Residential Landscape Design Plan Hand Drawing

Most homeowners are on the hunt for the "all-time app" to use to blueprint their garden, instead of hand-drawing their ain programme.

The trouble is… you don't know what you lot don't know.

The truth is… apps are NOT the respond.

I know, I know. You're not Picasso. You're embarrassed past your own stick figures. You tin't visualize a garden out of a blank folio.

Just luckily, you've got me to guide y'all.

It'southward time to ditch the "can't do" attitude and useless apps. They're holding you back from getting your dream garden.

Past the end of this postal service, you'll exist able to draw your own killer garden plan that'due south unique to YOUR garden and YOUR style.

Let's go started!

Sentinel this video to learn how to draw a garden plan (or continue reading for the step-by-footstep instructions).

i- Go To Know Your Space

Before we hit the drawing board, we demand to hitting the garden! A garden program drawing without a garden to put it in is… a drawing.

So, first, mensurate the area where your garden bed volition be.

Make a note of:

• The dimensions of your garden bed (length and depth).
  • What shape is your garden bed?
  • Is it symmetrical or asymmetrical?
• Anything you shouldn't block with plants (like windows, doorways, utility access).
  • Measure the dimensions of each object.
  • Measure out how high above your garden bed they are.

Once you have these details, you'll be able to run into potential trouble areas before you even start drawing.

Sometimes, if there's a low window or a utility area to bargain with, it forces you to create an asymmetrical blueprint. It's better to know these things before you get started. They're more than hard to correct after the fact.

Here are measurements of a raised garden bed in both programme view (top left) and elevation view (bottom right). If I were to only see the plan view drawing, I wouldn't accept noticed that the windows are only 24″ from the soil level. At present that I know this, I can design in a way that won't obstruct views from the window. Illustrations by Pretty Purple Door.

I know this measuring pace feels kind of boring. Simply it's absolutely essential to create an authentic garden plan. You will never see a professional person designer skip this step… no matter how irksome it may feel.

Just remember that if the blueprint you create on paper doesn't fit, blocks views or obstructs utilities, information technology fails.

"If your design works on paper it volition work in existent life."

-Amy Fedele, PrettyPurpleDoor

Once you have your measurements, it volition exist very easy for yous to plot out the garden space.

Bonus Tip: While y'all're measuring, snap some photos of the garden bed. Make certain yous take pictures from different angles. And, definitely take i from straight on (continuing right in front of your garden bed area). More on this in the side by side section.

2- Pick a View

Now that you have your measurements, you lot'll demand to cull a view to draw from. There are a few different views to choose from. The key here is to choose the view that will go far easiest for you to visualize your garden infinite.

Garden plans tin can be drawn from in a higher place (plan view), from directly in front end (height view, or 1 bespeak perspective) and in 3D (2 bespeak perspective view). Illustrations by PrettyPurpleDoor.

• Is it easier to visualize your garden from higher up?
  This is chosen plan view. In plan view, y'all'll view garden plants every bit a serial of circles and other shapes. This is a view I typically utilise later in the procedure, when I'm choosing plants.
• Is it easier to visualize your garden from directly in front of it?
  This is chosen elevation view. This is a flat, 2-dimensional (2D) view sometimes referred to as 1-point perspective. It allows y'all to run into what your garden would wait like while standing right in front of it.
• Is information technology easier to visualize your garden with depth in the space?
  This is called perspective view. This is the most detailed view you lot can use as it'due south a 3-dimensional (3D) view. This is sometimes referred to equally two-point perspective. Drawing what your garden will "actually" wait like in 3D tin sometimes be very confusing, especially if you're a beginner.

For the purposes of this mail, we're going to employ superlative view for our garden plan drawings.

A 2d elevation drawing gives you the best of both worlds.

You're able to visualize what the garden volition "actually" await like, without the added complexity of drawing in iii dimensions.

3- Employ the Right Tools

Before we get to cartoon, allow'south make sure that y'all have the right tools available to yous.

Ditch the Apps

First, ditch the idea that an app or a cartoon plan is going to help you lot to visualize your garden plan. It'south way easier to exercise this by mitt, especially if all y'all demand is a unproblematic drawing.

Here are some reasons that I generally don't recommend using landscape design apps.

