Do It Yourself Landscaping Site Plan

YOU WILL NEED:

1. Tape measure (50-foot, at least)
2. Architect’s scale or ruler
3. Pencil & eraser
4. Grid paper

INSTRUCTIONS
Start by sketching the outline of your lot and the shape of the house on a piece of paper. Also sketch in any other features that will affect your plan, such as; the driveway, sidewalks, patio, window wells, mailbox and existing trees and shrubs. This will be your working drawing to which you will add all of your measurements.

Measure and note on your sketch all dimensions of the lot, house, driveway, etc.

Include 12 to 24 photos from each property pin, curb and driveway, front door impression, including adjoining neighbors and photos from inside looking out of your view window.

Before you start drawing your site plan on the grid paper, make sure that the drawing will fit on the grid paper. With 1/4 inch grid, each grid (square) is equal to 1 square foot of your plan. If your lot will not fit on one piece of grid paper, tape two pieces together or have scale change to 1 square =2 sq. ft.
To center the drawing on the paper, mark a cross at the center point of the grid paper.

Now, transfer your measurements to the grid paper, starting with the outline of the lot. If your lot has other than a square or rectangular shape, draw in one lot line that is most closely parallel with a wall of the house. Proceed with the next lot lines and get as close as possible to all outside dimensions. You do not want to figure any inches in this. Round everything to the nearest foot measurement.
Once your site plan has been drawn to scale on the grid paper, it’s time to schedule an appointment with us and let a Gainan’s landscaping consultant assist you with the next step—creation of the landscape design. Please call Gainan’s Garden Center to make an appointment. There is no charge for one hour consultation at our store. Additional “in-store time”, after the one hour consultation, is charged at $35 per hour. Please bring pictures of the house and yard.

Our landscape consultant can explain the “why’s and how’s” of the landscape design to you, as well as providing guidance on the following points, our goals are to:

• Consider what uses will be made of your outdoor living area.
• Add ‘curb appeal’ to your front yard.
• Create a ‘theme’ for your landscape
• Screen or frame views.
• Create ‘lawn shapes’.
• Design planting beds.
• Suggest plantings for each area.

Phase the work over a time period that your budget can handle.