Home Landscaping Course

Plant List

Depending on how much detail is included on the plan, a plant list should also be included, either in the final plan or on a separate planting plan. The plant list should list all of the varieties of plants to be used in the garden with a number beside each. Corresponding numbers are written beside the plants on the design.

Scale
Most plans are drawn on a scale of 1:100, which means that 1 cm on the paper represents 1 metre on the ground. Small site plans such as courtyards, or details of larger plans are often drawn on a scale of 1:50 . Concept plans of large areas can be drawn on scales of 1:200, 1:500 or even higher. A scale ruler will make the job easier.

Labels and lettering
Professional designers always use clear lettering on the plan. Clear lettering (preferably using capital letters) makes the plan easier to read - even if you're the only person looking at the plan, you may find it difficult to read messy writing several months or years later.

DESIGN PROCEDURE

The same basic principles and procedures apply whether you are designing a small home garden or a large area of public parkland. The procedure is outlined below:

Collect pre planning information and decide on the principles to be followed (discussed in the previous two lessons).

 

1. Draw the site as it exists. This will be a rough drawing. The final drawing can be traced off this pencil sketch later (the Site Plan). (See lesson 2 notes: Pre-Planning information, #8).

 

2. Decide on the functions to be achieved and designate the broad areas to be incorporated in the design. Areas which might be designated for a home garden are entry area, work area, service area (bins, clothes line, etc), vegetable garden, glasshouse, decorative garden, play area, outdoor living area etc. They should be arranged so that there is no conflict between each area (eg. an active play or sport area is best separated from passive, quiet relaxation areas). The major traffic routes through the garden should also be considered as they will influence the position of paths and the arrangement of the activity areas.

 

3. Start to draw in some of the most basic details of the new design. At this point you should also draw in the essential components (eg. fence, washing line or gate).
4. Fill in the details of the new design (the Final Plan).

 

5. Draw in all plants and other components in a way which complements what has already been drawn. Review the total design when drawn, make any necessary changes, then draft it onto the tracing paper for a final copy.

Note: Depending on the complexity of the design, you can incorporate steps 4, 5 and 6 in one final plan, or prepare a separate planting plan.

SET TASK

(Do not submit)

1. Draw a site plan of the garden you began planning in Lesson 3. Draw to scale on plain white paper or graph paper. Include a title box, north arrow and legend.