LANDSCAPE: The Base Plan

Charles98

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If a landscape is a picture, it must have a canvas. This canvas is
the lawn. Upon the lawn, the artist paints with tree and bush and
flower as the painter does upon his canvas with brush and pigments.
The opportunity for artistic composition and design is nowhere so
great as in the landscape garden, because no other art has such a
limitless field for the expression of its emotions.

The making of a good and spacious lawn, then, is the very first
practical consideration in a landscape. The lawn provided, the
gardener conceives what is the dominant and central feature in
the place, and then throws the entire premises into subordination
to this feature. In home grounds this central feature is the house.

To scatter trees and bushes over the area defeats the fundamental
purpose of the place,--the purpose to make every part of the
grounds lead up to the home and to accentuate its homelikeness.
It is desirable to have a definite plan on paper for the location of
the leading features of the place. These features are the residence,
the out buildings, the walks and drives, the service areas, the border
planting, flower-garden, and vegetable-garden. It should not be
expected that the map plan can be followed in every detail, but it will
serve as a general guide.

To begin, you will need to draw a base plan to scale. For most
properties a scale of 1/8"=1' is workable; for small properties or a
particular area of a larger development 1/4"=1' may be better.
Graph paper with lines indicating a particular scale may also be
helpful.

You should include all the major features of your property on your
drawing such as existing walks, terraces, outbuildings, trees,
shrubs, drives, property lines, easements, utilities, etc.
After you have prepared the base plan you can place tracing
paper or tissue paper over the original plan to sketch possible
ideas and solutions to your landscape needs and problems.

Step One: Indicate the compass directions in relation to the
house by drawing an arrow (N->) pointing north. You may also
want to show the direction of the rising sun. In winter, the sun
rises a little south of east and sets a little south of west. In
summer, the sun rises somewhat north of east and sets
somewhat north of west.

Step Two: Measure each property line and record the
measurement on a rough skech. If a plot plan of the lot is
available, you can use the dimensions shown on it.

Step 3: To make sure the house is parallel to the property, or if
the property lines are not parallel, site a reference line along one
side of the house to locate the reference points "A" and "B".

Step 4: Accuratley locate one corner of the house by measuring
the distance from the back edge of the curb or edge of the street
and nearest property line. From this corner of the house, measure
each side of the house.

Step Five: Begin constructing a carefully drawn plot plan by
selecting a scale to work with (1/8"= 1' or 1/4"=1') or by using
graph paper. Begin by drawing the curb line as a double line or
street edge as a single line. Construct property lines in the same
manner as they were measured. Indicate compass directions.

Step 6: First of all, note the city easement line, which is legally
city property. The city may remove any planting or construction
within this area for street widening, sewer work, etc. The exact
location of this line will vary according to city ordinance. Next,
locate one corner of the house using the two dimensions
measured from the street and side property lines. From this point,
extend a line representing the front of the house the same
number of feet measured. Do the same for the remaining sides of
the house util you return to the original corner.

Step 7: Locate other existing features on a rough sketch by using
the same method used for locating the corner of the house. By
measuring from known reference points, such as the street,
property line or house in two directions, the following permanent
features can be located:

A. Windows, doors and chimneys, including the height off the
ground.
B. All above and below ground utilities.
C. Utility meters, electrical outlets and water spigots.
D. Natural or prominent features such as retaining walls, ravines
and rock outcroppings.
E. Existing trees and shrubs.
F. Neighbor's buildings and landscape features near the property
line.
G. Roof overhang on house.
All of these features should be measured and drawn on the rough
sketch before drawing on the final plan.

Step 8: Transfer the information plotted on the rough sketch to
the final plot plan. The plot plan is now ready to be used as the
base for a home landscape design.

Everyone has different ideas of how to start their project but I thought this might be helpful.

For the full version and more landscaping articles ==> Home Lawn and Garden Features

I have also noticed that in about 8 out of 10 people which I have talked to in my local area and just as many posts on different related sites, that the biggest problem anyone has is how to start their desired landscape project. They cant get any solid ideas in their visual frame of mind and they lose interest and forget it.

Here is what has helped so many people with Landscaping Ideas
 

somoolive

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Jun 24, 2011
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very well plan i further think that each home and its landscape should be a reflection of the people who live there. The front yard is the visitor's first impression of the home and its inhabitants. When first seen, it should be inviting and direct the guest easily to the front door.
 
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