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Design ideas/plans

willyx2's picture

Design ideas/plans (post #16731)

willyx2 on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 09:04
in

Hello, Im located in So. Cal- laguna niguel, going thru a pool remodel and removed all landscape (old design appears to be based on what was on sale at home depot or ??) I am looking for a site to purchase garden plans ( I am capable of installing plants,electrical, h2o, lighting, drains etc..) looking for a Santa Barbara/Laguna beach design, low maintenance, drought tolerant, colorful etc..

Have a few books but no help on complete plans, areas are small.  The fees are steep in this area for "just" a set of plant plans.  Working on a tight budget.  Local college has no help, nurseries charge a mint. Willing to pay 100-200 but keep hitting roadblocks.  Am I too cheap or is there an option available. 

Thanx in advance.

-A +A
the country gardener's picture

There's options (post #16731, reply #1 of 4)

by the country gardener in reply to willyx2 [original] on Thu, 04/15/2010 - 19:43

Sorry, Willy, I hope you're still checking back. I didn't see this one until today. You're budget is probably a bit low for California. I know things cost more down there than here in Oregon, and up here a planting plan would start at about 200. Check your yellow pages for Landscape Designers and get an estimate. One option is to visit local nurseries and gardens, see what you like, ask questions and design it yourself. Some nurseries will help with design if you buy the plants from them; that's one of the big advantages to nurseries versus box stores, knowledgeable, helpful people. If you go that route have pictures and a plot plan that's as close to scale as you can get it. 

Marty

"The plants have been good to us."  Lester Hawkins

willyx2's picture

Thanx Marty, bought a Sunset (post #16731, reply #2 of 4)

by willyx2 in reply to willyx2 [original] on Sat, 04/24/2010 - 21:28

Thanx Marty, bought a Sunset book , does have many plant plans available will mix and match.  Still unable to find a couple hundred dollar plan.....being Scottish is tough

Thank you again for your help

Willy

Noel-in-England's picture

Thought of going to other Gardens, Willyx2 ? (post #16731, reply #3 of 4)

by Noel-in-England in reply to willyx2 [original] on Tue, 11/02/2010 - 11:08

Howdoo Willyx2  - what I thought of was for you to go to various Garden Centers & Plant Nurseries & Plants-for-Sale places, and City Parks  &  even "Ideal Home" kinda places --------- to get ideas.  Remember to take your camera.

Have you got a Home Computer?  You can now get some 'Garden Design software & play around with that on it.

If you are going to get someone else plans - make sure that the plants they suggest are the FULL SIZE .    If I had a dollar for every Garden Designer who puts an unsuitable plant in a place & then that plant has to be Eventually -  ripped out - cos it GREW TO BIG - I'd be a rich guy.

BloominLooney's picture

So. Cal Pool Remodel (post #16731, reply #4 of 4)

by BloominLooney in reply to willyx2 [original] on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 17:49

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,

 

 

 

I'm not fully sure of what you seek, but here's a stab at it.

If you mean what to plant, many nurseries have pre-planned gardens you can choose from.  I have ordered plants from High Country Gardens several times.  They have small but very healthy plants, which they sell in a variety of combinations.  Here is a link to their pre-planned garden page.

Pre-Planned Gardens: Low Water Plants, Eco Friendly Landscapes: High Country Gardens

  

http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalo...

(I copied a couple of examples above.  I am curious to see if they will send or not.)

High Country Gardens is based in New Mexico, however, so their plants are optimized for that climate.  They may not be the best choice for your zone.  But you can get an idea from them and then explore further.   A google search for "pre-planned garden" brings up a bunch.

If, on the other hand, you mean that you hope to change the layout of your garden and seek to know the best layout of paths, flower beds, trees, benches, whatever, I think you yourself are the best resource you can turn to.  No professional will do anything for $200.  But you can do great things with a little work.  Find out what you really like by visiting local gardens, checking out beautiful garden books from the library, going through all the photos and tips on this very fine Fine Gardening site.  Then just copy copy copy!  Let their designs be your design.  The site and your individual combination of ideas will make it very much your own by the end.

Of course the more appropriate your choices are the better, so the more research you do on your plants and the scale and your environment the better.  It may take more time than you were hoping, but the success you will achieve will be worth it.

Finally, and to me this seems like more head-ache than it is worth, but if you really don't want to do all that, why not advertise on Craig's List or the equivalent where you live for free landscape design.  There are plenty of people who want to be designers and need to get their resumés started.  Or there are people like me who love to plan gardens but who haven't the space or money to do it endlessly at home and end up on sites like this (!!!!).  Interview a few people.  See if any are sane and vaguely talented.  Cross your fingers.  It might be your ticket.

Best of luck.