Home » Garden Center »
Looking for landscaping inspiration? Our team of designers has put together a collection of our most popular landscape design plans to help you get started. Each plan fits a different purpose and offers an overview of popular plant combinations, spacing, and overall design suited to a specific theme. If you like what you see, we encourage you to get your hands dirty and use these plans as a guide! Feel free stop by or contact our amazing garden center staff with any questions, they will be happy to help ensure the design is right for your outdoor space.
A good plan saves you from expensive guesswork. You see exactly where each plant goes before you spend a dollar at the nursery. That means fewer trips back to swap out plants that do not fit and less time second-guessing your choices. These DIY landscape design ideas give you a clear visual roadmap so you can focus on the fun part: getting your hands in the dirt.
Ready for something built specifically for your space? Our garden design consultation puts you face-to-face with a designer who evaluates your yard’s sun exposure, soil type, drainage, and existing features. From there, we create custom landscape design plans based on how you actually want to use your outdoor space.
Book your design consultation with our team by visiting our landscaping consultation page.
Every planting plan design from Ted Lare includes layout diagrams showing exact plant placement, a full plant list with quantities, spacing guidelines so nothing gets crowded, and seasonal bloom schedules so your yard has color from spring through fall. You get a complete blueprint, unlike rough sketches you’ll likely get from other landscape service providers.
Generic plans from national websites do not account for Central Iowa’s USDA Zone 5a/5b conditions. Our planting design services factor in local freeze-thaw cycles, clay-heavy soil, and the specific sun and wind patterns that affect plant survival here. Every recommendation comes from decades of hands-on experience with what actually thrives in Iowa. For additional planting guidance, Iowa State University Extension offers helpful resources on regional growing conditions.
Every plan works as a standalone guide for handy homeowners who want to tackle the project themselves. If you would rather hand off the work, Ted Lare handles everything from design through installation. Explore our outdoor living services or check out the full range of landscaping services we offer across Des Moines and Central Iowa.
Looking for backyard garden design ideas that work in this climate? Pollinator gardens attract butterflies and bees while adding seasonal color. Low-maintenance landscapes use native grasses and shrubs that handle Iowa winters without constant attention. Foundation plantings frame your home’s entrance and boost curb appeal year-round.
Ted Lare Design & Build has served the Des Moines area for over 40 years. All of our designers hold bachelor’s degrees in landscape architecture from Iowa State University. That combination of local experience, formal training, and full-service capabilities means your project is handled by people who know Central Iowa landscapes inside and out. We offer complete landscape planning services from the first sketch to the final planting.
Yes. Each plan includes layout diagrams, plant lists, and spacing guides that let you handle the project on your own. If you have questions along the way, our garden center staff is happy to help with plant selection and placement advice.
Absolutely. Through a garden design consultation, our designers create a plan tailored to your yard’s dimensions, soil type, sun exposure, and personal style. We build the plan around how you want to use the space.
Iowa-hardy perennials like coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and hostas perform well in USDA Zone 5a/5b. Native grasses and shade-tolerant shrubs are also strong choices for Central Iowa yards.
Yes. Our designers meet with you on-site to evaluate your space, discuss your goals, and build a plan from scratch. Visit our landscaping consultation page to get started.
Our pre-designed plans are free to browse and download. Custom consultation pricing depends on the scope of your project. Call us or stop by the garden center for details.
Yes. Smaller yards can use a single plan or a portion of one. Larger properties can combine multiple plans or work with our team to scale a design to fit. A consultation helps match the right approach to your space.
We do. Ted Lare handles the full design-to-build process. Once your plan is set, our crews take care of everything from grading and soil prep to planting and finishing touches. Learn more about our landscaping services.
Browse the plans on this page for instant inspiration. For a custom approach, book a consultation online or visit our garden center to speak with a designer in person.
A professional plan saves time and money by eliminating trial-and-error planting. You get proper spacing, smart plant pairings, and a seasonal bloom schedule that keeps your yard looking sharp from spring through fall.
There are several AI-powered tools and apps that can help you get started with backyard design ideas, and many offer free versions or trial periods. Platforms like Planner 5D, iScape, and even some general AI image generators allow homeowners to visualize basic layouts, experiment with plant placement, or get a rough sense of how different features might look together. These tools can be a fun and low-pressure way to brainstorm concepts, explore styles, and communicate your preferences before committing to anything.
That said, free AI design tools come with real limitations, especially when it comes to translating a digital concept into a functional, buildable outdoor space. They typically can’t account for critical factors like soil conditions, drainage patterns, grade changes, local climate considerations, or zoning requirements — all of which are especially important in Central Iowa, where freeze-thaw cycles, clay-heavy soils, and seasonal weather extremes can significantly impact how a landscape performs over time. A retaining wall that looks great on a screen, for example, needs proper engineering to hold up against Iowa’s ground movement and heavy spring rains.
This is where working with experienced professionals makes a meaningful difference. A team like Ted Lare Design & Build brings over 40 years of on-the-ground expertise in the Des Moines metro area, pairing creative design vision with the technical knowledge needed to build spaces that are both beautiful and durable. Using AI tools to gather inspiration images and sketch out rough ideas is a perfectly reasonable first step — but partnering with a professional landscape designer ensures those ideas get translated into an outdoor living space that’s safe, functional, and built to last through Iowa’s demanding seasons.
Stop by our garden center to browse design plans in person, talk with our staff about plant selection, or schedule your consultation online. You can also contact us directly with questions. Your next outdoor project starts with a solid plan.
Our landscape design plans in Des Moines cover a range of styles and purposes. You will find options for fragrant evening gardens, rain gardens, sunny foundation plantings, and shade-friendly beds. Each plan shows a complete layout with recommended plant combinations, proper spacing, and placement guides you can follow at home.
