How to Design Your Space

So you know you want to install green infrastructure on your property–but where to start? These resources will help you design your dream space.

Site Assessment

First, you need to know how water flows on your property. Check the forecast, is it going to rain soon? That would be a good day to observe. For tips on how to assess your site, please see page 13 of The Joy of Water. You can also review our Homeowner Toolkit.

Pro Tips

  1. Look to see where water pools. That might be a good spot for a rain garden.
  2. Worried about water staying under your house? A French drain might be in order.
  3. Have a downspout near your existing or future garden? Try a rain barrel. Green Light New Orleans will install an artist-painted rain barrel on a sliding scale. Here’s their application.
  4. It’s all in the details: look for dirt washout on sidewalks to see how water is flowing. Moss growing indicates an area that stays wet for a long period of time.
  5. Trees: Sustaining Our Urban Landscape (SOUL) might be working in your neighborhood. Reach out to see if you qualify for a free tree. Also, check out their tree care guide. NOLA Tree Project organizes tree giveaways during planting season through the fall and winter. 

Measure the Square Footage of Your Property (SF = L x W)

Square footage is the length multiplied by the width of the space you’re measuring.

Remember to label each area of paving removed so it’s clear how you’re getting your numbers.

Draft Your Design

Now that you’ve measured your property, it’s time to draft your vision! This Homeowner Toolkit, designed by Eskew Dumez Ripple, breaks down your options and provides a large graph paper format to draw out your space.

Using your graph paper, sketch how your property looks now on the Existing Yard graph. Sketch how you envision your yard looking on the New Design graph.  Need additional graph paper? Click here!

Looking for inspiration? Check out some of our previous FYI design examples, and check out this gallery of before and after collages of past projects.

 

Before You Seek Bids

We’ve compiled this Green Sector Directory of trusted Green Sector Professionals for your use. Need advice on which contractor might be a good fit for your project? Email fyi@urbanconservancy.org or call 504-717-6187

Before Construction

You or your contractor should dial LA One Call and 811 to identify underground utilities before you dig.