March officially kicks off the start of spring gardening. But before you take that journey to your local nursery or sink your trowel into the soil, I suggest first taking time to reevaluate your landscaping and outdoor living space.

Whether you are considering revamping a small flower bed or a more aggressive landscape renovation, a little preparation will go a long way toward achieving a successful lawn and garden.

Before digging in, take stock of your yard. Determine what you like and what you would like to change. Evaluate whether your yard functions well for your family's lifestyle and decide what would improve your outdoor experience.

For example, do you have small children who love playing soccer in your yard? You may want to think twice about keeping that thorny rose hedge, perhaps replacing it with something more kid friendly.

Do you avoid spending time outdoors because you can't escape the hot sun? Perhaps it's time to add a shade structure or some mature trees.

Regardless of the size of the project, take some time to make a plan of action and define your goals.

For large renovation projects you may want to consult an experienced landscape designer or contractor. Even the smallest jobs turn out better with just a little planning and preparation.

Walk your yard and bring a checklist. Make sure that your planting areas are free of old leaf debris and that the soil is loose and not compacted. Check your irrigation system to ensure you have proper coverage. Spending a little time adjusting your sprinkler system before you plant can save you heartache and money.

Also see if you have any drainage issues that need to be addressed. Fruit trees and roses should be trimmed and given their first fertilizer treatment. Thinning lawns should be overseeded now to achieve a lush and healthy growth throughout the spring and summer.

The most critical step to creating a successful garden is choosing the right plants. With growers continually introducing new plant varieties, the choices can seem daunting. But with a little bit of knowledge and planning you can be sure that the plants you select will thrive.

Inspect your garden and look to see how well certain plants performed and what you did and didn't like. The key to success is grouping plants with similar needs together and giving all plants, shrubs and trees the proper exposure to sun.

Too much sun and the plant will get burned, but not enough sun and the plant will be forced to grow spindly and yellow.

The art of placement is knowing where to position a plant based on sun exposure, what shape the thing grows into and how big it will ultimately become. That cute 5-gallon shrub that grows to be 12 feet tall should not be planted under a low overhang, unless you like spending all of your time pruning.

As for group placement, drought-tolerant plants should be put next to other, low-water usage plants. By grouping similar plants together you can regulate the irrigation to fit the needs of each area, saving water and money.

Finally, don't forget a good top coat of mulch for your planters. A 2-inch thick layer of bark mulch will not only help keep the weeds at bay but will help retain moisture in the soil.

Suzanne Baird owns Perennial Designs of Westlake Village, a landscape planning firm specializing in outdoor residential design. Contact her at (818) 292-4501 or Suzanne_baird@sbcglobal.net.