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| HomepageGarden Design Basics Finishing Your Garden Get Your Garden In Shape Contact Us | Garden Design BasicsDesign and creating your own garden can be a very rewarding activity, particularly if you have the opportunity to start with a blank canvas. Even if you don’t feel that you are artistic, if you prepare and plan your efforts should be rewarded.As with most aspects of gardening, good preparation is the key to success, and this is no different for garden design. But you shouldn’t let that put you off doing it yourself. Designing your own garden isn’t impossible; it just takes a little effort. The aim of a garden design is to make the most of the space you have available to you. A common misconception is that you only need to worry about a design if you have a larger garden, however it is probably more important to have a well-designed small garden than a larger one. To assist in the success of your design you need to take the time to learn a little. Firstly you need to know your garden, what type of soil does it like, when it is sunny and when is it shady? Find out what flower and plant are already there and learn a little about them. Secondly you should try and improve your gardening knowledge by reading books and magazines and visiting public gardens. These will help you learn about what types of plants are out there and what sort of designs and plant combinations work. Armed with this knowledge you can begin designing your garden. The first stage of the process should happen on paper. You will need to make a proportioned plan of your garden with main existing elements, trees, flowerbeds etc. Ideally, however, this drawing should be to some sort of scale with important measurements included. As you are doing this you should also make a list of all the items in the garden like the shed, washing line, bins etc that will also need a home in your newly designed garden. Now you are ready to get creative, initially you can jot down your ideas as proportioned sketches, these can later be transferred to a scaled plan for the garden. Some tips for creating your garden design include: - No matter how large or small your garden is, do not be afraid to use a strong design. - Try to create mystery and journey - Use strong lines and shapes - Consider varying heights - Try and make your garden appeal to all five senses - The outline of the garden should look good without any plants added - Don’t forget to include your essential elements (shed, washing line etc) - Consider colour and contrast - Try to create balance - Make sure it’s practical (can the kids play in it, is there enough space to sit etc) - If your garden is small, keep it simple and uncluttered - And if you are inspired by a certain style of garden, keep to one style and don’t confuse the design When it comes to choosing the type of garden you want there are plenty of options available. So whether you’re looking to recreate the past in your own back yard, fancy adding something new to your current garden or just want a little inspiration for flowerbeds, you’ll find it here. For something simple yet beautiful why not opt for a traditional Flower Garden, which basically consists of a few trees and plenty of colourful plants and bushes. Flower gardens differ from country to country depending on the type of plants being grown there, so there are no rules as to how yours should look, other than magnificent of course. Next up is the Water Garden, which represents one of the oldest and most popular forms of gardening, dating back as far as 2,000 BC when the Egyptians cultivated water lilies. Water undoubtedly brings a magical dimension to the garden, through reflections, sparkle, and sound. But don’t go thinking that a pond with water lilies is all you need to create a water garden because there are so many more contemporary versions these days, such as a wall fountain or pebble pool. For a slice of the hillside in your back garden opt for a Rock Garden complete with boulders, mountain plants, colourful flowers and rockroses. There are two specific types of rock gardens; natural, representing the development of sites on which native rocks exist, and artificial, which are made in areas where all or most of the rocks must be imported. Hugely popular at stately homes and flower shows is the Japanese Garden, which is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing aspects of Japanese culture and life. With their stone lanterns, tufted moss, sand zen gardens, water, Japanese maple trees, these gardens are nothing short of spectacular, with a hint of mystique, tradition and spirituality. Other designs of gardens worth considering are, the Woodland Garden, a natural display of trees and shrubs that is a representation of the wilderness, Herb Garden, which speaks for itself, Roof Garden, a modern development to make the most of flat roofs above apartment blocks, and Scented Garden, which is filled with strong scented plants and trees. |
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