Our Outdoor Living Planner Walks You Through the Landscape Design Process

Use our Outdoor Living Planner to outline your vision for a new dream getaway in your own yard and garden. We’ve broken it down into categories: Lawn/Garden, Hardscape, Kids/Pets, Outdoor Kitchens, Water Features and Fire Features. Consider these questions and get your creative juices flowing. Use this planner to partner with a professional for the bigger projects on your wish list.

 

 __Front yard sq. ft.

 __Back yard sq. ft.

 __Side yards sq. ft.

 

 __Parties or gatherings

       __Less than 10 guests:         Seated        Unseated
       __10–30 guests:         Seated        Unseated
       __More than 30 guests: #         Seated        Unseated

 __Outdoor kitchen/grill area
 __Patio with seating (for how many people?)
 __Quiet meditation
 __Children’s garden or play area
 __Yard for pets
 __Pool
 __Spa
 __Outdoor games or sports (please list)
 __Containers with plants
 __Garden space to grow
 __Herbs
 __Cut flowers
 __Vegetables/fruit

Do you entertain large groups of people in your outdoor space? Your BBQ might not have enough grill space to cook for everyone all at once. Consider an upgraded cooking area with a covered and lighted grill and plenty of countertop space.

 

 

Do any of your family members suffer from allergies?      Yes        No

 

Does anyone who will use the site have mobility issues (use a stroller or wheelchair)?     Yes       No

 

Will your yard need to be fenced for safety or privacy?      Yes        No

 

Does the property have any noise issues (loud neighbors, busy streets)?      Yes        No

 

Is there a need to block any undesirable views from your property?              Yes        No

 

Are your property lines agreed upon by your neighbors and the city?            Yes        No

 

Are there any buried utilities on the property (septic systems or utility lines)?      Yes        No

 

Do you want an outdoor sound system?   Yes        No

 

 __Front yard    __Back yard   __Side yards

 

Does sun exposure cause problems inside the house (like too much heat from south-facing windows)?  Yes        No

 

Does sun exposure limit outdoor use (too hot to play outside, too shady to grow vegetables)?    Yes       No

 

 

What are the primary materials used in the existing landscape and/or exterior of your home?
__Natural stone   __Brick   __Fiber cement siding   __Stucco  Vinyl siding   __Cedar shingle siding   __Wood clapboard siding   __Aluminum or steel

 

__Improved lawn   __Ground cover   __Flowers   __Trees   __Hardscape repair   __New hardscape   __New landscape design

 

 

 

Are there existing plants that you want to stay in the yard?     Yes        No

 

 

 

Are there other features you want addressed (unusable steep space, erosion, drainage issues, etc.)?  Yes        No

 

 

Is there wildlife you want to keep out of your yard (coyotes, snakes, raccoons, possums, moles/voles, deer)?  Yes        No

 

 

Are there pests you want to discourage (ants, bees, cockroaches, spiders, mosquitoes, flies)?   Yes       No

 

__I won’t do anything myself

__I will hire someone to do some tasks, like mowing

__I will do it all myself

 

__Vegetable garden__Herb garden__Fruit trees

 

__Front yard  __ % of the yard

__Back yard  __ % of the yard 

 

 

Do you have an irrigation system?  Yes        No

 

Is it working correctly?    Yes     No 

Do you need a new irrigation system installed?    Yes       No

 

__Turfgrass   __Drought-tolerant plants  __Native plants   __Fruit-bearing plants   __Organic and/or vegetable/fruit garden   __Food and habitat for pollinators and birds   __Eco-friendly landscape (i.e., reducing water, fertilizers, pesticides and mowing)   __Low-maintenance plants

 

__Planting groundcover to reduce water needs

__Installing a rainwater-catch system

__Installing a greywater-capture system

 

 

 

(Man-made parts of the landscape)

 

Are there existing hardscape features in your yard that must stay in the design?    Yes        No

 

__Brick   __Concrete   __Stamped with patterns  __Colored   __Glossy finish   __Matte finish   __Flagstone   __Natural shapes   __Cut stone (squares or rectangles)   __Tile   __Natural   __Man-made   __Gravel   __Decomposed granite (ground gravel)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you have playground equipment already?      Yes        No

 

Do you want new play equipment?  Yes        No

 

__Natural boulders to climb __Swing set   __Slide   __Tree swing or rope to climb   __Sandbox (with a lid if you have pets)   __Sidewalk or path for tricycle/bicycle use   __Inground wading pool or freestanding pool   __Basketball hoop   __Batting cages/goal nets

 

Will pets use the area?      Yes       No

 

Describe the breed, age and size of your pets:    __Dog   __Cat

 

Describe your pet’s habits (i.e., the dog digs or the cat climbs trees and gets stuck).

 

 

 

 

__Rarely—I just want a gathering place for entertainment

__Occasionally, in nice weather

__Often, in nice weather

__Several times a week no matter what the weather

__As often as possible

 

 

Is the area where you envision the outdoor kitchen already plumbed for:
__Water  __Electrical   __Gas

 

Will you need storage for:
__Dishes or linens   __Trash  __Cooking ingredients and supplies  __Wood for oven or fireplace

 

__Natural stone  __Tile  __Stainless steel  __Wood  __Concrete  __Quartz  __Eco-friendly materials

 

__Natural stone  __Brick  __Tile  __Stucco  __Wood

 

Will you need cold and hot runnning water at a sink?    Yes        No

 

__Pizza oven      __Griddle       __BBQ grill

__Traditional stove with  ___ burners

__Traditional oven

 

Do you want an outdoor refrigerator/freezer?    Yes        No

If so, how many cubic feet of capacity do you need?

 

__Wine/beer storage or service

__Undercounter fridge for snacks/drinks

 

__Patio table.  __Bar counter

 

__Permanent overhead heaters

__Freestanding (portable) heaters

__Wood-burning fireplace in the outdoor kitchen

 

Will your outdoor kitchen need sun/rain protection?     Yes          No

 Partially open roof      Solid roof

 

Would you want a misting system for cooling?    Yes        No

Will you want an integrated TV/sound system in the outdoor kitchen?  Yes        No

 

 

 

 

__Exercise__Relaxation__Entertaining

 

__Waterfall  __Fountain  __Diving board or slide  __Grotto  __Safety fence  __Integrated fire feature  __TV/sound system  __Cabana/bathroom  __Saltwater pool  __Vanishing-edge pool  

 

 

 

Will messy trees or plants impact the area near the pool?     Yes        No

 

 

Do you want a __Firepit  __Fireplace

 

 

 

__Real wood logs  __Natural gas   __Hidden propane tank

 

Do you have kids or pets that need to be protected from the fire element (say, by a hearth)?    Yes        No

 

Would you like a firepit that is:
__Flush with the ground  __Raised  __Portable

 

__Connects with the patio or other hardscape?

__Stands alone and is placed out in the yard?

__Is covered by a patio cover or pergola?

 

__Fire/water combination (fire feature with an integrated fountain, for instance)

__Hearth for seating