You should not, however, think of a landscape as merely a big garden. Landscaping is simply the artistic development of your land, so while a landscape likely includes grass, flowers, and shrubs, it may also include a small pond, a gravel path, and/or manmade objects such as a fountain or sundial.

In addition to what they contain, landscapes are distinguished based on their appearance and their placement. In terms of appearances, landscapes are either formal or informal. Formal landscapes are essentially symmetrical; each object (except, perhaps, a central focal point) has its counterpoint on the opposite side of the landscape. Informal landscapes, on the other hand, may seem to have little design structure whatsoever.

Landscapes differ in placement between borders and islands. Borders are landscapes set against a house or other structure while island beds are surrounded on all four sides by natural elements.

Next, you should decide whether you want a focal point for your landscape. A focal point is by no means necessary, but it can be helpful as a central orienting structure around which you can build your landscape. You may already have a focal point on your property, perhaps a gazebo, a small pond, a particular tree, or a swimming pool. On the other hand, you could purchase a focal point, such as a fountain, sundial, swing, or set of stepping stones.

After picking a focal point, you're ready to think about colors. Your landscape should either feature one particular or employ complimentary or harmonious colors. Complimentary colors, such as red and green, give your landscape an exciting appearance. In general, light colors work particularly well in shaded areas. Keep in mind, however, that your goal is to compliment your house, so choose colors that compliment the color of your home.

You should also be thinking about the purpose behind your landscape. If you only want it to compliment your house, make sure that you picture the landscape in conjunction with the house. On the other hand, if you want your landscape to be a place you can enter, you'll want to include a swing or a pathway. Finally, you can use your landscape to display a particular theme, such as the red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July.

Finally, you should think of your landscape as a piece of art and follow artistic guidelines in order to create your landscape. In other words, think about issues such as line; where will your eyes be drawn as you look at the landscape? What about balance and unity? A symmetrical landscape is particularly attractive, but it is by no means the only way to go. Variety and diversity are also qualities of a beautiful landscape. How can you have both balance and variety? These are the types of questions you should be asking and answering.

• Space: How much space do you actually have to work with? Is it sloped or flat land? Does it receive ample sunlight? All of these questions will provide some guidelines for what type of plants you can place in your landscape. In addition, remember that your plants will grow; plan your landscape based on the eventual, rather than current, size of your plants.
• Maintenance: Think about how much time you are willing to spend maintaining your landscape. Do you just want to water it once a week, or are you willing to have a high-maintenance landscape?
• What will actually grow: Sorry, but no matter how much you want a banana tree as part of your Minnesota landscape, it's probably not going to happen. Learn about your soil conditions and what plants will actually grow on your property. Native plants are also generally the best for the soil, as we will see in an article on environmental landscaping.
• Seasons: Be aware that you have to live with your landscape 365 days a year, so determine what you landscape will look like during each season of the year. Many plants are only in full bloom for a few weeks out of the year, so be careful planning your entire landscape around those plants.

Finally, you should consider the money you're willing to put into your landscape project. Landscaping can be an expensive endeavor, particularly if you hire a landscape architect.

In many ways, the process of designing a landscape for a business is identical to designing a landscape for a home. You still need to take into account both artistic and logistical considerations. Like residential landscapes, business landscapes employ focal points, complimentary colors, and symmetry. Likewise, their designers have to consider their spatial, environmental, and budgetary restrictions.

In addition, however, businesses designing a landscape face additional challenges in the form of city ordinances, the need to attract customers, and the increased size of their landscapes.

• City Ordinances: Many cities require businesses to landscape in a certain manner. These ordinances may, for example, require a business to plant a certain number of trees or have a certain square footage of greenspace between the building and the road. Contact your local planning commission for details regarding business landscaping in your area.
• Attracting Customers: Most homeowners do not use their landscaping to attract visitors, but businesses do want to attract customers. With this in mind, you should at least use conservative landscaping that will not repel customers, but you can also be creative and use colorful displays (such as your company logo in flowers) to attract customers.
• Job Size: Businesses have more money and more space with which to work than do individuals. Thus, you have a bigger maintenance job, but you also have the freedom to purchase more items, both manmade and natural, to enhance your landscape. In many cases, businesses also have multiple small landscapes spread out over their property.

