The KHS design team can prepare a design to suit every landscape and every budget.

We can produce:

• Perspective drawings which allow you to visualize a proposed concept or idea.
• Hand drawn designs.
• Scaled CAD layout drawings, fully dimensioned and annotated, prepared with the latest landscape design software.
• Full colour CAD presentation layout drawings.
  
• Plant Carwe Packages – providing reliable information on the plants chosen for inclusion in your landscape design by knowledgeable 'plant people'.

Our design team constantly strives for excellence and we firmly believe we provide the best design packages available in the valley!

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If you fail to plan you plan to fail.

Do you want to update your yard, but need some ideas?

Creating your dream landscape can be a rewarding process but it can also be overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you with your own design:

Develop a Plan Drawing

This will be easiest if you use graph paper. You can then give your drawing a scale (for example: 4 squares = 1 foot). Sketch a simple drawing of your property which shows your house, the garage, any outbuildings or sheds, streets, walkways, driveways, patios and planting beds, any utilities such as underground cables or overhead wires, existing trees and any other existing feature which may need consideration.

Conduct a Site Analysis

Unless you are new to the property, no-one will know your garden better than you. Some things to note on your drawing are:

• Where the sun rises and sets in both summer and winter.
• Any areas which might need protection from strong winds.
• Areas where landscaping height or width may be restricted, such as under power lines.
• Unsightly areas which need screening or views which are currently obscured.
• Do any areas suffer from poor drainage or standing water. You may want to have soil tests performed to determine your soil type and depth of top soil.

Assess your Wants and Requirements

Really think about what you want to include in your landscape, think about how much time you are able to devote to maintaining it. Even the most carefully designed low-maintenance landscape requires regular maintenance of some kind.

Identify potential uses for different areas of your garden - vegetable gardens, flower beds, lawns, play areas and sitting areas.

Think about your existing trees, shrubs and other plant material – is any of it of value and worth retaining and possibly rejuvenating if it is in poor condition?

Think about access to the house, including walkways, driveways and parking. Do you plan to entertain outdoors, do you need a children's play area, extra parking, storage for garden equipment or a pool? And don't forget space for things like garbage cans, clotheslines, dog pens and firewood.

Draw Up your Design

Refer to your list of needs and wants and decide where to locate the areas and items you have identified on your plan drawing. Plot these areas using a sheet of tracing paper taped over the original plot plan. Think about how the spaces will flow together.

Budget

Determine your budget. Keep in mind that landscaping is usually an incremental process. Having a design will allow you to understand how to best phase your landscape installation. In addition, it should help you to avoid making any costly mistakes or doing work which may be unnecessary.

Some Tips From Our Designer

You should of course aim to create a landscape which appeals to you. Here are just a few ways to ensure success:

• Group planting and repetition of plants always looks better than plants in isolation.
• Research your plant material well before purchasing – we can help you with this aspect of the design or installation.
• Plan the planting areas to be a minimum of 4 feet wide and wider if possible to allow for plants to grow.
• Try to keep your landscape features in scale with their environment.
• Consider adding focal points within the garden.
• Think about the textures of trees and shrubs and how the foliage will look year-round. Think about how you can create year-round interest in the garden.
• Think about what style appeals you to.

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It is important to select a landscape design style that best matches the look and feel of your home whilst also reflecting your personality and likes and dislikes. Here are some common styles of garden but you are also free to develop your own unique style!

The Formal or Classical Garden

The formal garden relies on the use of straight lines, geometrical shapes and balance. It is an elegant and classical look which demonstrates man's ability to dominate the landscape with perfect symmetry. Formal gardens may contain a formal pool reflecting statuary or clipped yew hedges, a terrace with a grand staircase and even topiary figures. Plantings are orderly and well manicured and are not allowed to escape their designated areas. Colours may be restricted to an abundance of greenery with white blooms. Italian gardens constructed during the Renaissance period are the finest examples of this style.

The Informal Garden

An informal garden is the exact opposite of the formal style. A more relaxed feel is achieved by using curved lines and organic, irregular shapes. The plantings are massed in a more informal manner creating a naturalistic appearance. Plants are given more freedom in their growth.

Country Gardens

A traditional English garden with a riot of flowers and weathered brick walls typifies the feel of a country garden. The overall mood of a country garden is rather wild and unkempt with rustic features and old fashioned cottage garden plants such as; sweet peas, delphiniums, hollyhocks, roses and potted marigolds. Colours are usually strong and bright. Vegetables and herbs are often planted amongst the flowers.

Modern or Contemporary Style

Modern landscape design is a relatively new garden style that complements modern architecture; it is sophisticated and chic and this unique style can be modified for all types of yards. Contemporary landscape designs for a modern home will create clean lines which complement the architectural style of the property. Modern design often makes use of non-traditional elements and materials, such as concrete and stainless steel, in a exciting and innovative ways.

Mediterranean Style

The Mediterranean style evokes visions of sparkling blue waters, whitewashed houses, olive groves, citrus fruit trees in old terracotta pots and fields full of lavender. A Mediterranean garden can be a place for relaxing by the side of a pool or al fresco dining under the shade of a large tree. Colours are usually vibrant with blue, yellow and white used most.

Oriental Style

The Oriental style of gardening aims to imitate nature on a small scale within a domestic setting. An oriental garden is a beautiful and tranquil space, often containing a water feature. As well as offering a Zen-like peaceful garden, this style will also appeal to many homeowners for its ease of maintenance. Whilst many oriental gardens appear minimalist in design, they still require a great deal of precise planning in order to achieve a harmonious garden that blends with the home and reflects the pure beauty of nature. Stones, gravel and bamboo are strong elements of an oriental garden. Plants are often chosen for their foliage textures; think Japanese maples, ferns and hostas to name but a few.

Xeriscape or Water Smart Gardens

Xeriscaping is a term used when employing landscaping methods in an effort to conserve natural resources, especially water. The commonly held belief about Xeriscape gardens is that they are dull, boring, desert-like landscapes. However, just because this type of garden has a low-water-usage doesn't mean that it cannot also be beautiful. Xeriscaped landscapes can be attractive, colourful and varied. Visit Okanagan Xeriscape for more informatoin.

Some benefits of a Xeriscape are:

• Lower water consumption – lower water bills and better for the local environment.
• The use of native plants which have are well suited to their environment.
• Little or no lawn-mowing - saves energy and time!
• Maintenance of the plants and beds themselves is also reduced.
• If water restrictions are implemented, xeriscape plants will tend to survive, while other, less drought-tolerant plants may be unable to adapt.

Tips from Ken on Drought Tolerant Plants

It is important to remember that drought tolerant plants are not drought tolerant until they have become fully established into their environment. An aspect of Xeriscape gardening often forgotten is that a plant that survives without water, isn't necessarily a plant that thrives without water. Supplying some occasional water to the plants in your Xeriscape garden can be beneficial to their growth and appearance.

Areas which have a very limited water supply should be planted in the early fall. This allows the plants to establish themselves over the cooler winter months so the plants will be well prepared for the summer heat and minimal water.

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Call us about your garden design today!

Why not arrange for our Landscape Designer to come out and give you a quote on a design for a new outdoor living space. We bring examples of our design work and photos of finished installations, as well as lots of good advice! We can visit at a time to suit you and this visit is free too!

1-(250)-766-3733
design@kelownagardens.com

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