Basics of Landscape Design:

People ask how I go about designing a garden. I take several things into consideration. Primarily the way you plan to use your garden is the key factor. How do vehicles and people move about the property? Are there children to take into account, or pets? Are you using the space for recreation, hobbies or sports?

Then I take into account various other factors. Do you need screening? Are there views you don’t want to see? Need I consider breezy conditions or too much sun? Are there views from the house you want to draw attention to, hide, or improve? Are there porches or patios outside that you want to treat in the same fashion?

The primary consideration in our gardens should be the people who use them. How you view the garden is the true focus. How people travel through the garden space is important. Maybe you think a gravel driveway would look great, but if the gravel ends up getting kicked into the lawn and later mowed, that could cause a problem.

Driveways and paths are only the first part of that equation; how the eye moves through the garden can influence you. Screening undesirable views is a good idea, but occasionally screening a nice area of the garden can be of even more value in encouraging viewers to see what lies just around that bend in the path (the Japanese call this “miegakure”, or hide and reveal). This encourages people towards different sections of the garden. Another trick along these lines is to expose a vista or other point of visual interest that encourages them to explore.

Designing a functional garden

Practicality often imposes restrictions on what we do in the design (driveways aren’t the prettiest feature of the landscape but they do make it easier to get the car in the garage). Drainage is a key feature, which is often overlooked, and yet t is a make or break point in many designs. Get it right and no one notices; get it wrong and plants die in boggy beds, huge puddles kill the lawn, and in the worst-case scenario you are waterlogged. Sometimes building a retaining wall or raised flowerbed can make all the difference between success and failure.

You need to consider both vertical and horizontal planes. Plants on slopes are generally unhappy; they receive less water and sometimes more wind due to their precarious location. Retaining walls help create more level ground and can also help address some of those drainage issues (Mediterranean plants like lavender prefers a lot more drainage and is happier in a raised bed). Although screening can be done by walls and fences, the use of plants is often more effective as they filter the effects of sun and wind. Remember, the plants are the stars of the garden.

Finally I think about how you will move through the garden when maintaining it; beds should make mowing easier (I like gentle curves). There should be stepping stones or suchlike to move amongst the plants etc. The everyday mechanics of maintenance are often overlooked yet these small points become important as you use your garden throughout the year. A little planning and forethought can make your life a lot easier.

There are a lot of things to consider when designing a garden but with help and advice, you can have the garden of your dreams.