Once you have your plan, you'll need to prepare the land you are using for the landscape. Remove unwanted plants, and use a tiller, weed-eater, and lawnmower as necessary. If you need to dig any holes, call your local utility companies to make sure there are no underground pipes, and then dig away.

After you've prepared the land, you're ready to go buy items for your landscape. Head to a nursery for plants--everything from grass seed to native flowers and your favorite trees. The nursery may also have the manmade objects (fountains, sundials, flagstones, etc.) that you want, but you can also check at general retailers and home improvement stores.

Once you make a few purchases, come home and get to work making your landscape vision a reality. Don't worry if you don't have everything yet, or if your landscape doesn't seem perfect. After all, your landscape will never really be done; you'll always be tinkering with it.

1. Air Pollution--Just like cars, gas-powered landscaping equipment (e.g. lawn mowers, leaf blowers, etc.) releases tons of toxic fumes into the air.
2. Water Pollution--When we spray our lawns and landscaping with chemical pesticides and fertilizers, those chemicals drain into our water supply.
3. Wasted Water-- Water is a scarce resource in many parts of the world, and we use it like there's no tomorrow. We spend thousands of gallons of water watering our landscapes.
4. Reduced Trees--While many landscapers strive to maintain and plant trees, some landscapers still cut down trees to make space for enormous lawns. Eliminating trees, however, leads to increased erosion and levels of carbon dioxide, among other environmental problems.
5. Disrupted Natural Balance--When we decide which plants and animals we will and will not accept in our landscape, we unintentionally disrupt the food chain. Species flourish or gradually go extinct because they lack predators or food, respectively.

Feeling guilty yet? The bad news is that these five categories don't even include other problems such as soil pollution, and there's no easy solution to any of these problems. The good news, however, is that a few minor landscaping adjustments not only reduce your negative impact, but also benefit the natural environment. The slogan "Think globally; act locally" has some truth in it.

The most obvious way to reduce your watering is to limit the size of your lawn. Lawns require more water than almost any other type of landscaping, so reduce the size of your lawn and plant trees and shrubs instead.

In addition, you should landscape using water-conserving/drought-resistant plants. Ask your local nursery to suggest drought-resistant plants, such as buffalo grass and fescue, which do not require as much water as do other grasses. If you do have thirsty plants, plant them together (i.e. separated from drought-resistant plants) and as close to water sources as possible.

In addition, don't water your plants every day. You want your plants to dry out somewhat between waterings, so wait until the plant droops before re-watering. You shouldn't need to water trees and shrubs at all once they develop a solid root system (one to three years). As for grass, wait to water until your footprint leaves an indentation, indicating that the grass has lost its strength.

When you do water, however, water deeply and cover the entire root zone. Water in the morning or the evening so that the midday sun won't evaporate the water immediately. In addition, if you use sprinklers or other automatic watering systems, make sure you're not accidentally watering the pavement, and if rain comes, shut off the sprinkler.

Native plants are thus easier on you and better for the environment. You save time and money because you don't have to water plants and worry about the plant's survival. You also may enjoy experiencing the same plants that your ancestors in this region tended. In addition, you conserve water because the plant grows on its own, and you reduce your pollution because you don't have to use fertilizers or pesticides to assist the plants' growth.

To get started with native plants, take a walk in uncultivated land. What particularly beautiful wildflowers and trees grow in that landscape? Then, get a book about native plants, or go to a nursery and ask for help incorporating native plants into your landscape.

