Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 5, 1993                   TAG: 9308050021
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Joe Hunnings
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

YOUR LANDSCAPE'S NEW `DO' SHOULD START WITH PENCIL, PAPER

Sound familiar? If so, your home's landscape may need remodeling or renovation. And even though you may have realized this long ago, you've probably been putting off doing anything about it.

If you start your renovation job with pencil and paper instead of shovel and pruning shears, you can eliminate a lot of hard work and discover ways to minimize the changes. Draw your house and landscape to scale, then do a thorough analysis of the environmental and plant conditions.

On a fairly large sheet, sketch your house and its surroundings, including all permanent features such as driveway, outdoor shed, etc. Make your drawing big enough so there's room to add plants and notes.

Now, tape a piece of tracing paper over your plan and draw all existing plants. Begin making plant and environmental notes (shady areas, prevailing wind direction, wet spots, etc.).

Look for and jot down any plant-related problems, hazards, and aesthetic or visual problems. Plant-related problems include poor growth, few flowers or need for frequent pruning.

Hazards exist when plants block windows or doors or cover house numbers or utility accesses. Aesthetic problems include a cluttered look, plants out of proportion or a lack of seasonal interest.

Use different colors to note the condition of each plant as either good, marginal or poor. If a HOEIN' & GROWIN' JOE HUNNINGS plant is in good condition (growing at an appropriate rate, flowering properly), it might either remain where it is or be moved to a more favorable spot. In either case, it should continue to be fed, pruned and sprayed as needed.

If a plant is in marginal condition (growth rate diminished, weak or total lack of flower production, many dead branches) several actions are available. Compare the costs in time and money of renovating the plant (feeding, pruning, etc.) versus removing and replacing it. Consider how long the rehabilitation will be effective.

If a plant is in poor condition (mostly dead branches, small, pale leaves, no flowers), make a note to remove it.

Once a scale drawing has been made assessing the landscape, start your renovation plans. Place another sheet of tracing paper over both your base plan and the assessment overlay. Draw in those plants you think you should keep, either in their existing or in different locations.

Make a list of what you want in your landscape (less maintenance, more parking space, a swimming pool, a perennial garden, more shade on the hot southwest side of the house, etc.). Compare this list with the overlay that shows the plants you hope to save, and design a new landscape accordingly.

Indicate the new permanent features first (parking area, swimming pool, tool shed, fencing), then add new planting areas.

Once your design is complete, decide how much can be done at a time. Renovation may take several years. If possible, complete permanent areas first to minimize future destruction of plantings. Use the overlay showing which plants to remove or move. Then remove any lawn areas that are poor or have been disturbed in the renovation process.

As the work progresses, adopt the proper cultural techniques to keep that new landscape growing at its best. Learn from earlier mistakes and capitalize on things you've done correctly.

Joe Hunnings is the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service agent for agriculture in Christiansburg. If you have questions call the Montgomery County extension office at 382-5790.