• Apps are very limited, especially free versions. You'll discover yourself trying to blueprint a space only won't have the right plant shapes or sizes to you.
• Apps can give you a false sense of reality. When yous're using an app, information technology'south like shooting fish in a barrel to squish and squeeze to brand your plants fit together. This isn't what happens in real life. Then, while you tin can squish an 8 foot rounded shrub into a 4 foot pyramidal shaped shrub in an app, this won't translate to reality.
• Apps are a fourth dimension suck. Equally if drawing a garden plan isn't challenging enough, you lot're also adding the extra complexity of having to learn a new computer program. This can be a total time suck. Hours can go by and you'll still be trying to find the "perfect plants" to place in your landscape. Which leads me to my next betoken…
• The plants won't be suited for your weather. Particularly when using a gratuitous version, you lot'll have a very limited choice of plants. And, depending on where yous live, the plants you're choosing may not even grow in your geographical area. To top it off, they may exist suited for weather condition that you don't accept.
• Apps but evidence a moment in fourth dimension. Because of the nature of cartoon a garden program, whatsoever app that you use volition only evidence your garden at one bespeak in time. So, all of your shrubs volition expect like they are flowering in the photo. But, what do these plants look similar in jump, summer, fall and winter? If you are choosing plants that bloom in dissimilar seasons (which you should be), you're going to become a false sense of what your garden will actually expect like from any design in an app.

Now that yous know why y'all shouldn't use an app, let's talk about what you should be using instead.

Tracing Paper Over a Photo

Tracing paper over a photo is my preferred method for brainstorming garden bed layout ideas.

Using tracing paper over an bodily photo of your space is a great way to become started drawing a killer garden programme. When cartoon in peak view, y'all'll want to choose the photograph you took in footstep 1 that'due south a directly on view of your garden bed. This view will go far easiest to describe your programme.

Then, impress out the photo you snapped earlier. Then, utilize tracing paper over the photo to describe out different garden plans. I beloved using tracing paper because information technology gives yous the freedom to explore many different ideas rapidly.

Here are some tracing paper options you can try:

• Strathmore Tracing newspaper pad 50-count (Buy on Amazon). This is a overnice, user-friendly manner to purchase your tracing newspaper. It comes in a pad with sheets you can tear out.
• Canson Tracing newspaper roll 12"x50yds (Purchase on Amazon). My instructors have always encouraged me to purchase rolls of tracing newspaper that can be torn off apace. Sometimes, using a pad can make you more conservative when using the tracing paper and a roll of newspaper can be more freeing for the creative process.

Depict out your shapes on the tracing paper over your photo. Then grab some other piece of newspaper and attempt over again. I've always found that this iterative process works all-time for coming upward with new ideas. Sometimes, my best drawings are 5 or even ten versions in. So, always go along cartoon and trying to think of new ideas.

Bonus Tip: If you're having trouble seeing your photo through the tracing newspaper, turning the photo into a "cartoon" or line drawing using a phone app tin can help. Or, impress out your photo and darken the major lines of your photo with a sharpie and then they are easier to see through the trace paper.

Tracing Newspaper Over Graph Paper

If you don't have a photo, using tracing paper over a garden bed plotted on graph paper is some other fashion to sketch ideas.

If you don't want to or can't work from an bodily photo, yous can likewise draw out your space on graph paper using the measurements you lot took in step 1. I similar to use one block on the graph paper for one foot of garden space. Or, whatever ratio works all-time for you.

One time you're finished with your base sketch, it's a good thought to "ink in" your pencil lines with a pen. Information technology will help you lot to see the cartoon more than clearly through the tracing newspaper. It can also make your drawing feel more official.

Make sure you lot don't depict on this "finalized" copy from now on. Make photocopy of your official base program and describe your garden programme ideas direct onto the copies. Or, put tracing newspaper over the finalized base of operations plan to iterate your ideas quickly.

Constitute Form Cutouts

If you are totally not into drawing your garden plan by hand, don't worry, I have another solution for you lot. Grab my gratuitous printable plant grade guide and you tin apply my drawings.

Just print out a photo of your garden bed, then cut out the plant class shapes and move them around on the page. It's a really fun way to experiment with different garden bed layouts.

Colored Pencils or Markers

Use colored pencils or markers to color in your drawing. I love the alcohol markers by Prismacolor. Illustration past Pretty Royal Door.

Lastly, you'll want to take some colored pencils or markers bachelor so you can add color to your drawing. Adding color to your drawings can really help you to visualize the space.

Many landscape designers use alcohol markers past Prismacolor or Copic to color in their drawings. Some designers fifty-fifty use watercolor paints to color in their drawings.

Just, yous don't need to get that fancy. A elementary set of colored pencils, markers or even crayons will be fine. I'd recommend using what y'all have on hand. But, if you lot're looking to buy a new ready or pencils or markers, here are some I'd recommend.

• Prismacolor colored pencils, 36-count (Buy on Amazon)
• Windsor & Newton promarkers, 12-count (Purchase on Amazon). This is a nice simple set with many of the colors you'll need for drawing landscapes.
• Prismacolor markers, 24-count (Buy on Amazon). Yous tin can also buy these markers individually online or in a hobby store. Sometimes this tin can be a more price-constructive option to go the colors you really need for garden plants.
• MeiLiang Watercolor pigment fix, 36-count (Buy on Amazon). I also have this watercolor ready and I really like how vibrant the colors are.

4- Draw Simple Shapes & Forms

We are finally at the drawing footstep! I hope yous're as excited as I am to go started! The easiest way I've learned to draw plants is to go along it simple.