Don't worry: a landscape of native plants does not mean you simply ignore your land and let the weeds grow. You still make a plan for your landscape, and you still plant particular wildflowers and trees in the particular spots that you want. You still consider the color and balance of your landscaping. You're simply limiting your options to native plants. And you may be surprised; the most beautiful landscape is likely a native one.

First of all, plant in ways that reduce your need to use pesticides and fertilizer. Ask your nursery for pest-resistant plants, and introduce animals such as praying mantises and ladybugs that will control your pest population. Plant native plants that won't require fertilizer to grow. In addition, don't rush out and buy pesticides at the first sign of trouble; be patient and allow natural predators to come for the pests. You should also identify whether the pest is actually the problem. Healthy plants resist many pests on their own, so you may be simply not doing a good job of keeping your plants healthy?

Second, purchase organic pesticides and fertilizers instead of synthetics. Organic pesticides (e.g. corn gluten, bacillus thuringiensis) and fertilizers (e.g. manure, blood meal, green sand) don't have the same negative impact on the water supply or soil as do synthetics. Look for pesticides termed "organic" and fertilizers described as "slow release."

Finally, apply your pesticides and fertilizer conservatively, and in accordance with the safety instructions. You'll likely only need to apply pesticides once or twice each year, and the more you use pesticides, the more the pests will build up a tolerance to the product. Thus, simply cut or pull out individual weeds when you can, and when you can't, spot apply pesticides rather than spraying the entire yard. As for fertilizer, you may sacrifice a little color by cutting down your use, but it will be worth it in the long run.

• Have a natural focal point: Instead of building your landscape around a deck or other manmade object, start with a tree or small pond.
• Trees. Lots of trees: Trees absorb the sun's heat, control erosion, prevent evaporation, provide food and shelter for animals, reduce our power demands, and much more.
• Plan a compost or mulch pile: Compost and mulch reduce your waste and provide innumerable benefits for your soil, so think about how to landscape with compost.
• Attract animal wildlife: Try to create a landscape that contains food, water, shelter, and space for animals. In addition, if you're looking for specific creatures, you can plant flora that attracts those species.

Once your landscaping is up and running, don't forget to use environmentally responsible maintenance. Conserve water by watering efficiently, and aerate the lawn to allow the water to more effectively reach plant roots. Consider letting your lawn go a little brown during the summer, and springing back to life during the fall. As you mow, set your mowing height at about two inches, and leave the grass clippings on the lawn--those clippings can supply ¼ of your fertilizer needs.

Finally, ask your landscape architect or local nursery for environmentally responsible landscaping products, such as jute, a biodegradable netting that prevents surface erosion. Emphasizing your concern for the environment may make your landscaper alter his plans accordingly. On the other hand, if your landscaper doesn't seem to care about the environment, you might want to pick a new landscaper.

It's impossible to tell you what type of plants to purchase, however, because it all depends on your area. The temperatures, rainfall, and soil quality in your region combine to determine what plants will grow best, so learn as much as you can about your area before selecting your plants. As a starting point, look on the Internet for your region's native plants; these plants grow naturally in your area, so they will be good for the environment and make for low-maintenance landscaping.

In addition to looking for native plants, however, you'll probably want to select plants based on your aesthetic tastes. Perhaps you want red roses, yellow sunflowers, or white lilies. You can purchase small flowers or large shrubs and bushes. Think about both the appearance (including the appearance during all four seasons) and texture you want for your landscaping. If you want to attract wildlife, purchase nectar and fruit producing plants.

When you've made some of these general decisions, visit a nursery for help in selecting specific plants. Choose a nursery with experience in your area, and make sure that the plants in the nursery greenhouse are healthy. Then, reveal the colors, shapes, and sizes you want, and/or ask for help in making decisions. Browse the shop and look at pictures of different plants to help you brainstorm. When you finally make your decisions, ask for seeds rather than potted plants; potted plants are difficult to transfer to ground soil.

