A great way to make the design project more fun is to have your friends over for a planning party. Here's how it works.
Aerial Drawing. Draw a plan of the site to be landscaped. Only include the permanent elements in the initial drawing. Cover this drawing with a piece of tracing paper. Begin drawing a rough plan of where you would like your beds to go and which plants will go in each location. Use a plant book to help decide how far apart to space each plant. Remember to put evergreens near foundations and taller trees where you need to enclose an area or block a view. By drawing your plan on tracing paper, you save your original site drawing. If you make a mistake, throw away the tracing paper and begin again.
The Water Hose Trick. This time saving trick is used by almost all landscape design professionals. Gather several water hoses to use to outline the landscape design you have drawn. Borrow from neighbors if you have to. This outlining of prospective beds or design elements allows great flexibility. If you don't like the design you have created, just move the hose until you get it right.
Invite your Friends! Tell your friends that you are having a cookout. After feeding them well, position your guests at positions in your design where you would like to put trees. You can use large cups or buckets to represent smaller plants. Stand back and take a look at your design. Reposition your "trees" until you get the look you like. This is also a great time to get input from your friends. They just may have a suggestion that makes a big difference. If friends are not available you can use shovels or PVC pipes sticking out of the ground to accomplish the same effect. Have some fun with this part.
