Design-Your-Own
Landscape Layout
A DIY Landscape Design Online Course
How to create your own landscape design plan
Watch for an overview:
What's in the course?
Design-Your-Own Landscape Layout is an online landscape design course for do-it-yourselfers that guides you step-by-step through the design process.
You will learn:
You'll create a hand-drawn "layout" plan that will act as your installation guide
In this course, you will learn how to create a "layout plan" (a top down drawing of what goes where... Your intentions and goals for the space)
"My design confidence has exploded, and I have tapped into my own creativity and found my own style"
Naomi D.
Schedule & Outline: Here's what to expect...
Module 1: BRAINSTORMING AND RESEARCH
Collect inspiration, prioritize your goals, and take some time to learn about your design area to best play to its strengths.
Videos Inside Module 1:
(4 min) Intro to Module One
(22 min) Collect Inspiration
(10 min) Define Your Needs
(11 min) Identify Rooms and Views
(10 min) Site Survey
(2 min) Final Tips
Module 2: MAKING A BASE MAP
Head outside to take some measurements and make a "base map" (a map of your design area, drawn to scale). You'll use this map throughout the whole course!
Videos Inside Module 2:
(9 min) Intro to Module Two
(24 min) Base Map Basics
(16 min) (Optional) Mapping Slopes
(19 min) Strategy 1, Part 1
(20 min) Strategy 1, Part 2
(7 min) Strategy 2
(12 min) (Optional) Tips for Blueprint Sized Maps
(10 min) Tips for Measuring and Drawing
(8 min) Finalizing Your Base Map
(6 min) (Optional) Additional Methods
(4 min) Prioritizing Needs
Module 3: DESIGN COMPOSITION
Learn how to break your inspiration down into pieces that you can put together, as you draw a concept plan.
Videos Inside Module 3:
(7 min) Intro to Module 3
(10 min) Design Requirements for Common Elements
(15 min) (Optional) Examples: How to Fill Out the Spreadsheet
(5 min) Your First Bubble Map
(17 min) Microclimate Mapping
(4 min) Site Survey Design Base Map Exercise
(9 min) (Optional) Privacy Design Strategy and Base Map Exercise
(5 min) Back to Bubble Mapping: Site Survey and Microclimate
(6 min) (Optional)Bubble Mapping Privacy
(7 min) Breaking Down Inspiring Pictures
(21 min) (Optional) Examples: Learning from Inspiring Pictures
(19 min) (Optional) Design Layout Concepts
(23 min) (Optional) Landscape Design Styles
(9 min) (Optional) Mapping Rooms, Views, and Dead Zones
(1 min) Update Your Bubble Map
(14 min) Concept Planning
(4 min) (Optional) The Concept Planning Challenge
Module 4: EXPERIMENTING WITH LAYOUTS
Use your base map and your research to start designing, using activities and "design exercises" that will make the creative process easier.
Videos Inside Module 4:
(6 min) Intro to Module 4
(8 min) Use Mapping
(14 min) Low Maintenance Landscaping
(22 min) Soil Covering and Edge Mapping
(21 min) The Magic of Organic Waste in Landscape Design
(8 min) Irrigation Zone Mapping
(9 min) Estimating Basic Costs
(14 min) Installation Phase Planning
(3 min) Stage it out!
(5 min) Drawing Additional Details
Module 5: FINALIZING DESIGN
Research plant possibilities, create a planting plan, put all the pieces together, and finalize your plan.
Videos Inside Module 5:
(3 min) Intro to Module 5
(25 min) Your Design Palette, Part 1: Colors, Textures, and Cohesion
(17 min) Your Design Palette Part 2: Making a Materials Plan
(5 min) Naming Your Planting Zones
(3 min) Plant Design Brainstorm
(6 min) Intro to Structural Plantings
(14 min) Designing Structural Plantings
(12 min) Right Plant, Right Place
(15 min) Filler Plantings & Year Round Interest
(19 min) Plant Research
(16 min) Drawing Your Landscape Design Layout Plan
(8 min) Resources and Final Steps
What is it like to take this course?
How much time does the course take?
The quick answer, typically this course takes about 5 or 6 weeks to complete, though you can complete it as quickly or slowly as you’d like. The course itself has 5 modules, and about 10 hours of video content. So it’s like watching a movie per week for 5 weeks. Some people like to watch some of the videos at double speed, others like to slow it down.
How long do I have access to the materials?
You get access to all course materials for 3 years from the day of purchase (If you end up needing more than that, please reach out when the time comes... but most people are enjoying their finished landscape by then)!
What is the design work like?
I’ve broken the design process down into steps (homework activities) that guide you through you the landscape design process. After watching a video, you’ll need some time to do the work.
Many steps only take you a few minutes, like a quick brainstorm. Others will take a few hours, like drawing out your base map.
Most can take as long as you want to spend on them. If you’re short on time, just skip the optional steps.
What are "design exercises"?
"Design Exercises" are activities I've created to make it easier for you bring your ideas to life, one step at a time. They are fun ways to come up with new ideas, test them out for practicality, and see how everything fits together in your design space. Most involve drawing possibilities onto a map of your design area, with prompts, tips, and instructions.
Your homework will include completing various design exercises, which will guide you easily through the design process.
What are the videos like?
I built this course so you feel like I'm sitting right next to you, guiding you through the design process. Most videos are around 10 minutes long (though the longest is about 25 minutes, and the shortest is only about 2 minutes). They are filled with design examples and step-by-step demonstrations. There are closed captions, and you can speed the videos up, or slow them down if you prefer.
You get access to the whole course when you purchase, and can watch the videos anytime.
Design-Your-Own Landscape Layout
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