If you have decided to re-vamp your back (or front) yard, the first thing you must do is to measure it and commit the measurements to a piece of graph paper. The recommended scale is one inch equals ten feet, which is a good size while you are experimenting and roughing out your draft plans. Once you have decided upon a plan, you may wish to transfer it to one foot equals one inch (1'=1" scale).

Make sure you point which way is north, as this will be handy when you need to choose which plants you want. Map out any utility pipes or cables if necessary. Next thing to go on your 'map' will be existing trees and shrubs that will stay where they are already placed.

Other factors you may need to consider are wind in your yard, slopes, privacy and the basic features that you need in your yard. To determine this, you have to consider whether you are primarily designing a children's play garden, a peaceful haven, a flowering paradise or just a low maintenance lawn with shrubs.

Other factors to consider are parking places for vehicles, storage space, a pool, fountain or pond option and whether you want a sprinkler system.

If you are planning to do all the work yourself, then one good idea is to make a list of all the features that you know you can manage to build alone. That is, you may be comfortable installing a re-circulating pre-formed pond but not a fresh water pond; or you may know that you can lay a concrete tile patio, but not a brick one, etc.

Once you have your plan mapped out, it is not too difficult to transfer the plan to the actual yard. Use string to divide up your areas and to make sure it's transferring the way that you imagined it.

Unity is important in a garden, and can be introduced through repetition of colour, or type of stone, etc. Prevalent shades of pale mauve through to purple, for example, could present a very attractive, unified look for a garden.

When it come to pathways, or any lines for that matter, straight lines are more severe and businesslike. If you want your yard to feel more like a haven, one of the things that you will need is curved pathways and curving edges to your flower beds. Straight lines and straight edges traditionally suggest neatness and precision!

Gravel pathways can be used to 'break up' a yard and gravel comes in attractive shades from cream and sandy-beach colors to dark red gravel. A gravel pathway to a gazebo suggests a more restful mood than a gray concrete path.

Want to create the impression of a large garden? Experts advise that you should break your yard area up instead of having one whole spread to look at. This can be done in several ways. One way is to have an archway flanked by tall shrubs and a section of yard showing through the archway. If you are planning this, it is also a good idea to plan it near an existing tree, to add to the division of the yard area.

If you want to go the oriental route, small bridges can be bought fairly cheaply. They seem to range anywhere from one hundred dollars upwards. Most of them come in kit form, so you need to be handy with a hammer! Bridges do not have to go over water - they can also span a path of white washed gravel, with just a few medium size shrubs around the edges of it to enhance it.

The cheapest possible garden lamps that you can buy will look tailor made in an oriental garden! They are called mushroom lamps, and they are very easy to install - they just push in to the earth. Cable can be hidden by running it under the gravel pathways, as long as you remember this in your design.

Finally, try not to spend all your money on the landscaping supplies and plants. Save a few dollars for a good back massage after your yard is completed!