Your first choice when it comes to trees is one of size, and remember to select trees based on their eventual, not current, size. Small trees include the amur maple and Japanese maple while birch trees are a good example of medium-sized trees. Maples, oaks, and sycamores, are all large shade trees. Evergreen trees (e.g. pines and spruces) are also often large, but they do not provide much shade for surrounding plants.

In addition to size, however, you should think about what trees will flourish in your area. If you suffer from regular storms, choose a sturdy tree while drought-prone areas call for water-conserving trees such as hackberries, white firs and pines, and red maples.

Finally, consider the growth rate of your trees. You should plant trees regardless of their growth rate, but unless you're landscaping for your grandchildren, don't plan an entire landscape around a tree that won't be tall for two generations.

You may not plan on planting any grass seed. Whether you use grass seed or not, however, you'll have one of two types of grass: warm season or cool season.

• Warm season: Warm season grass mostly grows in the southern United States and is at its best during the summer, or, more accurately, from April to October. Bermuda grass and buffalo grass are two popular warm season grasses.
• Cool season: Cool season grass grows in the central and northern regions of the United States, and it flourishes during the spring and fall and slows during the summer. Kentucky bluegrass and fescue are well-known cool season grasses.

Your home area will determine which category of grass you can support, but within each category, you'll have several options. At this point, personal preferences of grass coarseness, color, and hardiness will govern your decision. You should also consider how much shade and water particular types of grass will require.

Of course, an entirely different option is to purchase synthetic grass. Synthetic grass (i.e. Astroturf) looks like grass, but it is made of plastic. It's incredibly easy to clean and you can have it in any part of the country. On the other hand, however, it's very expensive and can contribute to erosion, and many people consider it downright ugly.

Depending on what type of fountain you purchase, you could spend anywhere from twenty dollars to several thousand dollars. Simple fountains have only a small pump and stationary object over which the water flows. Extravagant fountains work with much larger quantities of water and may contain elaborate statuaries (think of Rome's Trevi Fountain).

For landscaping purposes, however, you'll probably only want a small fountain, which will include both the pump and the fountain. In addition, you should obtain a small pond liner (essentially a thick tarp) and rocks and plants to surround the fountain.

First, you'll need to excavate a hole for the pond, which will serve as your fountain's water source, and insert the liner into the hole. Follow the instructions included with your fountain, but in many cases, this pond is no more than three feet in diameter and two feet in depth. Then, fill the liner with water, and submerge the pump in the water. The pump should be able to displace at least 1/2 of the water each hour. Finally, connect the pump to the fountain using the included (and perhaps even preattached) tubing and turn on the fountain. Wait a moment, and you should see water flowing out of the fountain.

At this point, you can use your fountain as the focal point of your landscaping. Consider surrounding the pond and fountain with large rocks, and then planting flowering plants around the structure. You'll be amazed at the ways in which the water fountain compliments the rest of your landscape.

Your soil type (acidic, sandy, nutrient-rich, etc.) determines the correct fertilizer for your landscaping. You'll need to find out what are the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) needs of your soil, and purchase a fertilizer with corresponding NPK levels.

Your purpose in fertilizing will also help you determine what type of fertilizer to use. Winterizer fall fertilizer strengthens your plants' roots while starter fertilizer is designed for new lawns. Balanced fertilizers are designed specifically for certain soil types while complete fertilizers are designed for general purpose. Slow-release fertilizers, meanwhile, are organic compounds and thus are better for the environment.

Along with deciding what type of fertilizer to purchase, however, you'll also need to learn how and when to fertilize your landscaping. You can use a handheld, broadcast, or drop spreader, or even a water sprayer (if you have a soluble fertilizer). As for when to fertilize, the most important time is actually during the fall to promote root growth, but you can also fertilize once or twice during the late spring and summer. In any case, however, you should follow the instructions on the fertilizer and review any nursery instructions for your landscaped plants to determine exactly when and how you should fertilize.