Question: I hear people talking about the “public” and “private” areas of their landscapes, but ours is wide open for all to see. What do those terms mean?

Answer: Generally the “public” area is the “front yard,” in Texas terms. It’s what the public sees as they approach your house. The “private” area is the back yard, where your family goes for rest and recreation. There’s a third part of any good design, and that’s the service or work area. It’s where you store tools and power equipment, and it’s also where the vegetable garden should be placed, since it’s not attractive during the off seasons. Each fine landscape will consist of each of these parts. Sketch them in as you plan your design.