Vision to Reality: 10 Questions to Define Your Landscape Goals
Let’s kick off that landscape project you've been thinking about for a while. This week, we'll cover 10 essential questions to help you define your landscaping goals.
There are three areas: Activities, Feelings and Limitations. Each will help you to think about your project through different lenses. My goal is to help you start your landscape journey with confidence and a sense of clarity.
Sears Point Trailhead at sunset, a glowing golden haze and reflection on the sloughs and marshes. Photo by Laura Bassett
Section 1: Understanding Your Lifestyle
Your landscape should fit into your life. Here are some questions to help define how your outdoor space can become an extension of your lifestyle:
1. What activities do you enjoy outside?
Are you a fan of playing bocce with friends, lounging in a hammock with a good book, or growing your own vegetables? Maybe you're a bird-watcher or someone who loves exploring farmers' markets. Write down your favorite outdoor activities.
Make a list of the top three outdoor activities you’d like to have at home.
2. How much time do you want to spend outside?
Consider if your landscape is meant to be a view from your window or a space you want to immerse yourself in. This can determine whether you design for low maintenance or plan to be more hands-on.
Pick from the options below, how involved do you want to be in the long term upkeep of your landscape”
I’ll be out there all the time, weeding, dead heading and watering.
I’d like someone else to be out there keeping things healthy and beautiful.
I want to spend very little time or money on landscape maintenance.
Other:__________
3. Are there any functions or features you need?
Think about if you have kids who need a play area, if you frequently host outdoor dinners, or if you want a pool for swimming. What specialty features are important to your outdoor lifestyle?
List your top three:
1)
2)
3)
Arctostaphylos 'Howard McMinn' and Muhlenbergia 'White Cloud' in the foreground with soccer lawn in the back. Photo by Laura Bassett
Section 2: Aesthetics and Emotions
Your landscape should evoke the right feelings. These questions will guide the aesthetic aspects of your design:
Katsura over path at Sonoma Botanical Garden. Photo by Laura Bassett
4. What overall atmosphere are you looking for?
Are you seeking a calm, tranquil space to unwind after a busy day, or do you thrive on vibrant colors and activity? Define the feeling you want your garden to convey.
Picture yourself with your morning cup of coffee or tea out at a little table in your backyard. What feeling do you want when you look around?
Example: Wonder, Awe, Inspiration
Now picture yourself as you come home from a long day out, you get out of your car and see your front yard. What feeling are you looking for?
Example: Surprise, Excitement and Lively
Horizontal fence built by Vista Landscaping in Sonoma, CA. Photo by Laura Bassett
5. What colors, textures, and materials are you drawn to?
Is there a color that speaks to you? Perhaps certain textures, like smooth stones or weathered wood, draw you in. Identifying these preferences helps in selecting plants, materials, and design elements.
List top two favorite colors, course or fine texture and pick one of the three (Wood, Stone, Metal).
Bonus points for pulling together a collage, pinterest board or other collection of photos you love.
6. Do you have a theme or style in mind?
Consider if you’re inspired by Mediterranean, modern, cottage, or Japanese gardens. Identifying a theme can help guide your choices but isn’t something you need to stick to rigidly.
Scan this helpful article on styles to see which you resonate with: Garden Design Styles
Corten Steel Raised Bed filled with Salvia greggii and climbing roses. Photo by Laura Bassett
Section 3: Practical Considerations and Site Assessment
Let's get into the practical aspects that shape your project:
Concrete pour at Sonoma vineyard. Photo by Laura Bassett
7. What is your budget?
Consider how much you’re ready to invest in your landscape. Are you looking to complete it all at once, or will you break it down into phases?
Circle an option below that best fits you:
I have a money ear marked already for this and it’s $_________
I can dedicate $______ a month towards this project.
At ________ time of year I get $________ extra to spend on home improvement projects.
I don’t have a lot of money to spend but I have a lot of time! DIY baby!
Vineyard seating area overlooking Glen Ellen. Photo by Laura Bassett
8. How does your property's soil, climate, and topography influence your design?
Assess challenges like slopes, wind, or poor drainage that may impact your landscape design. Understanding these factors helps in planning.
List all of your observations of the sun, wind, water and other factors.
Vineyard pond in Sonoma, CA. Photo by Laura Bassett
9. Are there existing elements you want to keep or integrate?
Identify any elements you love, such as a tree, a fountain, or other features that should remain a part of the design.
What do you love about your land now?
Where do you natural like to spend time?
The Big Picture: Defining Your End Goal
10. What is your primary goal for this project?
Think about what’s most important. Is it solving a problem, fitting within your budget, achieving a particular feel, or accommodating an activity?
List these three categories in order of importance to you:
1)
2)
3)
Fall Vineyard and grasses in Healdsburg. Photo by Laura Bassett
Congratulations! You just took the first step to starting your landscaping project.
These 10 questions are designed to help you lay out the puzzle pieces of your landscape vision. Whether you’re working with a designer or tackling the project on your own, I hope this helped you get clear on what you want to create in your landscape!
Let’s take a moment and put our pencils down. That was a lot of dreaming, planning and delving deep inside. You just did in 10 questions what it normally takes 30 minutes to an hour for me to do with clients in person. This might be strange advice coming from a landscape designer, go take a break!
The best thing you can do for your project now is let your mind relax, put your list somewhere you can see it and sit with it for a few days. Revisit it in a week and see if there’s anything you’d change. Then pick up the phone to call your local contractor, hop in the car for the garden center or start drawing up your design.
Feel free to book a consultation with us in person if you’re in the following counties: Marin, Sonoma or Napa.
