9. Make a wish list

For this list, just go wild. Take into account your answers to all of the above questions. Don't worry about being realistic at this stage, the time for that comes later. Right now, just randomly list all of the things you wish you could have in your yard (or things you have but wish you could change or remove). Don't forget to include what everyone in the family wants, or maybe you could have them make their own lists. Have fun with this.

To give you an idea of what a list might include, here is mine for my back yard:

• shaded area for sitting, dining and entertaining
• year round barbeque (need wind break)
• flower gardens
• small vegetable and herb garden
• privacy from neighbours' behind and both sides
• water feature with running water (for sound), fish, and plants
• firewood storage
• future greenhouse
• no grass
• attract birds and butterflies
• keep cats and raccoons out
• improve grading to slope away from house
• low watering requirements
• maintenance: 2-3 hours/week
• nice view from family room and dining room windows
• able to watch birds from kitchen table
• windbreaks (our yard is too windy)
• place to hang a hammock
• clothesline
• rain barrel
• storage area for garden supplies, soil, composters, finished compost
• native plants
• woodland garden area
• casual style

10. Categorize your list.

Split your items up into these general categories:

• Public Space: anything mostly for show, on view from the street
• Private Space: entertaining and relaxing
• Utility: storage, composters, air conditioners, vegetable and cutting gardens, anything you want hidden from view
• Recreation: children's play items, lawn
• Circulation: driveways, pathways, entranceways.

11. Prioritize your list.

Now is the time to start to get more realistic. Go through your wish list, for each general category, and mark each item in order of importance with 1, 2, 3, etc. Finally, make a new list, putting the items in order. This should give you a good idea of what items are most important to you. When it comes time to work on your actual plan, this list will help you decide what to keep, and what to cut.

..next..

1. How do I make a garden plan? Do I really have to?
2. Get to know your site
3. Think about the future
4. What do you want to do in your yard?
5. What kind of gardening do you want to do?
6. Don't forget storage and utility requirements
7. What about driveways, walkways, and paths?
8. Think about privacy and security issues
9. Make a wish list
10. Categorize your list
11. Prioritize your list
12. Look at other gardens and yards
13. Make a general sketch of your yard
14. Go through your wish list again
15. Think about the style you want
16. Keep in mind some general design guidelines
17. Start drawing a plan
18. Get to work
19. Further Reading (web links) and References

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