Landscaping, 18 simple rules

1. To get the best effect, grounds should be divided into three general areas – public, private, and service.
2. Separate areas by shrub screens, or give impressions of separation with groups of shrubs.
3. Keep the lawn open (except for trees) and group other materials in informal arrangement along the borders of the lawn  areas. Cluttering up your lawn reduces its apparent size and gives you more work in maintaining it.
4. Use special care in locating trees whether they are for shade, screening, framing, or other purposes. When you plant a tree you are affecting the lives of your generation and of perhaps many generations to follow.
5. Avoid planting in straight lines, except for hedges, boulevard trees, and formal plantings.
6. Plant according to height. For example, taller plants in the rear, lower ones in front.
7. Choose an assortment of plant material that will provide interest at all times with flowering shrubs of different seasons, colorful touches of bright foliage, varying forms and height, and berries or colored bark for winter effect.
8. Plantings can be useful as well as ornamental. Many beautiful ornamental shrubs bear edible fruit, others produce berries or seeds relished by birds. Many plants grown primarily for their fruit also make excellent hedge or border plant.
9. Be sure to use enough evergreens to provide year round interest. It is desirable to see some evergreens from every window during the winter.
10. Have trees frame the view of the house rather than screening or hiding it.
11. The foundation planting should be simple, emphasize interesting architectural features of the house, and be able to ‘tie’ the house to the ground. Use of flowers in the foundation planting or in the front lawn are is not as desirable as in less public areas.
12. Plant to frame desirable views or vistas.
13. Plant to screen out undesirable objects or views.
14. Avoid flower beds, iron statuary, or other objects scattered around in the open lawn areas.
15. Do not overplant – consider the ultimate spread of the plants when spacing them. Do not plant trees too close to the house nor directly in front of it. Use moderation, especially with trees and large flowering shrubs, and most evergreens, also.
16. Some variety is good, but avoid too much. A few varieties planted in masses give better effect than many different kinds scattered here and there.
17. Plan the flower garden where it may be seen from the house and where it will receive sunshine.
18. It does not matter how rough your plan may be. What is important is that it represents just where you want each individual plant to go. After the plan has been made, drive a stake where each separate plant is to go and write the name of the plant on the stake. This will give you a rough representation of what the future planting will look like.