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Thinking about how to design a garden can be tricky – after all, getting your garden right, no matter how big your garden space, takes a lot of thought and care. Whether you want a simple tweak to include raised beds or want to know how to design your own garden on a budget, we can help you succeed in your landscaping project.
Garden Design
From decorative garden ideas and planting inspiration, to what to consider when hiring a professional and the tools you’ll need if you’re going it alone, we’ve got all the knowledge you need to help you plan your backyard garden to perfection . – regardless of the climate you work in and what budget you have. All you need then is some of the best garden furniture to relax in…
Prices & Costs Of Garden Design
The approach you take ultimately depends on what you want and need, within your budget. We spoke to Mark Lane – Stannah’s (opens in new tab) Gardening Expert and BBC Gardener’s World (opens in new tab) – about planning your garden design and how it can shape your ideas for the garden and the whole yard.
“There are thousands of pictures online showing different garden styles. Start collecting them and create a mood board. Sometimes you like the smallest detail in a handmade handle – the shape, craft and/or material can appeal. leads you to an “arts and crafts” style garden, for example.
Starting your garden design early in the year is critical if you want it ready to be landscaped, planted and enjoyed in the warmer months. Depending on your climate, you may also want to avoid working during the rainy season. “January, February and even March are perfect times to sit down with a cup, a blank piece of paper or your laptop and put on your thinking cap. “Sometimes the paper cutouts in different shapes, representing a table and chairs or a shed, move around until you find the right balance,” adds Lane.
Garden design itself is a satisfying, pocket-friendly option that lets you get really creative. There are so many resources and even garden design apps to help you bring your outdoor space to life, whether you need ideas for a small vegetable garden, are looking for a larger plot, a patio or a balcony garden.
Indian Garden Design Ideas, Inspiration & Images
Lindsay Hyland, gardening expert and founder of Urban Organic Yield (opens in new tab) says, “One of the keys to designing a great garden is making sure your garden plants have plenty of room to grow. When planting, leave plenty of space between each plant and don’t be afraid to use tall plants in the back and shorter plants in the front. Consider adding trees, shrubs or hedges too – they can add drama and structure to your garden.
Get out and measure. You will need tape, notepad, pencil and eraser. Measure, starting with the largest areas, followed by small areas including nooks and crannies, and finally note the dimensions of any existing garden rooms or outbuildings. Lane says: “Take measurements of the garden, patio or balcony – especially the width and length.” This will help you know what you are working with, whether you plan the arrangement yourself or contact a professional.’
This is also the right time to determine the aspect of your garden. Do this by visiting your garden at various points throughout the day to understand the direction your outdoor space faces and note any shady garden spots as this will determine each planting and your final garden layout.
This is best done with a compass, but you’ll be able to figure it out without! Lane says: “If the garden leads from the back or front of the house, sit down with a coffee and a biscuit (or two). Then see where the sun rises and where the shadows fall in the garden; Will the area near the back door be in full sun or partial shade?’
Perfect Planning: Vegetable Garden Design Ideas
The interior, deck or terrace is the focus of any garden, where activities such as dining and entertaining take place. Always make sure you leave enough room for one. We love this spacious and attractive rattan range from
Establishing a design overview of what you want and need from your garden space is important and should therefore be done early in your garden planning process.
You’ll need an understanding of all the issues that need to be addressed—such as uneven lawns, water degradation issues, lack of color, and so on—and, of course, all the goals you want to achieve with your gardening project, such as for example like starting a kitchen garden or creating a space for cutting flowers.
Lane suggests thinking about “Do you like a particular style of gardening, such as cottage, prairie, sensory, coastal, tropical, or modern?” Understanding the look and feel of each is critical to getting it right.”
How To Plan A Small Garden
Spend time talking with family and friends about why you’re taking on this project before you dive in and map out your specific garden design goals. This will help you decide whether you should hire a professional landscape designer or do the job yourself.
Other factors to consider are whether you are renting a house or whether this is your forever home. If you’re renting or don’t plan to stay in your home for a very long time, you may want to consider mostly cosmetic changes that can accompany you to your next home—favoring container gardening and planting annuals or perennials that are easy to grow. they take cuttings, so none of your gardening work is lost.
And if this is your forever home, you can prepare for a big change and a garden that will come into its own over the next few years and may even increase the value of your property. You might want to plant a cottage garden or add maintainable sculptural details for a truly modern outdoor space complete with a vegetable patch and such. This will of course be more work and more expensive to begin with, but it is well worth it.
Hyland continues, “You should draw an outline of your garden on graph paper and make a list of plants, flower beds, paths and other elements that you would like to include in the design. A drawing can also help visualize which areas may not be ideal for planting a garden.’
Garden Design Service From Concept To Creation Of Your New Garden
At this point you can decide what you are willing to change and what can stay. While a complete makeover often results in a more cohesive result, it can be very expensive and time-consuming. Making subtle adjustments inevitably costs less, but this approach has a more limited reach.
Henry Scott of Person Scott (opens in new tab) adds, “Design is a discipline that requires years of practice and dedication. Keeping things simple is always my advice where possible. Paying attention to the context of the site, existing functions and understanding how the space should function will help design a successful landscape scheme. It is important to understand what is a good ratio between hard and soft landscaping and this will vary from location to location. Good design starts with careful site analysis!’
Take the time to critically look at the garden from both pros and cons before developing a new “master plan” and before doing any of the landscaping work. You may want to replace a tired yard but retain other features, such as an attractive decking area or mature trees.
Hyland adds how “It’s important to have pathways in mind before planting flowers or trees so you can easily navigate your garden. Walkways can be made of brick, stone or concrete and should be at least 18 inches wide to comfortably walk on.’
Spring In The Garden: Having Fun With Garden Design
Determining privacy needs should also come into play here, “Draw lines leading from windows and doors as they will be sight lines.” Once you know this, you will be able to find the most suitable garden fencing ideas for the needs of your space. This is the perfect time to add your favorite garden details or favorite theme. Gather all your gardening inspiration from online features, social media, magazines and more.’
Also consider all the additional features. This includes garden rooms, conservatories, sheds and anything else you want to incorporate into your outdoor space in general as it will add to the overall feel of the space. If you have a balcony or a small yard, you can consider an outdoor cinema environment, better garden storage and more to enhance the space you have.
A hand sketch is fine, but a garden design on your computer to scale makes your plan super clear.
Ronnie Collins, a professional woodworker, passionate gardener with a Masters degree in Botany is the founder of Electro Garden Tools