Garden Planning And Design

Most of the finest gardens can look and feel as if they haven’t been designed whatsoever, and yet have simply sprung up — rich tapestries of colours, textures, and even shapes in apparently natural balance. This can be a powerful illusion, however, for the typical cascade of a rambling rose or the lazy sprawl of the lavender bush on to a path generally owes almost as much to the gardener’s forethought as to mother nature. Whether laid-back and cheerfully chaotic or stylish and formal, a successful design is definitely the result of meticulous planning. There is a great difference between a garden in which the plants and flowers and features are randomly prepared and one that, even if outwardly naturalistic, is actually well-controlled so that all the elements work together to form a natural and captivating design. A thoughtfully designed garden, an exquisite garden — one with an aura of unity and style, balance and proportion, in harmony with its natural environment — provides a relaxing place, a joy to the senses, and also a comfort to the soul.

Creating or redesigning a home garden is, in many ways, like decorating the interior of a house. Your primary intention in each case is to have practical, pleasurable living space which suits both you and your family. Three important things control your choices: the site, its proposed characteristics, and your own personal tastes — put differently, what you have, what you need, and what you enjoy. Both garden and home design are also affected by other things such as the size, character, and period of the garden or home.

Unlike a family house, however, a garden will never remain static, even from one week to another; undoubtedly, this element of change is the essence of gardening. Some plants might be impressive in one season but inconspicuous in the next. Even after your garden has been formed, a continuous design process will be needed to accommodate and enhance it as it evolves.

Another important part of design and style is proportion or scale. This may include the height of a tree in comparison with that of a house, or the width of a shrub with regards to that of a path. Have you ever selected and planted a groundcover alongside a boulder then seen the rock slowly disappear bit by bit? Is the section of that garden bed the right size with respect to the surrounding landscaping or open area? Does that small plant or flower look lost in the giant bed — should it have the company of more little friends? Or does the huge shrub dwarf that little garden? Again this can just be a matter of preferences but there is usually general agreement about the answers to such questions.

Garden Planning and Design

Though much of the pleasure in gardening comes from unexpected and fortunate discoveries, comprehensive planning is important to make sure a natural design. Determining at least the basic design of the garden in writing before you make any actual changes helps prevent expensive mistakes. Small modifications could be made later, the practical and desirable with the realistic. Your budget and the design can determine how much, if any, of the work you want to perform yourself. If it is merely a matter of cultivation, seeding or laying grass, and planting, then you can well feel able to tackle it. But, leveling and construction work for example building retaining walls, terraces, fish ponds, and outdoor patios involves expensive materials and demands expertise and skill. As these elements are permanent and mistakes are expensive to correct, it is advisable to hire a specialist if you don’t possess building skills. Decide also whether assistance will be necessary for regular maintenance once the garden is established. It’s possible to plan a garden so that fairly little maintenance is needed.

About the Writer: Martin Baker is a toy collector and expert who writes about toys such as Japanese momiji dolls and Lalaloopsy Rag Dolls.