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Nature's Artistry
Landscaping plans complete the picture
by Michael Romain

"What artist so noble as he who . . . writes the colors, and directs the shadows of a picture so great that Nature shall be employed upon it for generations before the work he arranged for her shall realize his intentions."
—Frederick Law Olmsted

Just as an artist views the canvas and envisions the completed work before beginning to paint, the informed homeowner will consider and plan for the entire building site before beginning construction. Very often, this includes the landscape around the home—the placement of trees and bushes, the contrast of colors and its overall beautifying effect.

However, while its beauty may be its most visually noticeable and appreciated quality, thoughtful landscaping can serve many purposes beyond the aesthetic. Many homeowners are realizing the advantages of including some outdoor space as a part of their home plan. This increases the useful living space of their home without actually adding on to the home itself.

Small private courtyards, terraces, decks and gardens are becoming popular features of many home designs. Therapeutic gardens offer an ongoing opportunity for those who suffer from illness or disability to interact with and feel a part of their environment. Many landscape plans are designed to attract specific kinds of birds, insects and other wildlife, providing an outdoor environment meant to enhance the health and happiness of homeowners.

New approaches in landscaping may be geared toward specific issues or concerns of the homeowner. In many areas, environmental factors drive landscape design. In order to conserve topsoil, some areas require special attention to erosion from water or wind. Many landscape plans include features designed to help control these natural elements.

Some people have special concerns related to water conservation. Landscape designs can incorporate a water feature as part of the ongoing maintenance plan for the garden. Other people are concerned with the effects of pesticides and chemical fertilizers on their health and on the general environment. With this in mind, it is possible to design landscapes that will maximize naturally occurring elements that ward off pests and organically rejuvenate plants and trees.

Landscaping also offers several economic advantages. According to Mark Epstein, a licensed landscape architect and principal of ArchitecturA, a landscape architecture firm in the Seattle area, "Studies have shown that proper landscaping can increase the value of a home by as much as 10 percent." In addition to the enhanced curb appeal of a well-landscaped home, value is added to the property by the energy savings from thoughtful selection and placement of vegetation and other design elements. Mark Madsen, manager of the landscape design department at Bachman's in Minneapolis, says, "A good landscaping job can not only increase the value of your home, but trees alone can help reduce energy bills by 20 percent to 25 percent." In addition, a landscape design can help correct imperfections that may exist naturally on a lot. Drainage concerns, excessive winds and even insect problems can be addressed and resolved with a well-planned landscape design.

Despite its many benefits, landscaping often plays second fiddle to homeowners' more immediate concerns, such as the appearance of the house itself and key interior elements like finished carpentry, plumbing fixtures and floor coverings. There are, however, important economic reasons to implement landscaping during the initial construction process rather than putting it off for another, less hectic time. Often, when a new home is constructed and the owners have waited until the following year to create a landscape design, they find that they incur additional costs for excavation, paving, plumbing and electrical work that could have been built into their original construction bid at a much lower cost. They can even build the entire cost of landscaping into their construction or mortgage loan. In fact, many lending institutions are happy to do so, because a new home does not maximize its potential as an asset if it is surrounded by dirt, mud, weeds or construction debris.

Having made the decision to incorporate landscaping into the building process, homeowners have a variety of options from which to choose. Homeplans.com offers landscape plans designed specifically for the front-yard areas of several of their top-selling homes. Created by professional landscape architects who understand the benefits of landscaping as a part of the construction process, these plans are attractive, adaptable and inexpensive. They are designed for use in every regional climate, and come with master plant lists that correspond with your growing season, soil conditions and color preferences. For less than $100, you can purchase a complete landscape design package that includes a garden layout, an axonometric drawing that shows the garden from an angle slightly above ground level, a master plant list, a materials list, color selection and hardiness guides, and detailed planting and aftercare instructions. These landscape plans are designed to allow the homeowner to visit a nursery or garden center and walk away with a complete listing of appropriate plants, their prices and the labor costs involved in completing the entire garden.

The cost for these pre-drawn landscape plans is significantly lower than the fees for a professional landscape architect or designer. Most professionals charge between $45 and $95 per hour, and according to ArchitecturA's Epstein, "the typical custom-designed, residential landscape plan can cost between $400 and $1,200, depending upon the complexity of the plan and the level of the designer's participation through construction."

The picture of a new home is not complete without a landscape design. Enhanced property values, increased energy efficiency, and cost savings from proper initial planning and execution make it clear that good landscaping is an investment with substantial returns in overall effect and real dollars. The finished look and feel of a well-planned landscape can bring a sense of completion to the building project that may otherwise be missing. It "writes the colors, and directs the shadows of a picture. . . ."