How to Create a Landscape Design Base Map

How to Find Your House in Google Earth and Make a Base Map

Step 1: Open Google Earth

Go to Google Earth on your computer.

Use the search bar to type in your home address.

Google Earth will zoom to your property.

Step 2: Switch to a Top-Down View

Zoom in until you can clearly see:

• Your house

• Driveway

• Sidewalks

• Patio or deck

• Yard edges

• Existing trees or large shrubs

For the most accurate drawing, use a straight-down view. Google recommends top-down view for better measuring accuracy.

Step 3: Draw Your Property Boundary

Click once on one corner of your property.

Then keep clicking around the edge of your lot.

Follow visible clues like:

• Fence lines

• Driveway edges

• Sidewalks

• Property corners

  Street frontage

To close the shape, click back on your first point.

Google Earth will show the area of the shape you drew.

Save your project.

Step 5: Outline the House or Building

On the tool bar, select the path/polygon tool.

Click around the outside corners of your house roofline.

Keep it simple. You are just creating a rough outline.

Include:

• Main house shape

• Garage

• Porch

• Deck or patio, if visible

Step 6: Save or Screenshot Your Map

Take a screenshot of your finished base map.

This becomes the starting point for your native garden design.

Step 7: This is Your Base Map, Start Designing.

Now you have a base map. You can print it. Trace it. Blow it up.

This is your “before” map—the foundation for the whole design.

Be a detective. Have fun and find the following:

• Solar Direction

  • Sunny areas - Dry areas

  • Shady areas

  • Do you have solar panels (avoid tall tree planting)

• Water

  • Wet areas

  • Water flow

  • Downspout

  • Gutterless roof with drip edge

• Wind Direction

  • Sheltered areas

  • Exposed areas

• Topography

  • Hills and slopes

  • Elevations

• Existing structures

  • Decks

  • Driveway

  • Paths

  • Out buildings (sheds, saunas, etc.)

  • Xeriscaping or Zeroscaping

• Fire remediation

  • Creating a fire break

  • Considering planting and hardscapes

• Neighbors

  • Places of needed privacy

  • Places to keep open

• Existing plantings

  • Garden beds

  • Trees

  • Schrubs

  • Grass

Now have fun. Find a Native plant nursery in your area, learn how you can conserve water using native plants and start planning.