yard, to make sure the garden and deck don't overpower the area. Factor in areas of grass and driveway space to make sure the garden and deck enhance these spaces instead of detracting from them.

Use curved edges on some of the garden space. While a garden can fit into the corner of a lot, the front edges should curve into yard space. Draw a curved edging to make the garden flow and not look boxy. Draw the deck on the graph paper with the required amount of square footage, to look proportionate with both the yard space and the house. Keep deck edges square, of course.

Make a list of plants you love. Write down climbing plants, bulb plants, ground cover and plants with a special aroma that you want to include. Design the garden around the plants. Plan to put taller plants against a fence, for example, with groupings of plants coming forward that are shorter for each row. Put the shortest plants around the front edge or use a border of ground cover.

Come up with deck dimensions and sketch a framework. Draw all component parts of the deck, its railings and any benches built as a permanent part of the deck. Plan to install floor joists on 16-inch centers. Decide if you will construct the deck flooring on concrete pilings or wooden support posts resting on concrete footings.

Plan walkways and deck steps that lead into the garden. Draw a walkway at ground level made of brick pavers, for example. Design the garden area to frame the deck space. Create the garden plan to look appropriate if you are standing in the lawn area looking at the deck. Install tall sunflowers around deck railings on ground level that frame the deck perimeter. Add shorter bushes or plants along a 10-foot width of lawn surrounding the deck.