Planning for an Outdoor Wedding

Landscape design involves elements that go far beyond shaping a plot. Before you or a professional landscaper can start with transforming a yard, a site assessment must take place. That site assessment isn't just about measurements, it has to incorporate many other aspects as well.

1. How Does the Sun Affect the Property?

Good landscape design must incorporate the sun in the planning stages. You will need to know the path the sun will take over your property over the seasons. It will dictate:

• where you should plant trees,
• where you should leave open areas,
• where to place sun-hungry plants.

For example, you can use the trajectory of the sun to figure out the best places to plant a tree for shade in the summer. There's quite a few ways to figure out how the sun will shine on your property. One of the easiest ways to do it is with an online sun calculator.

2. What Kind of Soil is On Your Property?

The soil on your property will play a large role in what you can easily grow, and what you may have a tough time with. You can have a soil test done to figure out exactly what type of soil you're working with.

You can also give your soil a more general assessment by taking note of its look and feel.  Soil classifications can become a little complicated. In general, there's three main classifications.

• Clay – Type A
• Silt – Type B
• Sand – Type C

There's various categories containing mixtures of these three elements. You'll want your soil to have some cohesion, and moistness. Sandy soil is too loose, and clay-like soil is too tight. However, it will all depend on what kind of plant life you want. Some plants actually do well with clay, just as some can work with sandier soil.

3. What Kind of View Can Your Property Offer?

A large part of landscape design has to do with your available space, and the view. You should take a walk around your property and take note of what you see and hear. Your landscape design should incorporate those sights and sounds.

For example, if you have a wonderful view from your backyard, then your landscaping efforts should enhance that view and not obstruct it. Does the view from your front porch show only a cityscape with the accompanying noise? You can lean your landscaping efforts towards improving that view and mitigating the sounds coming from that direction.

Landscape design takes a lot of effort. If you want to truly improve your plot of land, you should consider professional landscape design services. A service can help you figure out what possibilities your space offers, and what kind of design elements will work best.