Landscape design 101: A complete guide to landscaping your yard.

What is landscaping?

Landscaping refers to the action of making landscape design a reality. Planning your landscape design requires careful consideration. This includes making changes to the terrain, as well as adding plants and other decorative elements.

For example, it could refer to adding a garden and hardscape elements to an existing green space. Or, it could involve completely changing the plant life in an outdoor space, from one filled with non-native species to using xeriscaping to add more native plants.

Landscape design is the art of strategically arranging elements of an outdoor space to enhance its beauty and/or functionality. It's also a science. A good landscape designer will analyze your existing environment. They will modify it to make it pleasing to the eye and practical for the space.

During the landscape design process, a professional landscaper takes into account how various materials complement or work against each other. They will create a solution that’s most cost-effective and agreeable to the client.

Related: How to landscape your front yard.

Components of landscape design.

When it comes to landscape and garden design, there are several components and styles landscapers tend to incorporate in yards:

• Softscape. Sometimes called "soft landscaping," softscape elements are living elements in your yard. This includes grass, flowers, trees, shrubs, soil and more.
• Hardscape. Hardscape refers to the man-made, non-natural elements in a yard. This often includes fire pits, patios, decks, pathways, lighting, retaining walls, water features and more.
• Xeriscape. This type of landscape design involves creating a yard with plants that require little water and irrigation needs. Drought-tolerant plants are often used when xeriscaping a yard.
• Zeroscape. Unlike xeriscape, zeroscape is a landscape design that doesn't have any plants. Instead, the yard contains gravel, dirt and/or sand. It's a low-maintenance design that can save you money if you don't mind having a plain yard.

What are the 7 principles of landscape design?

According to the Colorado State University Master Gardener program, there are seven main principles of landscape design. All are interconnected and complement each other to create the most beautiful and practical outdoor environments:

1. Unity. Unity brings all elements of a space together. An initial storyline, or aesthetic idea, inspires the components of landscape design. All of these must work well collectively to create an effective landscape. 
2. Scale. Scale relates to the comparative value of certain elements to others. For example, the size of the trees compared to the house influences the scale. Likewise, more items in one space will look busy compared to fewer items in a similarly sized space. 
3. Balance. Balance refers to the equilibrium of the right and left sides. An informal balance where the sides differ could make a space feel more relaxing or alive. A formal balance where the sides perfectly match can make a space feel more formal or elegant.
4. Simplicity. Simplicity uses repetition to create unity. It can also refer to keeping spaces uncluttered to foster serenity. 
5. Variety. Variety adds contrast amid repetition, preventing monotony by introducing various colors, forms and textures to a space.
6. Emphasis. Emphasis involves adding a focal point of dominance among subordinate elements. For example, it might look like adding a large tree among many short shrubs.
7. Sequence. This refers to the flow or change in form, size, color or texture. The sequence helps give a yard a sense of movement.

To successfully achieve the above principles, landscape designers use multiple tools.

• Lines: Lines can define a space and create the appearance of outdoor zones or rooms.
• Form: Form refers to three-dimensional mass, such as trees, shrubs, plants and other foliage.
• Texture: Texture refers to the sizes, shapes, spacing, colors, gloss and dullness of plants and leaves.
• Color: Color has a powerful effect on the environment. It can create or enhance mood and feeling. Various colors tend to spark different moods.

5 landscape design tips for beginners.

If you're interested in working on your home's landscape and need landscape design ideas to get started, use the following tips to guide you. 

1. Choose colors that evoke a chosen mood.

Think about how you want to feel when you look at your front yard or backyard landscaping. Different colors prompt various psychological responses. For example, Colorado State University reports the following hues are associated with specific feelings.

• Red: passion, courage, motivation, power
• Yellow: joy, optimism, happiness
• Blue: serenity, calm, reflection
• Green: nature, growth, harmony
• Orange: enthusiasm, exuberance, playfulness
• Purple: intuition, spirituality, royalty
• White: purity, grace, innocence
• Pink: uplifting, love, sweetness

2. Follow the 90/10 rule to create a relaxing space.

Public spaces such as high-traffic gardens often feature bright flowers to draw people in. However, a home's landscape should be designed to create a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere.

To prevent your landscape from becoming too overwhelming, use the 90/10 rule. Feature 90% green space with 10% color to maintain harmony.

3. Create interest with contrasting plants. 

You can create visual interest with plants in many ways, even when they’re all the same color. For interesting combinations, pair opposites, such as:

• Small/large
• Fine/coarse
• Short/tall
• Round/upright

You can also use color contrasts to add instant interest. Consider mixing and matching different colored plants or flowers.

4. Go gradual with sequence.

Stark changes in sequence, such as a sharp change from tall to short, disrupt the flow and balance of a landscape. To create a pleasing sequence, make changes in color, texture, size and form gradually. For example:

• Create a sequence with texture: Start with coarser and larger plants in the back. Sequence to finer-textured and smaller plants toward the front.
• Create a sequence with size: Start with a small number of larger plants. Then, gradually work out or around those with larger numbers of smaller plants.
• Create a sequence with color: Use darker shades sparingly to create a focal point. Then, add lighter-shaded plants in increasing numbers with progressively lighter plants.

Returning to the principles of landscape design, start with simplicity and gradually add variety. When you want your space to be more relaxing than busy, less is more for effective landscape design. 

5. Use your storyline as a guide.

Whenever you need inspiration or feel stuck in landscape design, refer back to your storyline. What do you want to achieve with your landscape?

