Starting a landscape renovation can be overwhelming. There is so much to consider: plant choices, color schemes, paving materials, budget, phasing of a project, village ordinances, whew! Ok, take a step back and a few deep breaths. Before picking out plants or selecting all the materials, ask yourself a simple question. “What is my goal for this project?” If you have a clear goal in mind it’s much easier to plan around it. Maybe your goal is to update the back yard so you can entertain your friends and dazzle them with your barbeque skills. Maybe the kids need more space to play and the existing lawn is in awful shape or undersized. Maybe you want to create a spectacular cutting garden so you can have fresh flowers indoor and out. Or, maybe you are hoping to sell your home in the next year and need to freshen up a few areas of the landscape to attract a new buyer. If you know what you want from your new landscape, its much easier to know what to put into it in the first place.

A beautiful landscape evokes emotion. Standing at the base of mountain evokes a sense of awe and humbleness. Some of the best designed landscapes I’ve encountered made me emotional. Each time I visit Evening Island at the Chicago Botanic Garden, I’m immediately put at ease and in awe. My pace slows down and I get quiet, looking intently at the beautiful combinations of plants. The Lurie Garden in Millennium Park makes me forget that I’m in a city of millions of people. A one-acre garden makes me feel like I’m in the country side enjoying an afternoon stroll. When planning your garden, think about how you want to feel when you are in it and how you will experience it. Large trees and hedges create a sense of enclosure and will direct your eye to specific views. Walking paths will allow you to move through the garden and have different views and experiences at each point along the way.