Today’s Theme: The Importance of Site Analysis in Landscape Design
Before any sketch or plant list, great landscapes begin with listening to the land. Chosen theme: The Importance of Site Analysis in Landscape Design. Explore how careful observation turns constraints into character, and join the conversation by sharing your own site-reading habits and subscribing for future deep dives.
Why Site Analysis Comes First
A novice sees a tree; a designer sees shade arcs, root zones, soil moisture, and habitat. Patterns emerge when you revisit at different hours and seasons, noticing how people move and how light slides across surfaces. Share a pattern you only noticed on your second visit.
Why Site Analysis Comes First
Where does water pause? What overheats by afternoon? Which corners invite lingering, and which push people away? Framing questions turns a walk into an interview with the site. Try it: walk your space today and note three answers the land gives you, then report back.
Track winter’s low arc and summer’s high blaze to place seating, trellises, and evergreens wisely. A pergola that charms in July might chill in December if shadows swallow it. Have you sketched the sun path on your plan? Post a snapshot of your overlay.
Climate, Sun, and Microclimates
Water and Soil Intelligence
Watch how roof runoff, hardscape slopes, and compacted paths channel water. A swale an inch deeper, or permeable joints, can prevent puddles that kill roots. Trace your drainage with biodegradable dye during a storm and share the surprises you uncover.
Water and Soil Intelligence
Texture jars, pH strips, and lab analyses reveal structure, nutrients, and contaminants. Amending clay for structure or sandy soils for moisture can save plant palettes. What’s your soil story—silt, clay, or loam? Post results and how they changed your planting plan.
Even gentle slopes change accessibility, views, and drainage. Reading contours helps place steps, ramps, and terraces that feel natural. A two percent tweak can redirect water elegantly. How steep is your toughest spot? Tell us how you measured and managed it.
Topography, Access, and Movement
Foot-worn tracks reveal routes people prefer, not the ones we impose. Capture these lines before finalizing hardscape. A campus project saved budget by paving desire lines rather than policing shortcuts. Where do people really want to go on your site?
Topography, Access, and Movement
