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If landscape design were an easy undertaking for anyone to tackle, there would be a lot of landscape designers out of work. The truth is there is a lot more to landscape design than just digging a few holes, tossing in some plants and hoping they'll grow.

When a real landscape design is desired, the prospect requires some serious planning. Many people choose to hire the pros to do the job, but others either enjoy doing it themselves or they simply cannot afford professional services.

Creating a landscape design at home is possible, but it will take a little work. There are some great things to consider when endeavoring to put together a design plan:

* Space available. It is very important to map out the exact dimensions of the garden area in question. Measure them out by hand to be certain. Either use paper or a design program to match the dimensions for creating the eventual landscape design plan.

* Lighting conditions. Choosing the right plants to go into the landscape design will hinge a whole lot on this. Some plants thrive on full sunlight, others do not. When lighting conditions are studied, it is possible to avoid some very big mistakes in choosing and buying plants. The locations of full sun, full shade and partial sun should be jotted down on the drawing or made clear in the computer program. This will help later when plant choice needs to come into play.

* Soil conditions. As it is with lighting, landscape design that will work will depend a whole lot on the type of soil present. Sandy soil, for example, is ideal for growing certain plants, but not others. Choosing plants to match the available soil can be very important for creating a design that will last, or at least has the opportunity to do so.

* Available water. While it's possible to water as much as one might like in some locations, others endure drought after drought. If water is a concern in the locale in question, it is a good idea to choose plants accordingly.

* Native plants. This can be a great consideration for landscape design, especially for those who aren't very handy with growing plants. Native plants tend to thrive where they belong, even if they have to go through a bit of neglect.

* Creating the plan. This is the most important step for landscape design prior to actually putting the plants in the ground. A plan can be drafted on paper or on a computer using design software. The drawn product should pay heed to the factors listed above. It's best to draw things as specifically as possible. For example, list out full sun plants in areas where full sun is present.

Landscape design is something that pros spend years working on, but it's possible for any homeowner with a desire to try to pull it off. If careful attention to detail is used, a solid plan can be created that should result in a fantastic garden design.