As a plant person I am often uneasy when I think about landscaping. Sometimes I get lucky, but too often my efforts look like a collection of plants rather than a landscape. It is finally oozing into my brain that the last thing a landscaper thinks about is plants.

For example, I recently intercepted a soil salesman, who came with a landscape design background, near the front of my house. While admiring my newly laid walk and the largely unplanted area that resulted, he pointed and said, "what that really needs to set it off is two skinny, deciduous, multi-stemmed shrubs about eight or ten feet tall with interesting bark right there."

I thought to myself, wow, he's right.

Attending a lecture from an oft-published high-end landscaper titled "Anyone Can Landscape" followed that encounter. The speaker immediately made it clear that the last thing he thinks about is the plants.

He said you must start by determining what purpose your landscape will serve. Do you entertain a lot and wish to enhance that experience? Do you need a large area for the dog and kids/grandkids to play? Do you wish to attract birds and other wildlife? Do you have a small lot and just want a bit of privacy?

With the questions from the last paragraph resolved begin to observe what others in your position have done. Be creative as you imitate. The speaker quickly admitted that he almost always begins with imitation.

As you observe and plan there are many factors to consider. Think about a smooth transition between the inside and the outside of your dwelling. Don't forget the importance of vertical elements.

Add some mystery with curving paths, fences, walls or hedges. Don't let them see the whole landscape from one spot. Make them move through it. Most likely the mystery will go hand in hand with creating some privacy.

Think about symmetry and balance. Don't let a large tree or shrub on one side threaten to tilt your whole landscape. Another consideration is when do you use your landscape. If you are away at work all day perhaps you need to showcase the evening.

The speaker offered a few more generalizations. Select plants in odd number groupings. A well-balanced landscape looks about one third full. That leaves the other two thirds as space between and around your buildings and plantings.

He also guessed that generally the cost of landscaping is about half hard-scape and about half plants.

Finally, when you have that picture of your landscape in your mind you are ready to think about plants. By the way, can anybody think of a skinny, deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub about eight or ten feet tall with interesting bark?