Plot Perfect: A Step-By-Step Guide to Planning Your Dream Garden
Gardeners dream of the perfect Landscape, but turning those ideas into reality takes planning!
Begin by conducting a site inventory and drawing up an initial plan of your property using a bubble diagram to note where different features should go.
Identify Your Goals
Every plot requires an endpoint, and developing it doesn’t have to be complicated. An outliner or pantser, having a clear goal for your story will help ensure each scene serves a purpose and leads towards one objective.
One effective method for setting goals in your story is using questions as the framework to identify its goals. This could be your protagonist’s aim (to win back their girlfriend) or the overall plot goal (saving the world).
Another goal-setting tool is the MacGuffin, or object/event that drives the plot. This could range from treasure or secrets in crime fiction, weapons/mystical artefacts/technology in science fiction, or technology used by Paula, as an example, during her boot camp session. She suggests attendees read The Maltese Falcon novel or watch its movie before attending.
Create a Wish List
At the start of garden design, creating a list of wants and needs that will guide the design and layout is essential. If safety is a significant priority, play areas may need to be located within sightlines of your house for easy monitoring by parents; similarly, if certain trees become eyesores, you should decide whether or not they will remain.
Once your priorities are set, the next step should be creating a budget for your project. Allocate funds for purchasing plants, materials, and any professional assistance needed and set aside an appropriate sum for ongoing maintenance costs.
An adequate budget will keep your dream garden from becoming a financial disaster and help keep the process on track. Paula Munier is a senior literary agent and content strategist at Talcott Notch Literary Services who has written stories, articles, blog posts, marketing collateral and book proposals over her long career, as well as writing the comprehensive guide “Plot Perfect”, including writing exercises, templates and expert advice to plotting.
Create a Budget
Garden design can be an exhilarating undertaking. Before diving in with shovel and spade, however, it pays dividends to sit down and plan out how your space can best function and look – this includes defining its function and layout and creating a wishlist of features, focal points and plants you must consist of on it.
Before beginning to design your landscape design project, setting a budget is a good idea. Doing this will help ensure you stay within your limit, leaving enough money for needed materials. Once your plan and budget are in place, the next step should be deciding what plants you will grow; this includes selecting which vegetables, fruits and herbs are planted and how many of each. If you want to experiment with something different, research its growing requirements and learn what care it needs to thrive.
As soon as you have an in-depth knowledge of your garden’s soil type, sun/shade conditions, fences or structures, and any additional factors like wind/noise/privacy issues, it’s time to create a site inventory of it. Please note any influences, such as wind noise or privacy, that might sway its design decisions, such as wind noise vs privacy considerations when creating this document.
Utilise triangulation and taking offsets techniques to assess your garden boundaries accurately. First, mark two fixed points (A and B) on your site map, using triangulation or taking offsets techniques as appropriate, before using a compass to take readings at regular intervals along the pegged line until it reaches your perimeter boundary – recording these measurements along with their locations on your sketch.
Create a Layout
Paula Munier takes us deep into the art of plotting in this one-of-a-kind boot camp, providing guidance for developing an engaging structure from beginning to end.
Whether you prefer outlining or pantsing, the best stories have an overarching plot plan that establishes its beginning and conclusion. Plot Perfect will teach you step-by-step how to develop an epic storyline.
As part of your layout efforts, you’ll utilize various layout elements, including tables, charts, grids and graticules. Each tool offers its own set of features and settings – for more information, please see the Layouts section of Help or try our Working with Table frames or Building Spatial Map series articles.
To create a layout, navigate to the Layout tab of the ribbon, select an orientation such as Landscape on the left-side screen and click Add Guides on the right side. These nonprinting lines can then be moved and resized to align elements on your page layouts. Starting in version X15 or later, text macros allow you to insert dynamic information like page numbering or date/time in your layouts using text macros.
Start Building
Building the perfect garden takes time and dedication. Once your goals, wish list, and budget have been established, it’s time to get building.
Begin your garden planning project by conducting a site inventory. Aim to capture essential details, such as sun exposure and soil quality, to help determine where plants will flourish best and which features you should include in your design.
Before planting, always test and amend your soil quality to provide your chosen species with all the essential nutrients for success. Follow recommended spacing guidelines and planting depths, then layer on a mulch blanket to maintain moisture and deter weeds.
Once your garden is established, ensure it looks its best with regular upkeep. Remove dead or damaged plant parts by pruning, use a weed barrier and organic fertilizer to control unwanted growth, and water regularly enough to keep the soil moist without becoming saturated.
Bring the enjoyment of your dream garden into the nighttime by adding lighting elements. Strategically placed solar or LED lights can illuminate pathways, highlight focal points and create an incredible ambience – giving your outdoor space an additional magical atmosphere!
As the final step of building your dream garden, the final step should be enjoying it! Invite friends and family over to share in your joy. Whether sipping lemonade from a rustic wood bench or picking fresh produce from your vegetable patch, your dream garden’s beauty and serenity will enrich your life in numerous ways.