It's finally March and spring is less than three weeks away! Now is the perfect time to think about designing your dream garden. Enter Daisy Chinburg, Site Structures' landscape design expert and enthusiastic pup-lover.

Daisy comes from a family line of horticulturally-inclined women, from professional gardeners and hybridized-flower-cultivar-creators to hobby gardeners. She found her own zest for the green industry while working as a fine gardener for her aunt, a local business owner, during the summers in high school. Daisy expanded upon the knowledge gained over those summers at Cornell University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture.

After spending time traveling, learning about the wondrous natural environments and cultures across the globe, she returned home to her beloved Seacoast. Daisy joined Site in 2016; she now helps clients across the Seacoast area of New Hampshire and southern Maine achieve their garden goals. Her favorite part of being a landscape designer is problem-solving with the customers to develop a space that meets their needs and exceeds their expectations for years to come.

But what exactly does it entail to design a garden?

This month's blog digs deep into the topic of landscape design, answering any questions you may have about the process. If we don't cover everything, never fear! You can ask Daisy yourself at Daisy@sitestructureslandscape.com.

Do I Need a Garden Designer? 

Depending on the size of your project and budget, you might need a landscape designer. If you have a small project and a minimal budget, hiring a designer might be overkill. Think about the magnitude of your project. Garden designers put in a lot of work and there is usually a fee for their time. We will lay out some of the processes the garden designer goes through to come up with a plan, and by going through this blog post, you can decide if your project needs our expertise!

What Is the First Step?

We first get a request for someone to come take a look at their project and set up a consultation. This is a meeting at the property to investigate the intent of the project. We get some basic questions answered, such as “How do you visualize your new landscape?” and “What function do you want the space to have?” (Think: entertaining guests with an outdoor kitchen, directing guests to the proper entry to the house, attracting pollinators, providing privacy, etc.) We show some designs from our portfolio and some examples of costs for those projects. We set up a briefing where the family can go over how the space will be used. We might ask you to find pictures of gardens you like to get a sense of your style and intent. Do you want a warm sunny area or a cool shady area?

We’re Here to Work WITH Mother Nature

Following that discussion, we will assess your landscape and identify factors that will direct our vision for your space. Read on to learn about what these factors mean and how they can determine how we work with, not against, your landscape. We aim for as few environmental disturbances as we can allow within the scope of the installation projects. (We’re not here to fight Mother Nature, we like to collaborate!)  

A Site Survey Is in Order! Time to Measure

We then would plot the house and boundaries, including existing good and bad features that might remain unchanged. This could be mature trees, telephone poles, overhead wires, oil tanks, or hedges, just to name a few. Measurements are taken using running dimensions, offsets, and triangulations. This means measuring the buildings (widths and heights), heights of things (shrubs/trees, etc.), and items more distant such as fences. We measure existing trees and slopes, taking note of elevation changes that will inform how to make your space accessible and functional within the scope of your needs, local ordinances, and -- of course -- aesthetics for years to come. All these measurements are in relation to each other so that we can make appropriate decisions and suggestions as to what to keep, add, renovate or remove from your garden project.

Soil Test, Soil Health, and Moisture

You may not think of soil when you think of garden design, but it’s a key consideration in the process. A soil test is taken to find out the pH of the soil. The pH of the soil is important to know as some plants thrive better in acidic soils while others prefer slightly alkaline soils. It is also important to know the soil type. Does the site have a sandy loam or is it a loamy clay? This will also affect what plants thrive there and if there is a need to install drainage. The depth of the soil is important as well. Does more soil need to be added? Are you on ledge? Does the soil need to be removed and replaced with soil enriched in organic matter? Closely related is the level of your water table. Is your site dry and well drained or is there standing water most of the year?

Local and Legal Considerations

We also need to consider things like planning laws in your town. We need to think about the effect of the design on neighbors, the community, and the environment. Are there issues with the town water, or existing trees? We work predominantly on the New Hampshire and Maine seacoast, which means there are often laws and ordinances that limit certain types of environmental disturbances in wetland and sea-front buffer zones. We take these rules and specifications seriously; they have been put in place to protect the local ecology to mitigate stress on native insect, bird, and small mammal populations. 

