Landscape Design Plans
What exactly can you expect with a plan?
A landscape design plan is like a blueprint for your outdoor project. The design process starts with a conversation. What is it you want? What is it you don’t want? Through this conversation…and there will be lots of questions…and a tour of your property, I will be able to get a good understanding of the project you have in mind. From there I roll up my sleeves. I will take lots of pictures of the area, as well as measurements, so I can accurately create a scale drawing of the site as it exists. This drawing will show where all the current hardscaping is located (sidewalks, patios, decks, etc.) as well as all the trees and major plantings. This drawing becomes a base plan for all other drawings.
A complete set of a landscape design plans includes a Concept Plan, a Planting Plan, a Hardscape Plan, and construction plans as needed. Additionally, every client receives a Plant Schedule with the number of plants needed as well as crucial horticultural information and a picture of every plant on your plan. The cost and time required varies for every job depending upon the complexity and size.
Concept Plan: This is just what it sounds like–an idea or concept of the planned space. It will show the planting areas and the hardscape areas. This can be thought of as the dream plan. It is a “picture” of your vision of the space in a plan view, meaning a bird’s eye view. It gives as much detail as can be shown while looking down on something. Occasionally an elevation or side view of an item in the Concept Plan will be included to help you visualize the final product. We will work very closely on this plan.
Planting Plan and Schedule: This plan shows all of the planted areas, specific plants and numbers needed, and the appropriate placement. While this plan, at first, can look daunting, it is a key piece in interpreting your vision and saving you money. The Plant Schedule that accompanies this plan will provide you or your installation contractor with the botanical and common names of each plant, it’s mature size, it’s characteristics, as well as care information.
Hardscape Plan: This plan shows all of the hardscaping elements such as paths, decks, patios, pergolas, arbors, outdoor kitchens, water features, etc. This plan tells you or your contractor exactly what goes where, the dimensions, what it should look like, and the materials to use.
Let’s take a look at what a plan looks like.
Level I: The Concept Plan
Below are some examples of landscape design plans. The first set of plans show a Base Plan and the Concept Plan for a large home lot. A Base Plan is drawn after measurements and photographs are taken of the site. A Base Plan shows all of the existing hardscape and plants that will stay. The Base Plan is the foundation for the Concept Plan. It is used by the designer and is not included in a final set of plans.
The designer will use the Base Plan to create a Concept Plan.
Sometimes it can be difficult to visualize the ideas that the designer is depicting on the Concept Plan. By taking a photograph of the site and drawing on top of it, the ideas on the Concept Plan become much clearer.
Level II: The Planting Plan
Next you will see an example of a Planting Plan of a small front yard. With a Planting Plan, every plant has been researched and selected for your space. The Planting Plan shows where each plant should be placed for optimum spacing. The spacing is determined by the average full-size of each plant. A Planting Plan tells the installer how many of each plant to purchase and exactly where to place it.
Full Set of Plans
Below you will see a full set of a landscape design plan. The Base Plan is included so you can get an idea of what the site looked like from the beginning. Keep in mind that the Base Plan is a tool for the designer and is not included with your final set of plans.
Please contact me for your design needs. Let’s talk about how we can work together to create a plan for the landscape or garden of your dreams!
Southern Wild is located in Greenville, SC and services the South Carolina Upstate and Western North Carolina
email: info@southernwilddesign.com
phone: (512) 461-4398