Q: This is the year we have
decided to make a landscape plan.
Do I need to hire a professional?
– Dave S., Tulsa
A: Although the average
homeowner can certainly experience
some anxiety with
plant selection and artistic
design, there is no one more
qualified to develop your
particular landscape plan
than you.
A landscape is more than
just the plants and trees in
your yard. It encompasses all
living and nonliving elements
of your environment. A welldesigned
landscape increases
home value and creates a
pleasing environment.
A good place to start is with
a site evaluation. You will
want to document everything
in your current landscape.
Include any structures,
driveways, sidewalks, utilities,
existing beds, trees and
shrubs. Note environmental
conditions such as amount of
sun, excessive wind and drainage
issues. Once you have
accurately recorded your site
characteristics, you can begin
to evaluate the positives and
negatives to determine what
you hope to keep and what
parts of your existing landscape
that need to be changed.
At this point it is helpful to
set some landscape goals for
your property. How do you
want to use your landscape?
Are you primarily entertaining,
or do you need privacy?
Do you need space for pets?
Are you planning to grow
vegetables? Are there any
future considerations, like
the addition of a pool? As a
family, make a list of all your
ideas and intended uses for
your space.
Once you have determined
your goals, you can start
putting your ideas on paper.
Hopefully you have been
able to create a fairly accurate
scale drawing of your
space that includes any existing
plants, trees and structures
that you plan to retain.
It is sometimes a good idea
to make several copies of
your plan so you can experiment
with different design
layouts. Some questions
to address before making
final decisions: Do you have
adequate irrigation? Do you
plan to compost? Have you
allowed sufficient space for
trash and recycling carts?
When the time comes to
actually implement your ideas,
it is advantageous to seek a
landscape designer or architect.
Their knowledge and
expertise can be an invaluable
resource. Do your homework
and select someone who values
your opinions and whose
work you admire. This is a
major investment that, if done
properly, can pay significant
dividends for years to come.
For more detailed information,
Oklahoma State Extension
Service has a series
of Landscape Design fact
sheets available at tulsaworld.com/osugardeningfactsheets.
If you have a garden-related question
for the Master Gardeners to answer
in a column, call 918-746-3701.
Original Print Headline: Follow the plan for landscaping bliss
Garden tips
Ornamental perennial grasses such as pampas grass may be cut back to 4-6 inches anytime in winter. However, because of winter attractiveness, most gardeners choose to wait until early spring to cut them back. All of the dead tops of these grasses should be removed by early spring, allowing sun to get to new growth.
Liriope or “monkey grass” – which is not a grass, but in the lily family – stays green year-round; it also benefits from trimming to 2-3 inches before new growth begins in spring. Liriope and all ornamental grasses will benefit from nitrogen fertilizer in spring when pruned.
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