Taking Inventory of the Site

First the boundaries must be clear. If there is any digging to be done by machine, we need to -- by law -- call Dig Safe. Dig Safe is a free service that identifies any underground utilities in our work area such as propane lines, and electrical lines. We then make a list of the existing conditions on the site and surrounding the site such as nearby schools, busy streets, parking areas, etc.

Site Appraisal 

We try to match the house and environment to the style of the garden. We need to see if there is access to the work to be performed. Is the house historical or contemporary? Do the neighbors have invasive plants escaping from their yards? 

Is there existing hardscaping to preserve? What do the views look like from the house to the gardens? Are their microclimates on site? We mark the orientation of the garden, North, South, East, or West. What is your hardiness zone? This will affect plant choices. Are there pockets of warmth or cold? Does altitude affect your property?

What to Keep and What to Remove? 

To be or not to be, that is the question! Do you want to keep that big ole tree? Do you want to reshape a shrub? Do you need to rethink your parking? 

Consider the Weather

Is there shade? This will play a role in plant choice. Wind is important to know too. This can affect plant choice and also prompt you to add a hardscape feature or a wind break of arborvitae or other evergreen trees or shrubs that will protect your space from wind year-round. 

Drawing to Scale

All of the questions above must be answered and translated onto paper drawn to scale to show existing conditions versus the intended final product. All the features to be added (terrace, herb garden, BBQ area, lawn, shed, etc.) need to fit within the defined area. The gardens need to lay comfortably with the house. We use features of the house like door and window locations, geometric aspects of the house’s shape and height, and the location of certain rooms within the house where views to the landscape may be most appreciated. Think of standing at your kitchen sink, staring at a giant evergreen tree up close. Not fun, right? Patterns are created such as geometric or curvilinear. Your style preferences are implemented within the design; formal or informal, neat and tidy or wild and free-roaming. Is the landscape going to have mass and opacity to create seclusion or will it be void, embracing the views of the surrounding scenery?

Horizontal and Vertical Planes

Landscapes are three-dimensional. They work along a horizontal plane, which could start as a terrace or patio extending into paths that lead you to other areas of your yard. Landscapes also work along a vertical plane. This would be using the building, trees, pergolas, walls, hedges, etc. There is also an overhead plane. This would be under a pergola or arbor, or opening up the canopy of an oppressive tree. 

Maximize that Space!

Privacy is important to many homeowners. You can have your area enclosed for more intimacy. You can also have a small space designed to give an impression that it is bigger than it really is! In urban settings, architectural backdrops are more common. In a rural setting there is usually a more natural backdrop to the garden design. The topography of your property can be utilized to create spaces that fit your needs and desires. There could be walls, ramps, or slopes to increase the versatility and aesthetics of your outdoor living space. This could all be accented with special features like specimen plantings, water features, and fireplaces.

Everyone Should Have an Outdoor Kitchen, No? 

There are so many choices and options, it’s amazing! You could install a water feature such as a fountain, waterfall, or pool. You can enjoy paths made of gravel, woodchips, or pavers. You could want a dry stream bed that comes alive with heavy rains. For hardscapes, you could choose to have bricks or pavers for a walkway or driveway, or cobbles and slabs. You could have a circular driveway design or a dry-stone wall. You could have a pergola, arbor, or gazebo. My favorite is the outdoor kitchen! Imagine hosting your friends and loved ones -- or, nowadays, a small outdoor socially-distanced gathering amongst your loved ones who are lucky enough to be in your COVID-bubble. Now imagine that in post-COVID times, how many people will you look forward to hosting?! Now THAT is outdoor living! For a quieter experience, imagine you could take your nightcap beverage of choice to the firepit and relax listening to the late summer crickets. 

Let There Be LIGHT

You can showcase your property at night in so many ways! You can have uplighting that shines from the ground up. There is spotlighting, which is what it sounds like, it’ll highlight exactly the feature you’d like to share with the world. Silhouette lighting is for interesting plants or sculptures. Path and step lighting makes sense for safety! Underwater lighting for pools and ponds makes for a warm scene at night. Moonlighting places lights in a tree or atop a building and shines down, like the moon. We offer low voltage lighting at Site Structures Landscape, so give us a call for an install.

