Landscaping to Create Outdoor "Rooms"

Thinking of your yard as a series of outdoor "rooms," each devoted to a specific activity will help you get the most out of your outdoor space (see yesterday's post). But once you've defined how you plan to use your yard, how do you implement a plan to actually create your "rooms"?

Horticulturist Jane Martin says the first step is to take an inventory of your property and analyze it. Begin by making a scale drawing that includes property lines, the house, garage and other structures, driveway and walkways. On your drawing, mark summer and winter wind directions, sunny and shady areas, topography (flat and sloping areas), and soil conditions including areas with poor drainage. Test the soil to determine its pH and nutrient levels. Armed with this information you'll be able to determine which plants will thrive in each of your outdoor "rooms."

Remember to be flexible as you design each space. You may need to change some of your original ideas. For example, a rose garden planned for a shady side yard will not thrive. You may have to move your roses to a sunnier location or plant a luscious shade garden instead. Consider your house and the placement of windows and doors. You don't want to plant shrubs under a window if they will block the light when they reach maturity. Consider planting dwarf shrubs or tall lilies instead.

Use garden beds, walkways, patios, fences, borders, arbors, lawn ornaments, furniture, etc. to help define the parameters of each "room." A trellis and a small pond or fountain might create a meditation or reading area. A patio or deck create a natural extension of your indoor kitchen and dining area. Provide privacy by screening one or more sides with a hedge, tall grasses or a lattice fence. A line of pots planted with herbs or flowers can be used to create a "wall" along one side of a patio to control access and traffic flow. Garden beds can be built out into the central space of your yard to separate one area from another. Walkways can be used to both separate and connect areas. This is an opportunity to be creative. Gone are the days when flower beds circled the house or lined the back fence. Consider your entire yard when planning your outdoor "rooms."

If you need a little help coming up with design ideas, Martin recommends Residential Landscape Architecture: Design Process for the Private Residence (Prentice Hall, $110), but there are many excellent books available at your local library and bookstore in a variety of price ranges. Many gardening catalogs and magazines provide design ideas, and your local home improvement store should carry a good, comprehensive how-to book. Check with your local nursery, too. Many provide free landscape service when you purchase their plants.

Settle in with your catalogs and gardening plans and enjoy the next few months of winter plotting out some new outdoor "rooms" to enjoy this summer. Immersed in pictures of lush, gorgeous plants, it's a little easier to believe that spring is just around the corner!

For great ideas on enjoying, improving and getting the most out of your home, visit John Day's website. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, John Day is your key to success.