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Westminster Conservation Landscaping Guide
Landscape Planning
Take the time to observe and map the existing conditions on your site that will effect plant growth and health. Plants that are installed in a well-planned landscape that considers the factors identified below will require less irrigation once established because they will be under less environmental stress. Also, a successful planting means you won't have to replace plants that don't survive, requiring more water to establish new plants. Use the following guide to map your site, so you know what to look for when shopping for plants.
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Lay it Out
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Find a piece of graph paper (download here) and some coloored pencils, and just sketch the basic layout of your property. Include your house, fencing, outbuildings, mature trees, yard, and other objects you will have to work around. The sketch doesn't have to be perfect, but should be generally to scale. Also, consider important features of adjacent properties like houses and large trees, for instance. Draw this information in with dark, heavy lines. |
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Climate
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Write down on your layout sheet regional climate information that will effect plant selection and health. The key factor is our plant hardiness zone. Click here for a map of USDA plant hardiness zones. These zones are mapped according to regional temperature extremes during the growing season. You will want to make sure the plants you select are suited for our temeratures. |
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Sun
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Generally speaking, plants need sunlight to grow and thrive. However, not all plants need the same amount, and some can actually be damaged by over-exposure. Click here for an explanation of the sunlight classifications. Mark on your diagram areas that receive very little (or no) sunlight, and areas that receive light for most of the day. Shade lightly with a dark color for the shady places, and with a light color for the sunny places. Make sure to add a North arrow to your map, so it is easy to see which areas will be exposed during the hottest times of the day. |
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Water
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Everyone knows plants need water. Grouping plants according to their water needs, and placing your thirstiest plants near a water source make it easier to properly irrigate. Click here for some background on water needs in landscaping. Sketch on your layout areas where water tends to pond, using a light blue color. Using a color like orange, mark the areas that are always dry-perhaps upslope areas or areas exposed to full-day sun. |
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Wind
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Mark on you plan areas that are excessively windy, as wind can cause excessive dryness and damage in plants. However, some plants can withstand heavy winds and can provide a barrier in your landscape. Click here for a list of windbreak trees. Click here for a list of plants especially vulnerable to wind. |
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Views
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Observe your layout and mark areas with special views you want to be sure not to block with landscaping. |
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Other Factors
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Trees planted on the south and west sides of your house can provide shade in the summer, reducing cooling costs. Windbreaks on the North side of your house can protect from cold winter winds, reducing heating costs. Also mark on your diagram plants that you want to preserve or relocate. Get to know your property and make plenty of notes on your plan. |
Your diagram should now look something like this one. Also, follow the links below for further information and more samples of landscape diagrams. Keep your diagram handy when selecting your plants, so you can easily visualize the conditions in each planting location in your landscape.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Landscape Planning Guide
About.com- Diagramming Information
**Texas A&M Landscape Planning Guide** - good resource!
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