Don’t Forget the Irrigation

Irrigation is important to decide upon as it needs to be integrated into the design and scheduled into the construction process. Consider the level of involvement you would like to have with maintaining your landscape. Installing an irrigation system can free up your time to appreciate what you want to do with your gardens -- whether it be enjoying the scene or tending to your favorite peonies. Adjusting the water levels is easy as pressing a few buttons. An added bonus, our maintenance division can coordinate visits from professionals who can adjust and service your system to ensure it is performing at optimum levels.

Plant Choices - What to Consider?

Scent, texture, color, and water needs need to be contemplated. Do you want a formal or informal garden? Will it be a romantic cottage garden? Or, do you prefer a Japanese, or contemporary garden? For some people a sustainable garden is important to reduce the carbon footprint of the garden. Will it be a native garden or do you want a wildflower garden? (Tip: Our April blog will tell you ALL about our local wildflower garden/meadow projects.)

What Are Your Focal Points?

The structural plantings need to be outlined. Will there be garden “rooms” that encompass certain themes or functions? What will be the focal points? A successful design will guide the viewer’s eye through the gardens, using the focal points as anchors in the eye’s wander through the gardens. Plant selection is also important for screening unsightly permanent structures. Is there anything unattractive to disguise such as generators or utility boxes? 

Think About Color and Contrast

The plants’ shape and form are the first elements to utilize to achieve your style goals. The rhythm and repetition of the plants in the garden will create a cohesive flow. Color choices will contribute to the landscape’s ambiance. What is your preferred color theme? Do you want all shades of peach? Do you want a mix of many different colors or a solid theme, like the classic nautical blue and white? How about a moon garden (all white to reflect at night)? There are dark-leaved plants that can be planted behind plants with light foliage to make the light plants in the foreground pop. Varying textures make the eye move around and add definition to each plant group. Have you ever seen a garden that is a big blob of green with no definition? Boring, right? Don’t let your garden fall into that category, let us keep it interesting with different shaped leaves and a color palette that fits your style and preferences. 

Consider How the Garden Will Look in Every Season

The foliage is more important than the flowers because they are showing all season long, even after the flowers pass. How about year-round interest? Some plants have an awesome bark with multiple colors or where the bark peels. (Kousa Dogwood, anyone?) Some plants have berries or intricate branching. What about evergreens? They work all year long!

And Now For the Total Cost and Proposal

That’s already a lot to consider, but before we can get creative, we have to be practical. After going over all the preferences above, the designer must work up the cost of the project. The costs include plants and hardscape materials, plus mulch, soil, labor hours, and equipment costs. This is then all presented to you, the client, to review, make changes, and approve! 

Here Comes the Fun Part…

Build, build, build! We will occupy your landscape five days a week while you watch your landscape dreams come to life. You’ll meet our friendly operations managers, crew leaders, and crew members who will be happy to coordinate with you to make sure you get what you want and need out of the landscape. 

Maintenance Is a Must!

Once your landscape is installed, it needs to be maintained to keep the integrity of the design intact. Weeding, pruning, paver care, mowing, etc. We are happy to help with any of these tasks among many more! Give our maintenance team a call to set up a full-season contract or just for individual projects. 

Yes, It’s a Lot - But Your Dream Garden Is Worth It

Whew! Did you know so much went into the landscape design process? Daisy and our construction team put a tremendous amount of thought and hard work into garden design and installation. As they should! After all, this is about your home, where you will spend most of your life. And how many dream gardens do we get in one lifetime?  

Until next month — when we enthrall you with our wildflower gardens projects!

Daisy Chinburg, Landscape Designer/Assistant Project Manager

Leigh Lessard, Director of Landscape Maintenance 
and the Site Structures Crew 

To schedule a design consultation, please Daisy at daisy@sitestructureslandscape.com. For garden maintenance, email Leigh Lessard at leigh@sitestructureslandscape.com or call Site Structures at (207) 438-9995.  

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