Expert landscape designer transforming yards through photo mapping, 3D visualization, seasonal planning, and deep plant knowledge. Specializes in fast-growing privacy screens (knows arborvitae pitfalls), architecture-appropriate design, outdoor living spaces, and realistic maintenance expectations. Activate on "landscape design", "yard design", "garden planning", "plant selection", "privacy screen", "outdoor living", "backyard makeover", "arborvitae", "hedge", "fast growing tree", "landscaping ideas". NOT for interior design (use interior-design-expert), hardscape construction (consult contractors), or lawn care chemicals (consult local experts).
apm install @erichowens/fancy-yard-landscaper---
name: fancy-yard-landscaper
description: Expert landscape designer transforming yards through photo mapping, 3D visualization, seasonal planning, and deep plant knowledge. Specializes in fast-growing privacy screens (knows arborvitae
pitfalls), architecture-appropriate design, outdoor living spaces, and realistic maintenance expectations. Activate on "landscape design", "yard design", "garden planning", "plant selection", "privacy
screen", "outdoor living", "backyard makeover", "arborvitae", "hedge", "fast growing tree", "landscaping ideas". NOT for interior design (use interior-design-expert), hardscape construction (consult contractors),
or lawn care chemicals (consult local experts).
allowed-tools: Read,Write,Edit,Bash,WebFetch,mcp__stability-ai__stability-ai-generate-image
metadata:
category: Lifestyle & Personal
pairs-with:
- skill: interior-design-expert
reason: Indoor-outdoor design cohesion
- skill: maximalist-wall-decorator
reason: Bold outdoor aesthetic choices
tags:
- landscaping
- garden
- plants
- outdoor
- privacy-screen
---
# Fancy Yard Landscaper
Transform your outdoor space into a beautiful, functional landscape with expert plant knowledge and design principles.
## When to Use This Skill
**Use for:**
- Analyzing photos of your yard for design potential
- Creating landscape plans with visualization
- Plant selection for your climate and conditions
- Privacy screening (fast-growing options that actually work)
- Architecture-complementing design
- Seasonal planning and phased implementation
- Understanding what grows tall and fast (and what doesn't)
**NOT for:**
- Interior design → use interior-design-expert
- Hardscape construction (patios, walls) → consult contractors
- Chemical lawn treatments → consult local lawn services
- Tree removal → hire certified arborists
- Irrigation installation → consult irrigation specialists
## The Design Process
```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ LANDSCAPE DESIGN FLOW │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ 1. DOCUMENT 2. ANALYZE 3. DESIGN │
│ ├─ Photos (all ├─ Sun/shade ├─ Zones (public/ │
│ │ angles, times) │ mapping │ private/utility) │
│ ├─ Measurements ├─ Soil conditions ├─ Focal points │
│ └─ Existing plants └─ Drainage └─ Plant palette │
│ │
│ 4. VISUALIZE 5. PHASE 6. IMPLEMENT │
│ ├─ AI renders ├─ Priority items ├─ Seasonal timing │
│ ├─ Plan drawings ├─ Budget tiers ├─ DIY vs. hire │
│ └─ Plant lists └─ Year 1/2/3+ └─ Maintenance plan │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```
## Photo Documentation Guide
### What Photos to Take
```
ESSENTIAL SHOTS:
├── Overview from each corner of property
├── From each window looking out
├── Problem areas (drainage, erosion, bare spots)
├── Existing plants you want to keep
├── Neighbor views you want to screen
└── Architecture details for style matching
TIMING:
├── Morning (east sun exposure)
├── Midday (overhead sun/shade patterns)
├── Evening (west exposure, golden hour beauty)
├── If possible: winter vs summer foliage
INCLUDE IN FRAME:
├── Property lines/fences
├── Utility boxes/meters
├── Windows and doors
├── HVAC units, septic covers
└── Overhead wires
```
## Fast-Growing Privacy Plants: The Truth
### The Arborvitae Reality Check
```
ARBORVITAE (Thuja) - Everybody's First Choice
Common types:
├── 'Emerald Green' - Narrow, 12-15' mature height
├── 'Green Giant' - Fast, 40-60' mature height
└── 'American' - Native, 40-60' mature height
THE PROBLEMS NOBODY TELLS YOU:
├── Deer LOVE them (will eat to sticks in one winter)
├── Bagworms can devastate entire hedges
├── Heavy snow/ice breaks branches (often permanently)
├── Root-bound nursery stock often fails
├── They brown from inside out as they age
├── 'Emerald Green' often dies in extreme cold
└── They look sparse for 3-5 years before filling in
VERDICT: Consider carefully. Have backup plan.
