Planning a New Home Landscape: A Designer’s Perspective

By Steve Allat

So, you’re building your dream home!  The months of managing construction trades and sub-trades is almost at an end, final decision are being made so that you can obtain occupancy and yet there is still one fairly substantial area to complete – the landscape. Of course, this is no small feat for a few reasons:

The landscape will comprise at least 55% of your lot in most municipalities.

The landscape, taken as a whole, represents the largest space on the property.

The variables are great, making planning and decision-making critical.

If you have really planned ahead you will have either had a design done by a Landscape Professional during the construction phase or at least thought about how the landscape will look for you as the house was nearing completion. Give yourself time to determine what you really want. A small investment in time and planning will save you time and money in the installation phase.

Whether you go to the formality of having a design blueprint done or not, there are some basic questions that need to be addressed so that you ensure yourself of making solid, foundational decisions that will result in obtaining the landscape you desire the first time around, no matter which way you go about it.

Here is a short list of things to think about, whether you’re planning way ahead or attempting to do it as it happens:

1. Plan your outdoor space with your needs in mind regarding:

- getting around in the yard (function)
- the shape and size necessary for your outdoor areas (form)
- entertaining requirements
- whether there need to be child or animal-friendly spaces
- how much time you plan on spending maintaining what you install

2. List your needs, wants and desires.

- think colours, textures and specific products and plants you would like to include
- Use the exterior colour of the house as inspiration and repeat or complement the colours

3. Budget to set a realistic starting point and a range that you are comfortable with.

- a typical install for a respectable landscape will have a budget of roughly 10% of the overall value
- size of the house

Envision driving up to your new home and painting a picture in your mind, regardless of specifics so that you can convey the feeling you are trying to capture. The details can be filled in along the way by a qualified designer, architect and tradespeople.  Your job is to simply know what you want and convey that effectively to those whose job it is to take your vision and make it real.

Steve Allat is a graduate of the University of Guelph Horticulture programs (91A) and has worked in every capacity in the landscape industry ever since, from planning and installing perennial gardens to managing large residential and commercial installations. He enjoys working with clients to bring their ideas to fruition so that they can maximize enjoyment of their outdoor living spaces.

For more information and a free initial consultation, you can contact Steve Allat at steveallat.com or call him at 778-938-0371

Serving Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

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