HO-161
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT 
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
PURDUE UNIVERSITY 
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA 47907
Planning a
Residential Landscape Design
by Ada Niedenthal, Extension landscape architect
For most people, their home is a major financial investment. As such, it merits the most attractive as well as functional setting you can provide. The key to creating this setting is advance planning on paper. When you plan on paper, you are able to look at all the parts of your homesite as a group of interrelated living areas. Planning the whole site enables you to take advantage of design opportunities and identify potential problems. And, through this approach to landscape planning, you can truly personalize your surroundings.
This publication explains how to begin planning a landscape on paper. It offers considerations for initial planning, a family inventory checklist, a site inventory checklist, and a method for developing a site analysis. It also shows you how to combine this information and helps you prepare your landscape design plan.

Beginning Considerations
The best landscape for any home reflects the personalities of the home-owners and emphasizes the desirable characteristics of the site. Just as the indoors of a home is arranged functionally and reflects personal tastes, the outdoor landscape can also be functional and reflective of personal tastes.
The following is a brief explanation of the steps which should be followed when preparing your landscape design plan.

1.	Start by making a plan drawing of your homesite. This is a measured drawing of your property and house, as they would look if viewed from an airplane. It is drawn to scale and indicates structures, property boundaries, and all other existing features. This drawing will serve as the base sheet upon which a design can be generated. For specifics on how to make this plan drawing, see Extension publication HO-147, Making a Measured Drawing.

2.	Develop a clear picture of how you would like to use the land surrounding your home. To do this make a list of all possible uses or functions of the outdoor living area. Be specific and complete. Also, be sure to consider all members of the family when you make this list.

3.	Examine the condition of your property. The physical characteristics of your land will influence and perhaps determine your landscape design. Make on-site observations to obtain basic information about the quality of your property. And remember, your site need not end with its property boundaries. Think of your land as one part of a larger area. Considering the area beyond the boundaries as the extensional landscape will help you understand the relationship of your land to surrounding properties.

Starting Your Plan
You are now ready to begin.
Step 1. Make a plan drawing of your homesite. HO-147 Making a Measured Drawing will furnish you with the information you need to compose a site plan of your home and property.

Step 2. Develop a clear picture of how you would like to use the land surrounding your home. Begin by making a list of possible uses or functions for your outdoor living area. This list is called a Design Program. Organize this list around three major areas: the public area, the private area, and the service area