Site Plans, Landscape Plans and Planning Your Landscape

Some of the Free Cabin Plans from Jay Osborne include a Site/Landscape Plan page. These are just sample plans. A real Site Plan is specific to where you will be building a house.

The sample landscape plan gives you an idea of how to prepare a landscape plan for your own home.

All of Jay Osborn’s Free Farmhouse Plans >

If you have not already built your house, it is useful to consider a landscape plan first. We sited our house, chose our house plan and relocated our windows to take advantage of the best views.

Site Plan

Your site plan will include everything you need to work around when you plan your landscaping.

The site plan will include existing conditions. It includes elements you want to work with and things you plan to remove.

• Property lines
• Any structures
• Existing trees and bushes
• Paved or graveled areas
• Land features like a rock wall or brook

It can also have proposed landscape elements.

Your survey may have some of this information. Our survey included the brooks, a shed and the line of trees that crossed the property line. It did not include any of the other trees or bushes.

Landscape Plan

A Landscape Plan is a more detailed plan for a garden or landscape. It includes what is already there and what will be added.

A site plan is an overview that displays the proposed design scaled on the property. A landscape site plan would typically include the landscape design and any existing or proposed buildings and infrastructure within or directly adjacent to the property boundaries.

Architects or engineers can use these plans to coordinate conversations with clients and permit applications.

Nadi Group Landscape Planning

You don’t have to have a survey or a complicated plan. It depends on how much you want to add or change.

Start with what is already there. You might be able to use Google Satellite view to locate the existing trees and structures on your land. The view will be a little distorted, but it helps you draw a top view map.

Your top view map should include:

• Your house and any shed, garage or other building
• House windows, so you can plan around the view from inside
• Location of heat pump, generator, power meter, or anything else that you might want to screen, but still need to access
• Hose taps
• Mailbox
• Any power pole, fire hydrant
• Land features like a brooks, ditches, hard-to-move rocks

You can also sketch out landscape elevations. An elevation plan is the part of a plan looking straight on; the front, rear, and side views. A landscape elevation plan helps you plan heights.

Elevation plans are especially helpful if you are working with a slope.

Once you know what you have, you can plan what you want.

Things to consider

• Light and Shade
  How many hours of full sun? What direction does the sun come from?
• Water and Drainage
  Remedy any drainage problems early in your project

Inventory your existing plants. Are they healthy? Can they be re-shaped? Are they green year round? Include shrubs, trees, ground cover and any perennial flowers. If the house is not new, but new to you, you might want to live there a year to see what bulbs come up.

Drive around the area where you live and take photos of landscaping you like. This will help establish what will thrive in your climate. You can also find a lot of help online.

Local garden centers may offer free design services. Or you can hire a professional.

• Depending on the state, a Landscape Architect probably has a college degree, has completed an apprenticeship and has passed a test. A landscape architect understands engineering, construction, plant materials and design concepts. A landscape architect is not required to have extensive knowledge of plants or residential design.
• A Landscape or Garden Designer may or may not have specific education. They are more likely to have an artistic approach. Ask to see some example of their work.
• If you want to move or add soil or rocks, you might consider a Landscape Contractor. Many have some training or certification, but it is not required. Ask around. Some specialize in water features or large boulder retaining walls.

Landscape Architect Plan

If you hire a landscape architect, your landscape plan might include a planting list.

A landscape architect’s plans have a lot of information you may not need to include in your own plan.

A Landscape Architect’s plan may include specifics on how the landscape will be installed, just like a building plan has construction specifics.