```
### Better Privacy Screen Options by Speed
```
VERY FAST (3-5' per year):
├── Hybrid Willow - 6-10'/year, but SHORT-LIVED (15-20 years)
├── Lombardy Poplar - 6'/year, but DISEASE-PRONE, messy
├── Leyland Cypress - 3-4'/year, but BAGWORM/DISEASE susceptible
└── Eastern Red Cedar - 2-3'/year, TOUGH but slow to fill
FAST (2-3' per year):
├── Cryptomeria 'Yoshino' - 3'/year, graceful, deer-resistant
├── Green Giant Arborvitae - 3'/year, if deer aren't an issue
├── Dawn Redwood - 2-3'/year, deciduous but stunning
└── Nellie Stevens Holly - 2-3'/year, evergreen, berries
MEDIUM (1-2' per year) BUT BETTER LONG-TERM:
├── Eastern White Pine - 2'/year, soft texture, needs space
├── Norway Spruce - 2'/year, classic, very hardy
├── Canadian Hemlock - 1'/year, shade-tolerant, elegant
├── American Holly - 1'/year, native, wildlife value
└── Southern Magnolia - 1-2'/year (zones 7+), broadleaf evergreen
THE HARD TRUTH:
Fast growth often = weak wood, disease problems, short lifespan
The best privacy screens are planted 10 years ago.
Second best time: this fall.
```
### Privacy Screening Decision Tree
```
How quickly do you NEED privacy?
├── ASAP (1-2 years)
│ └── Consider fence + fast growers
│ ├── Fence provides immediate privacy
│ └── Plants soften and eventually replace
│
├── Medium-term (3-5 years)
│ └── Plant mid-sized specimens now
│ ├── 6-8' plants ($100-300 each)
│ └── Mix species for resilience
│
└── Long-term thinking (5+ years)
└── Plant smaller, healthier stock
├── 3-5' plants ($30-75 each)
├── Establish better root systems
└── Outperform larger transplants within 5 years
BUDGET REALITY:
├── Cheap/fast route often needs replacing in 10-15 years
├── Quality/patient route lasts generations
└── Consider: which will you regret more?
```
## Plant Selection by Condition
### Sun Exposure Guide
```
FULL SUN (6+ hours direct sun):
├── Most flowering shrubs (roses, hydrangea paniculata)
├── Ornamental grasses
├── Fruit trees
├── Most privacy hedges
└── Lavender, salvia, coneflowers
PART SHADE (3-6 hours sun):
├── Hydrangea (macrophylla, quercifolia)
├── Azaleas and rhododendrons
├── Japanese maples
├── Hostas, ferns
└── Astilbe, heuchera
FULL SHADE (less than 3 hours):
├── Hostas, ferns, wild ginger
├── Pachysandra, vinca groundcovers
├── Canadian hemlock (privacy)
├── Some hydrangeas (oak leaf)
└── Coral bells, bleeding heart
```
### Deer Resistance Reality
```
DEER-RESISTANT (not deer-proof):
├── Ornamental grasses
├── Lavender, Russian sage, catmint
├── Boxwood (usually)
├── Japanese pieris
├── Barberry (invasive in some areas)
├── Most ferns
└── Daffodils, alliums
DEER CANDY (they WILL eat):
├── Hostas
├── Arborvitae
├── Rhododendrons and azaleas
├── Tulips
├── Daylilies
├── Roses
└── Most fruit trees
STRATEGY IN HIGH-DEER AREAS:
├── Accept some plants are off the menu
├── Deer fencing (8' minimum for dedicated deer)
├── Repellent rotation (they adapt)
├── Plant sacrificial perimeter
└── Native plants deer evolved with = more resistant
```
## Architecture-Matched Design
### House Style → Landscape Style
```
COLONIAL/TRADITIONAL:
├── Formal symmetry
├── Boxwood hedges, foundation shrubs
├── Classic perennial borders
├── Brick or stone paths
└── Traditional roses, hydrangeas
MODERN/CONTEMPORARY:
├── Asymmetric, sculptural
├── Ornamental grasses, architectural plants
├── Minimalist plant palette (repeat!)
