Developing a vision for the future landscape helps achieve better outcomes and richer environments. A landscape plan should consider geometry and the relationship of different planes.

Keeping a journal makes it easy to jot down ideas for minor and significant changes to the landscape. It also allows for a record of any pests or diseases that occur, and how they were treated.

Planting Zones

When it comes to designing your commercial landscape, there’s more to the process than just selecting plants that look nice from a purely aesthetic standpoint. Having a thorough understanding of the environment in which you’re planting is essential to your success, and this includes not only knowing what plant species grow best in your area but also knowing how those plants will be affected by weather patterns and seasonal changes.

Planting zones, which are also known as climate zones or hardiness zones, are a key tool in this process. These standardized temperature ranges divide the country into 13 zones that dictate which plants can survive in a given area. They’re based on average minimum winter temperatures, with higher zone numbers representing colder areas and lower ones warmer regions.

For example, a gardener in Southern California will be in Zone 10 or 11, while a person in Fairbanks, Alaska is in Zone 2 or 3. Knowing your specific climate can help you determine which flowers, vegetables and trees are the most appropriate for your property.

Choosing the wrong plants for your zone can lead to stunted growth or even death. This is especially true for perennials, which will have to spend a year or more growing before they produce blooms. Taking the time to find the right plants can save you from having to buy replacements after a harsh winter or deal with other costly gardening missteps.

In addition, your planting zone can dictate the right time of year to start your garden or vegetable patch. This information will help you avoid the risk of a frost or other extreme temperatures that can damage or kill young plants.

Whether you’re planning to grow your own food or simply want a few more flowering shrubs or trees around your commercial property, knowing the correct plants for your zone is essential to success. This is one of the many reasons why you should only work with a professional landscaper who is familiar with both planting zones and the unique environment in which your commercial property is located.

Planting Lists

Plant lists are an integral component of a planting design and greatly affect the success or failure of a landscape project. The list contains species that are considered to fit the desired characteristics of the design. The list is typically based on site or environmental conditions and the visual characteristics of the desired planting. Choosing appropriate plants for the location, climate and growing conditions of the site will reduce long term maintenance requirements and improve the health of the vegetation.

The best starting point for developing a plant list is the World Flora Online (WFO) Plant List — the most comprehensive list of Vascular plants (flowering plants, conifers and their allies) and Bryophytes (mosses and hornworts). WFO is maintained by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden as a citable, open-access resource.

Once the site and environmental requirements are determined, the list can be compiled based on a variety of criteria including size at maturity, water use, growing habits, color, form and texture. The list should include enough options to provide a selection of alternatives for each function in the landscaping plan.

Species that can be used to screen out undesirable views or noise (dense shrubbery), control erosion on steep slopes (lower growing groundcovers), add natural beauty to the landscape (flowering ornamentals) and attract wildlife are good choices. In addition, landscapes with more plant diversity are less vulnerable to changes in the environment and native plants can support pollination, bird populations and insect habitat.

A number of LID practices are performed within urbanized landscapes that place unnatural stress on the growth and survival of trees and shrubs. For these situations, the Plant Selection section of the WFO Plant List provides recommended species for specific conditions like soil infiltration and treatment, ozone absorption, shade tolerance, pollution tolerance, drought and periodic inundation and maintenance needs.

Pest and Disease Reports

Keeping track of the condition of landscape plants and noting the presence of insect pests, diseases, and other unwanted organisms is an important part of sustainable landscape maintenance. It is a good idea to use a notebook or journal to monitor plant conditions and document any unusual occurrences. For example, if the juniper trees in the front yard suddenly look chewed up or defoliated, note the date and time of this observation. Evaluate the irrigation schedule, soil pH, fertilization program and other factors that might explain the change before jumping to the conclusion that it is a pest problem.

A gardener’s use of pesticides has a direct impact on the appearance, quality and environmental conditions of the landscape. Moreover, improper use of pesticides can result in unintentional exposures to the homeowner and the environment.

A wide range of cultural techniques can be used to suppress pests without the use of chemical insecticides. These include:

Costs

Costs are a major consideration in any landscaping project. There are a number of factors that can affect the costs, including the quality and quantity of materials used. Reusing existing materials and choosing plants that are well adapted to the site can help keep your costs down. Also, by taking the time to look at your property from both inside your home and out in a variety of weather conditions you can get the most out of your landscape dollars. Lastly, hardscaping is often included in a landscape design and can include anything from walls to fences to paving stones.