Plan Your Decor

The first step to building the garden of your dreams is planning. Having a well thought out plan will help you develop all the things that are important to you within your garden. It'll also allow you to develop a physical layout that you can use as a guide. 

Think of it as a map.

In fact, we recommend drawing a map, as well as putting together budgeting and timelines. Putting together a solid plan will allow you to address the things you have control over and the things you don't. It'll help you build a vision of your desired outcome, before diving into the heavy work.

Make a Map

First things first. Let's assess what you already have. Grab a pencil and paper. It doesn't need to be fancy. After doing a first draft on your own, you may decide to hire a professional cartographer who specializes in gardens and small-scale maps. They'll be able to draw it out to scale in a detailed manner.

But even if you decide to go this route, we recommend doing a sketch or two on your own. It'll help you get an idea of what you have and dream about what you want. 

Whether you do it yourself or hire someone, the goal is to detail the slopes, stairs, existing paths, and sheltered areas. Consider things such as:

• Are there parts that don't get sunlight?
• Are there areas that are exposed to more wind?

The more detail you include, the better.

The drawings themselves don't need to be detailed and specific, but it is important to highlight all the details which could affect the design of your garden.

Many people enjoy using software such as CAD (Computer-Aided Design). CAD software can help you create precise drawings and plans. The maps drawn using CAD software are more architecturally precise. Especially if you choose a software program that's designed specifically for garden planning.

Some software programs allow you to add templates for garden plants, trees, structures, and even furniture. 

But keep in mind, that your first basic garden map is intended to take a close look at what you already have . . . we'll start planning for your dream garden later.

For more gardening tips please follow this link: How to decorate your garden