Base Plan Preparation

This is the first step that must be taken before any sort of work for a design can begin. Typically, the information needed for the base plan (property survey, topography, etc.) is supplied by the client. If this information isn't available, a professional property and topographic survey must be taken.

In some cases, the client may have a scale base plan in the form of a deed description, plot plan, or site plan that comes with the house plans. If the client doesn't have this information, I will have to visit the site, take measurements, and prepare a scale base plan. The base plan includes:

- Property Line

- Topography

- Vegetation

- Bodies of Water

- Buildings (including: floor plan with all doors and windows; basement windows; down spouts; outdoor water spigots; outdoor electrical outlets; air conditioning/heating units; exterior light)

- Other Outdoor Structures (walls, fire hydrants, etc.)

- Paths of vehicular and pedestrian traffic

- Utilities

- Immediate off-site conditions (roads, vegetation, bodies of water, etc.)

- Any other elements considered necessary for developing a design.

The base plan will be drawn in a simple black line style because it will be used in the following design steps.

Cristin M. Larson; The Garden Consultant and Landscape Design