The process begins with a site inventory and analysis of soil, drainage, climate conditions, and existing vegetation. This is a critical step for both plant selection and placement and locating family activities and functions.
2) Determining your needs
The next step is to make a list of your needs and desires—this helps you determine how your yard and landscape will be used.
3) Creating functional diagrams
The site and user analyses will also help you establish a theme for the form and style of your design.
4) Developing conceptual design plans
The functional diagram is then used to locate the activity spaces on the site and from this diagram a conceptual plan is developed.
5) Drawing a final design plan
The last step is a final design that includes all the hardscape and planting details that are necessary for installation.
Throughout the design process, we consider 10 important things:
Understand your site for plant selection and activity location
Remember the user by considering what you want and need
Use a form and/or style theme to help determine shapes and organize spaces
Create and link spaces by designating activity areas and linking with elements
Consider the function of plants for both the environment and the user
Structure the plantings by using massing and layering techniques
Highlight important points such as transition areas and focal points
Pay attention to detail in the materials, the colors, and the surface textures
Take time into account for the growth and maintenance of plants
Protect your resources by using sustainable design practices
Atrium – Transforming Landscapes, Elevating Life
Your yard is a valuable natural asset that enhances your home’s worth and your quality of life while contributing to a thriving, healthy community. Creating an appealing, functional, and sustainable design involves key concepts. Start by putting your ideas on paper to form a design plan. This process helps you understand your site and needs. Let a theme guide you, drawing inspiration from existing conditions for materials and plants. Design spaces as outdoor rooms for both function and human comfort, favoring human-scale dimensions. Use plants to shape the room’s physical comfort, remembering that they evolve over time. Embrace these changes as a rewarding aspect of your garden. In urban areas, private yards often serve as the last green spaces, so consider your yard’s role in the bigger environmental picture and how you can positively impact your neighborhood. We will help you every step along your journey.
