There are dozens of ways to create good landscape structures without planting a thing. In fact, most design elements should be put in place before anything is planted. This is a hard lesson for most homeowners to learn, especially for someone who has just bought a new home with nothing but naked lawn surrounding it. The normal urge is to plant something immediately.

       A better way would be to think first about what landscape architects call the "hardscape"--paved paths and driveways, decks, patios, porches, fences and privacy screens, pools, sheds, gazebos, and other garden structures. These are immovable, permanent elements that are often too costly to install all at once. But the wise gardener tries to imagine what he or she will want where and will at least plan for it to be a part of the garden in the future.

       Major plantings such as hedges, large shrubs, towering shade trees, and big flower beds and borders are the next step. These major players form the "green backbone" of a garden. Since it takes many years to produce a high hedge or a tree tall enough to shade the house or patio, it is crucial to plant them in the right place to achieve the desired effect.

       Plantings should be given plenty of room to grow. Crowding them too closely together or too close to the house is probably the most frequent mistake amateur landscape architects make. Often the mistake was made by the previous gardener, and the new owner either has to live with the mistake or have it removed. This can be excruciatingly costly, as anyone who has ever paid to have a big tree cut down or an overgrown shrub transplanted can tell you.

       Shade trees are probably the biggest and most permanent investment a gardener makes in the greenscape. Their size and beauty make them instant attention getters. And the next-best thing to an iceberg in the living room is a shade tree sheltering the house. But they're like a tattoo: They're permanent, and they shouldn't be acquired on the spur of the moment.

       It is important to site a shade tree exactly where it will do its job best. Wise gardeners watch to see how the sun moves around with the seasons during a full year before they plant a shade tree. It is also imperative to keep big trees far enough away from the house and any paved areas to avoid damage from roots and overhanging limbs.