Landscape Master Plan

When we create a landscape master plan for a client, we develop a detailed drawing of the intended design. This gives clients a realistic visual reference drawn to the exact scale of the completed project. If necessary, we can use 3D modeling software to create a real-world simulation for the client to see. In either case, though, the level of detail our drawings contain make them much more sophisticated than a CAD drawing or architectural sketch. Our plans show clients the essence of we are proposing, and it gives them greater opportunities to make changes before we actually begin working in the yard.

The landscape master plan is also essential to successful construction of landscape architecture. One of the most overlooked aspects of landscape design is grade elevation. Grade elevations are extremely vital to the success of front yard and back yard landscaping. They are frequently overlooked by less experienced landscape designers or by yard service companies claiming to specialize in landscaping. Grade elevations work hand in hand with drainage systems that are vital to the lives of plants and to the integrity of outdoor structures. Without proper grade elevation, the yard can flood very quickly.

The first landscape elements that we plan are hardscapes. This is because hardscapes normally comprise between 60-70 percent of landscape design. Some of the more common hardscape designs are as follows:

• Driveways are often expanded to provide more parking for guests when they arrive.
• Swimming pool remodeling is undertaken to properly compliment the appearance of the house and to effectively blend with surrounding hardscapes and garden elements.
• Walls and fences are added to to create boundaries and to expand ones sense of space within the yard.
• The location and style of courtyards and outdoor buildings are planned out with careful attention to the smallest of details.

It is very important to draw these structures correctly— and to draw them to scale— in order to ensure that home architecture is respected, and that the landscape design, when completed, frames a theme of unity, balance, and reciprocal relationships. Successfully developing the inorganic portion of the landscape master plan then paves the way for the development of the many organic creations that constitute the essence of Houston outdoor living and which give the landscape its ultimate sense of energy and life force.

• Gardens are designed by drawing up planting layout plans.
• Tree management services like root barrier maintenance, root pruning, and even tree planting are itemized in the landscape master plan
• Plans for hedges, flowering plants, and special grasses are indicated where appropriate.

Finally special decorations and ornamentations are added to the landscape master plan. Fountains, statuary, and trellises are planned out in relationship with organic designs such as gardens and hedgerows. This creates a feeling that the natural has united itself with the manmade in total acceptance of architecture and décor.