The most effective way to organize your thoughts is to create a list of all the features you wish to include in your yard. Next, consider the various ways in which you will use your yard. Next, spend some time observing your yard to determine how much sun and shade each area receives throughout the day. You are now prepared to measure the scope of your landscape and create a grid. After you’ve compiled your wish list, determined which areas of your yard are sunny and which are shady, measured your yard, and created an essential grid, it’s time to begin your landscape design.