If you are hiring a professional to create a landscaping design plan, you should be receiving a detailed plan for your yard. While the landscaping plan might vary based on the person or company you hire, there are some common elements you'll want to have.

An Aerial View

A landscaping plan should include an aerial view of your yard so that you have an overall view of the property, complete with the shape of the house, driveway, and the location of any fences. You?ll need to provide a plat of your property so the landscaping professional can work with an accurate plan for your landscape job. Consider some of the following things for your design:

• The shape of existing bushes and flower gardens that will remain
• The location of any existing or proposed patio, deck, or retaining wall
• Designs for new landscaping
• Suggestions for trees, shrubs, and flower gardens for your front, side, or back yards
• Ideas for other elements, such as a fountain, pond, fire pit, or swing set
• Shapes that are drawn to scale to show how landscaping plantings fit together

Detailed Plant Recommendations

The landscaping professional should present a plan with plantings that suit your tastes and lifestyle, plus the unique conditions of your yard. If you prefer a low maintenance yard with lots of greenery in the winter, the landscaping plan should include evergreen trees, ground cover, and hardy perennials. If you prefer lots of color and like to tinker in the garden, then the landscaping plan should have large flower gardens for perennials and annuals.

Plants for Every Season

A good landscaping plan will take the four seasons into account. The proposed plantings should include:

• Foundation plantings, such as evergreen trees and shrubs
• Bulbs for spring and fall color
• Flowering shrubs - preferably those that go through several cycles (leaves to flowers to berries) or are attractive when not in bloom
• Open places for annuals

Plants That Fit Your Lifestyle

A landscaping plan should be tailored to your lifestyle, taking into account:

• How much maintenance you want
• The types of plants, trees, and shrubs you like
• How much color and texture you want in your front, side, or back yards
• Whether you plan to add hard surfaces, such as paved areas or a patio or deck

The right landscaping plan will give you a beautiful yard to enjoy for many years.