├── Concrete, steel, gravel hardscape
└── Green walls, dramatic specimens
CRAFTSMAN/BUNGALOW:
├── Naturalistic, arts-and-crafts feeling
├── Native plants, cottage garden style
├── Stone walls, wood arbors
├── Mix of formal structure + flowing plants
└── Ferns, hostas, informal hedges
FARMHOUSE:
├── Mix of utility and beauty
├── Kitchen gardens, cutting gardens
├── Picket fences, informal hedges
├── Heirloom varieties
└── Meadow plantings, pollinator gardens
MID-CENTURY MODERN:
├── Bold, geometric
├── Desert-adapted or sculptural plants
├── Specimen trees (Japanese maple, olive)
├── Gravel, aggregate, pavers
└── Indoor-outdoor flow
```
## Seasonal Planning
### When to Plant What
```
SPRING (after last frost):
├── Annuals and tender perennials
├── Warm-season grasses
├── Container plantings
└── Vegetable gardens
FALL (6 weeks before freeze):
├── Trees and shrubs (BEST TIME)
├── Spring bulbs
├── Cool-season grasses (seed)
├── Perennial divisions
└── Garlic
WHY FALL PLANTING IS BEST:
├── Roots grow while tops are dormant
├── Winter rain establishes roots
├── Less transplant shock (cool temps)
├── Plants are often on sale
└── Spring = immediate growth
```
### Phased Implementation
```
YEAR 1 (Bones):
├── Trees (they take longest)
├── Major hardscape
├── Irrigation rough-in
└── Screening/privacy plants
YEAR 2 (Structure):
├── Large shrubs
├── Paths and borders
├── Irrigation refinement
└── Raised beds if desired
YEAR 3+ (Flesh):
├── Perennials and groundcovers
├── Fine-tuning
├── Annual color spots
└── Maintenance refinement
BUDGET TIP: This phasing lets you spend money
where it matters most first (trees!).
```
## Visualization Tools
### AI Landscape Rendering
```
For Stability AI / Ideogram renders:
PROMPT STRUCTURE:
[style] landscape design, [house type], [key plants],
[season], [time of day], [specific features],
professional landscape photography, magazine quality
EXAMPLE:
"Modern farmhouse backyard landscape design,
green giant arborvitae privacy screen along fence,
ornamental grasses in foreground, stone patio,
early autumn, golden hour lighting,
native pollinator garden border,
professional landscape photography"
REQUEST MULTIPLE ANGLES:
├── Front elevation
├── Backyard overview
├── Patio-eye-view
└── Aerial/plan view
```
## Anti-Patterns
### "I Want It to Look Mature Now"
**Wrong**: Planting 12' trees at $500+ each.
**Why**: Large transplants often struggle; smaller stock catches up in 3-5 years.
**Right**: Plant 6-8' trees, invest savings in soil prep and irrigation.
### "One Species Hedge"
**Wrong**: 50 feet of identical arborvitae.
**Why**: One disease/pest wipes out entire screen.
**Right**: Mix 2-3 compatible species for resilience.
### "Foundation Planting Right Against House"
**Wrong**: Shrubs touching the house.
**Why**: Moisture damage, pest entry, plant stress, access problems.
**Right**: Plant mature-width away from foundation.
### "Ignoring Mature Size"
**Wrong**: Planting Green Giant arborvitae 4' from fence.
**Why**: They grow 40-60' tall and 12-20' wide.
**Right**: Research mature size. Plant for 20 years from now.
### "Cheap Nursery Stock"
**Wrong**: Big-box store clearance plants.
**Why**: Often root-bound, stressed, or wrong for your zone.
**Right**: Local nurseries, native plant sales, mail-order specialists.
## Quick Reference Tables
### Fast-Growing Trees by Region
| Tree | Annual Growth | Mature Size | Zones | Notes |
|------|--------------|-------------|-------|-------|
| Hybrid Poplar | 5-8' | 40-50' | 3-9 | Short-lived, messy |
| Weeping Willow | 3-8' | 30-40' | 4-9 | Needs water, invasive roots |
| Tulip Tree | 2-3' | 70-90' | 4-9 | Native, needs space |
| Dawn Redwood | 2-3' | 70-100' | 5-8 | Deciduous conifer, stunning |
| River Birch | 2-3' | 40-70' | 4-9 | Native, peeling bark |
| Red Maple | 2' | 40-60' | 3-9 | Native, fall color |
| Bald Cypress | 2' | 50-70' | 4-10 | Deciduous, tough |
### Privacy Screen Plant Spacing
| Plant | Mature Width | Spacing for Hedge | Screen Fill Time |
|-------|-------------|-------------------|------------------|
| Arborvitae 'Emerald' | 3-4' | 2-3' apart | 4-6 years |
| Arborvitae 'Green Giant' | 12-20' | 5-6' apart | 3-5 years |
| Leyland Cypress | 10-15' | 4-6' apart | 3-4 years |
| Nellie Stevens Holly | 10-12' | 5-6' apart | 5-7 years |
| Eastern Red Cedar | 8-15' | 4-6' apart | 5-8 years |
| Skip Laurel | 6-10' | 4-5' apart | 4-6 years |
## Integration Points
- **interior-design-expert**: Indoor-outdoor flow design
- **collage-layout-expert**: Garden photo documentation
- **color-theory-palette-harmony-expert**: Seasonal color planning
- **drone-cv-expert**: Aerial property mapping
---
**Core Philosophy**: Great landscapes grow from understanding—understanding your site, your climate, your maintenance reality, and the true nature of plants. The best garden is one that thrives with the attention you'll actually give it, not the attention you imagine you'll give.
Plant for your future self. That person will thank you.