For example, you might want your backyard to manifest peace and tranquility. That will help you choose colors, decide how many elements you include and how to organize your space. For example, you want to create a comfortable outdoor living room with Adirondack chairs, an outdoor fireplace or soft landscape lighting.

Let's say you want to host many backyard parties. In this case, you probably want to facilitate movement and gathering. Consider adding a patio, outdoor furniture, pathways and various points of interest that encourage wandering throughout the space.

A landscaper can use your storyline to make recommendations for how to design a space and which elements to include.

Related: 15 landscaping tips and tricks for beginners.

Common landscaping mistakes to avoid.

Landscape design can go in an undesirable direction without a clear strategy. Using the main principles of landscape design as a guide, try to avoid making common mistakes such as:

• Overusing repetition
• Overloading a space with too many elements
• Introducing elements that don’t improve a space or add a positive impact
• Adding too many points of emphasis
• Using elements that create abrupt sequencing

Again, go back to your storyline as a guide. Then, work on achieving all seven design principles using line, color, form and texture.

Popular and unique landscaping ideas.

Check out our library of landscape design ideas to help you create an outdoor space you'll love:

• 53 front yard and backyard landscaping ideas for any budget.
• 13 cheap, simple front yard landscaping ideas.
• 17 small front yard landscaping ideas.
• 15 landscape lighting ideas to make your yard glow. 
• Small backyard landscaping ideas to maximize your space.
• 15 hardscaping ideas for your yard.
• 21 beautiful pool landscaping ideas.
• 15 landscape edging ideas for a clean, attractive yard.
• 15 drought-tolerant landscaping ideas and tips.
• Cool off with these 12 shade ideas for your backyard.
• 25 backyard entertainment ideas for summer.

How much does landscape design cost?

The cost to hire professional landscaping services varies greatly depending on various factors. These factors include:

• Features and elements you want. Installing large, complicated features like a deck, patio, retaining wall or pool may cost thousands of dollars. Opting for a simple design with grass, gravel and a few plants will likely cost less.
• Size of your yard. The smaller your yard, the less you'll (likely) spend on materials and labor.
• Time of year. If many homeowners in your area are landscaping their yards, the cost of services may increase. Try to schedule a large landscape design project in the off-season or when professionals are offering lower rates or discounts.

For a better idea of how much you should budget, check out our guide "How much does landscaping cost?"

When to DIY vs. hire a pro to landscape your yard.

You may want to design your landscape all by yourself. However, you'll save time and energy by hiring a professional.

Not sure which route to take? Here are some questions to ask to help you decide:

• How quickly do I want the project completed? If you need to boost your home's resale value before you put it on the market soon, consider hiring a professional.
• How much expertise do I have? If you’re new to landscape design, gardening and using tools, you might face a steeper learning curve.
• Do the landscaping tasks involve hazards? If you’ll need to work from heights, perform electrical work or do construction tasks, skip DIY and hire.
• How intense is the project? If you’re adding a little bit of greenery or flowers, you can consult an expert at a nursery for tips. When you get home, you can plant them yourself. But if you’re completely redoing a yard, hire a landscape designer.

Related: When to skip DIY and hire a pro instead.

Who to hire to landscape your yard.

Different landscape experts may have different titles and areas of expertise. When researching professionals in your area, here’s an idea of what pros with various titles do. 

What do landscapers do?

Landscapers are professionals who help maintain your existing landscape. They’re professionals who know the best practices for executing groundskeeping duties. They ensure greenery and other elements in outdoor spaces look great and continue to flourish in their environments.

What do landscape architects do?

Landscape architects plan and design new landscape areas and strategize how to renovate existing areas. They have design expertise that follows the seven principles of landscape design to create the most aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces.

They have a state-issued license and have engineering knowledge. They may also have other environmental expertise that allows them to carry out large public and commercial projects. 

What do contractors do?

The term "landscape contractor" refers to any professional hired to complete a landscape project. Landscape contractors could include architects, landscape designers and other landscape professionals.

The term "contractor" sometimes has a more specific meaning. It can refer to landscape construction. This means a landscape contractor has the license to build hardscape features such as paths and patios.

Landscape contractors may also refer to the professionals who work on the physical labor of renovating or creating new outdoor spaces. This may include electrical work and tasks like building walls.

What is the difference between a landscape designer and a landscape architect?

The main difference between landscape architects and designers is credentials and licensure. 

Landscape architects gain knowledge in areas such as engineering and code enforcement. They should have a state-issued license. And they typically need at least a bachelor’s degree from a program approved by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board.

Landscape designers typically work on smaller projects, such as residential homes. They know how to enhance the design and function of space but may have more limited formal training and credentials.

Pro tip: No matter which type of professional you hire to design your landscape, make sure they're licensed, bonded and insured.

Related: How to hire a contractor.

Landscape design services near you.

Ready to start your landscape design project? Thumbtack can help.

Our extensive network of landscape professionals is available to work on whatever your home needs. For example, start searching for: 

• Landscapers
• Landscape architects
• Landscape curbing installers
• Landscape grading contractors
• Landscape lighting companies
• Lawn care services
• Gardeners
• Patio landscapers
• Pool landscapers
• Tree landscaping services

 Download the Thumbtack app to find a landscape professional today.

A note about project costs included or linked in this article: Figures represent national average cost estimates using data provided by Thumbtack pros and additional research. These figures are provided for educational purposes only and are subject to change at any time due to various factors. Details about your specific project and local rates can impact costs.