DIY Wants and Needs Analysis

Before you pick a single plant or start pulling out grass, it’s important to pause and take a thoughtful look at your yard. Whether you’re hoping to qualify for a landscape rebate or simply want a yard that works better for your lifestyle, these 6 steps will help you analyze your space and set the foundation for a successful, beautiful, and maintainable landscape.

To make this easy, I’ve created a set of free printable worksheets that walk you through each step:

Step 1: Understand Your Yard’s Current Conditions

Start by walking your yard at different times of day to observe the environment you have. Take note of:

• Sun and shade patterns

• Areas that stay wet, dry, or collect water

• Slopes or drainage issues

• Views to keep or block

• Microclimates that stay warmer or cooler than other areas

Step 2: Know Your Boundaries

Site features to note as you sketch a rough layout of your yard:

• Mark property lines, sidewalks, driveways, easements, and utility boxes

• Include structures like sheds, patios, and raised beds

• Existing trees, fences, concrete, or other features that will stay or be removed

Even a hand-drawn sketch helps give clarity when you’re ready to plan changes.

Step 3: Evaluate Your Lifestyle Needs

Now, think about who will use your yard and what your site needs:

• Where do you gather with friends or family?

• Do you need play space, pet space, or garden space?

• Can you incorporate your hobbies into your landscape?

• What would make your yard more enjoyable?

• Do you have favorites you want to plant in memory of someone?

This is where design meets real life. Use this section in the worksheet to organize your thoughts.

Step 4: Prioritize Your Wishlist

What do you need versus what do you want?

For example:

• You might need a safer path from the driveway to your door.

• You might want a cozy firepit with seating.

Sorting ideas this way helps clarify what to focus on now, what to plan for later, and what can fit your budget.

Try to make elements fit a dual purpose such as a dry creek bed that can handle water runoff, but also serves as a decorative feature.

Use the Wants and Needs Worksheet to organize your ideas by:

• Landscape features

• Functional needs (privacy, shade, access)

• Design style (what

• Planting style (what look do you want your plants to give)

• Preferred shapes and layout patterns

Step 5: Plan Zones for Function

A good landscape isn’t just pretty—it’s functional. Think in terms of these 5 zones from Localscapes.com:

• Central open space: unobstructed lawn or other material

• Gathering areas: patios, dining spaces, firepits

• Activity areas: swingsets, garden beds, game areas

• Pathways: connect everything together

• Planting beds: fills the rest of the space

Sketch bubbles or shapes to represent each function. This doesn’t need to be precise—just help you see how your yard can serve your life.

Step 6: Align with Rebate Guidelines (and Start Designing!)

Now that you’ve observed, prioritized, and dreamed, you’re ready to:

• Download free graph paper online to print and use

• Draw up a scaled layout with your boundaries and your new zones

• Pick plants that work for your water needs, light, and style using utahplantselector.com

• Apply for your local landscape rebate utahwatersavers.com

Bonus: How to Make Your Yard Maintainable

(Because you want to enjoy your yard, not become a slave to it!)

A beautiful yard doesn’t need to mean more work. In fact, smart planning can reduce your maintenance time and water use, especially when you follow waterwise principles and choose the right plants for your conditions. Here’s how to make sure your landscape is as low-maintenance as it is lovely:

1. Right Plant, Right Place

• Choose plants adapted to your local climate, especially Utah-friendly adapted or native species that thrive on less water and are naturally pest-resistant.

• Group plants with similar water, sun, and soil needs to make irrigation and care easier.

• Avoid placing thirsty plants where it’s hot and dry, or sun-loving plants in full shade.

Tip: Visit localscapes.com or your local conservation garden for plant ideas and planting guides.

2. Limit High-Maintenance Lawn

• Keep turf only where it serves a specific purpose, like play areas.

• Choose lower-maintenance turf types when possible (e.g., fescue or hybrid bluegrasses suited to Utah’s climate).

• Intead of grass, use mulch, groundcovers, or plants in areas that are hard to mow or irrigate, like on slopes.

Tip: A small, intentional lawn is easier to care for and easier to water efficiently. Lawn is your highest maintenance area in terms of time. Keep it a minimum of 8’ wide.

3. Mulch Like You Mean It

• Apply a 3-4 inch layer of mulch in planting beds to:

  • Reduce weeds

  • Hold in moisture

  • Improve soil health

• Choose natural, shredded bark or local composted mulch—not rubber or dyed mulch. Reapply a fresh layer of wood mulch over the existing mulch every 1–2 years as it breaks down into healthy soil.

• Rock mulch should be light in color, 3/4” diameter or less, and should be used only with heat-tolerant plants.

Tip: DON’T use landscape fabric. It is only effective for a short time and kills the soil, which harms plants.

4. Design for Easy Access

• Install wide, clear walkways to reach garden beds, gates, or patios without stepping through plants or mud.

• Place raised beds or tool storage near where you’ll use them most.

• Use stepping stones or gravel paths to reduce wear on turf and minimize muddy areas.

Tip: Paths make your landscape more usable and reduce maintenance issues later.

5. Drip Irrigation = Less Waste and Weeds

• Use point-source drip lines or inline tubing to deliver water right to plant roots.

• Avoid overhead spray in planting beds—it leads to water waste and weed growth.

• Check your system seasonally for clogs or leaks, and adjust as plants grow.

Tip: Efficient irrigation saves time, money, and water—especially if you automate it with a smart timer.

6. Plan for Growth

• Know how big your plants will get. A 1-gallon shrub today could be 5 feet wide in 3 years!

• Give plants the space they need to grow without constant pruning.

• Avoid planting too close to walkways, fences, or your house.

Tip: Spacing plants at full size now saves hours of trimming and transplanting later.

7. Choose Durable Materials

• Select hardscape materials (like pavers, edging, trellises) that can handle weather and time without frequent repair.

• Avoid thin plastic edging or untreated wood that warps and breaks down quickly.

• If you’re installing structures like pergolas or raised beds, invest in long-lasting materials to reduce future upkeep.

Tip: Good materials = less repair and less frustration later.

8. Start Simple and Build Over Time

• You don’t have to do it all at once! Start with one area, and expand as time and budget allow.

• Choose a clean, simple layout that’s easy to maintain and easy to improve over time.

• Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many plant varieties or tricky features.

Tip: Simplicity = success (and more time enjoying your yard instead of fixing it).