Landcape Design Tips

Tools Needed.

• 25’ hand held measuring tape
• 100’ tape for the property.
• A simple, clip on line level, and string will help you with elevation changes.

TIPS

• Make a couple of copies of your plot plan (survey) and use them to record measurements.
• A clip board and good pencils will make all the difference in the recording of your measurements.

Help with the measuring
In order to produce a Landscape Design, proper measurements of your property are needed. The following steps will assist you with measuring you property for the design process.

1) Property Measurements

Use the copies of your survey (never use the original stamped copy) to make notes of all items on your property. You can also use a blank piece of paper and sketch your house and property lines in but this is more time consuming.

Sketch in items such as trees, sheds, driveways, walkways, existing gardens, utilities and other such items. When Measuring trees and shrubs make a note of the size of the tree canopy, the canopy is measured from the center of the tree to the outside trip of the branches.

The house features should also be drawn in on the plan, items such as doors and windows. Draw all of these items (in pencil) on one or two of the copies of the survey (plot Plan) or hand sketch. These items do not have to drawn in exactly but the measures should be as close as possible. Make note of the top and bottom of slopes.

Tip: The best way to measure trees is to pick a couple (corner of building) of zero points and triangulate from each point.

2) Elevation changes.

For yards with slopes and retaining walls.
To measure the slopes of your yard, use the sting line and the string line clip on level to estimate the slope. Secure one end of the string to the high point, on the ground, tied to the screwdriver and on one measures reference mark, i.e. the corner of the house or a tree. Pull the string towards the lower point on the lot. Make sure that these two points are measured and know. Make the string tight and clip the level on the string line. With a measuring tape in one hand and the sting in the other move the bubble in the level into the centre of the level and measure from the string to the ground. Make a note of that measurement and repeat this operation where necessary.

3) Taking Photos.

“A picture is worth a thousand words” so take a minimum of 15 photos for your records. Capture each outside wall of the house and all other structures. Make sure the items you measured are in the photos. i.e. doors, windows, utilities, steps and other items.

Walk the extent of the property line stopping in each corner and halfway point to take the photos of the property.

Now take photo of items of interest, i.e. retaining walls, patios, slopes, utilities and other items.