All plants can exist reduced to a unproblematic form, such as mounding, rounded, vase-shaped, horizontal, spikey, weeping, oval, pyramidal and more. Analogy by PrettyPurpleDoor.

Every plant has a bones grade or shape. Some common shapes and forms are:

• Mounding
• Rounded
• Vase-Shaped
• Horizontal or Spreading
• Spikey
• Weeping
• Oval
• Pyramidal (& more)

What'south great almost using simple forms is that you don't have to exist a professional person artist to depict them!

I similar to draw very messy in the commencement. If I like the cartoon, I'll use some other piece of tracing paper to refine my basic establish forms fifty-fifty farther. I proceed to practice this until I'k happy with the final cartoon.

Phases of my garden drawings using tracing paper over a printed photo. Illustration by Pretty Purple Door.

Think that information technology doesn't matter how "fancy" your cartoon looks. As long every bit it's clear and easy to understand, you lot are on the right track.

Here's another instance, where I've sketched basic plant forms on tracing paper placed over my graph paper. Discover how I tried to use different plant forms to keep the design interesting? I started to add together the names of plants I remember would work in this blueprint… merely if you're non sure what plants to apply yet, that'southward totally fine, too. I'll evidence yous how to do this in Step v. Illustration past Pretty Imperial Door.

Merely in case you're dreading this "sketching" role, I've put together a free printable plant class worksheet that you can employ. I've drawn all the plant forms for you lot and provide you with a variety of different sizes to cull from.

All yous accept to do is print out the plant forms and color them in to suit your needs. You tin cutting around each of the institute forms and rearrange them to run across how they will await against the photo you lot took in pace 1. How easy and fun is that?

Here, all of my establish forms are cut out and I'chiliad ready to start having fun arranging the different plants along the foundation. Grab the free printable here.

Whether you lot're drawing out your simple forms by hand or using the gratuitous download, here are some tips to make sure that you're on the right track:

• Even flowers tin have a unique form and structure that adds interest to a design. Like alliums, for instance.
• Using a multifariousness of establish forms creates interest.
• Repeat the same plant forms to create unity in your design.
• Focus on the basic forms that fit into your environs, rather than specific plants.

Plant forms aren't but for shrubs and perennials. Fifty-fifty flowers can accept a unique class and structure, like these alliums in the cartoon. Illustration by Pretty Regal Door.

Yet Stuck? Attempt using the Blocking Method. Below is a brusk video for how this method works.

Hither'southward a quick overview of the blocking method. You can read more nigh it hither.

5- Pick Your Plants Last

Have you noticed that throughout the unabridged process of drawing a killer garden plan, we haven't even thought much well-nigh plants?

Then strange, isn't it?

But, choosing the correct plants for your garden space, while information technology's important, it's usually one of the last steps. Blueprint and planning ever comes start.

Although I'm drawing simple shapes and forms in my plans, I frequently have some thought of what plants I want to use in a given design. Just, I don't forcefulness plants into my designs, if that makes sense.

Even if yous have no clue what plants to use, that's ok. Once you've created a garden plan with constitute forms that you similar, you can then research plants that are a similar size and shape to what you drew.

Websites like Garden.org allow you to research plants by all different characteristics that will conform your growing weather and tastes.

Luckily, in that location are so many institute options bachelor to united states in every different shape and size. You'll have plenty of plants to choose from, so don't worry about choosing your plants until the stop. Get the garden plan drawing worked out commencement!

Wrapping Up

Now that y'all're privy to my acme 5 tips for drawing a killer garden program, you can skip the stress of staring anxiously at a blank page and actually savor the incredibly fun and creative process of designing your dream garden!

Outset, take measurements and go to know the space where you plan to put your garden. Look at the expanse from different angles and snap some photos of unlike views.

Now, sit downward with some printer/bond newspaper or graph newspaper and use tracing newspaper to come up with different ideas. I usually have some plants in listen during this procedure, but I don't try to strength anything. Merely draw simple shapes like rounded, oval, pyramidal and spreading. Try to contrast the sizes and shapes of your plants to make it interesting. If cartoon feels too difficult for you lot, grab my printable constitute grade worksheet so you lot can just cutting out the plant shapes and movement them around the folio.

Once you lot take the basic shapes mapped out, you can then choose your plants. Make sure to research all of the plants you plan. Employ a website with lots of filters and avant-garde searching like garden.org. Choose plants that will thrive in the weather that you take vs. what yous wish y'all had. And, endeavour to cull a variety of long-blooming perennials or plants that create interest at different times of the year.

If y'all're looking for more help in designing your dream garden, be certain to check out my Pattern Your 4-Season Garden Course, where I'll have you step-by-pace through my own process for creating the 4-flavour garden program of your dreams.

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Source: https://www.prettypurpledoor.com/garden-drawing/

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