| Garden design is a very personal thing and is | | | | plants require. Are they full sun plants like roses or |
| often an expression of your personality. What I | | | | shade loving plants like azaleas? |
| like you, you may not and vise versa. Some | | | | Wind |
| people like neat and tidy gardens where there are | | | | You also need to think about wind direction. Which |
| no surprises, others love the thrill of windy paths, | | | | way does the prevailing wind come from? |
| lots of different plant material and not knowing | | | | Screens and hedges are one way of managing |
| what is around the corner. There are three main | | | | this problem but what problems are they going to |
| styles of gardens formal, semi formal and | | | | cause? Making the block feel narrow, casting |
| informal. They can then be divided into many | | | | shadows etc? It is important to know because |
| types of gardens and that depends on what you | | | | some plants don't like wind and it is no good |
| would like. Garden design can be intimately tidied | | | | putting the BBQ/entertainment area in an |
| to the style of your house as in example of the | | | | uncomfortable spot. |
| grand french chateaux where the geometric | | | | Views |
| patterns of the garden mimic the geometric | | | | Views out your window or from your garden are |
| construction of the house or it can have no | | | | very important. Some are intrusive while others |
| connection to your house at all. | | | | are desired. If you wish to block out flats |
| Some people are lucky and have this innate gift | | | | neighbours etc. you may need to put in a higher |
| of knowing how to design space, making it a | | | | fence or a hedging screen of some kind. Or you |
| pleasing place to be in. Others don't have this | | | | may want to design your garden to enhance the |
| gene and find it very difficult to visualise how the | | | | view of the mountain, ocean etc. |
| space will work. To create a good design it is | | | | Utilities and Service Lines |
| important you understand that design is about | | | | You also need to be aware where your services |
| managing space and people moving around it. The | | | | and utilities are; things like clothesline, overhead |
| core of good garden design centres round | | | | power lines etc. If you damage the gas, telephone |
| patterns and the space within these patterns. By | | | | or electricity lines, you are liable to pay for their |
| using geometrical shapes, circles, triangles, | | | | repair. |
| rectangles etc. you can achieve a unified feel to | | | | Principles of Garden Design |
| your garden. So you need to think about ground | | | | To create a well designed garden, it is important |
| patterns and movement around your garden. | | | | to put the right plant in the right position. This |
| Where would you like people to go? Ground | | | | means considering the cultural requirements of the |
| patterns can be achieved with the use of bricks, | | | | plant. For example putting a full sun plant such as |
| paving and plant material such as cut grass etc. | | | | rose into a shady position isn't going to work, |
| Formal gardens are symmetrical and geometrical | | | | because the rose won't be receiving the right |
| and are strict in terms of repeating patterns and | | | | amount of sunlight for it to grow. The idea of |
| plant materials on either side. It is very controlled, | | | | good garden design is to follow this philosophy, |
| plants are clipped, shaped, manipulated regularly | | | | using the placement of plants to create mystery, |
| and today is often suitable for small gardens like | | | | tension and surprise by using tricks of the eye, |
| court yards. Urns, balustrades, stone, gravel | | | | colours and textures. |
| paths, parterres, formal pools and framed views | | | | Tension, mystery and surprise make a garden |
| are all part of the formal garden. There are no | | | | interesting. One way to create these is to use |
| surprises, you know what to expect. | | | | hedges, low walls, screens, paths, steps to make |
| Informal designs are asymmetrical and not as | | | | individual 'garden rooms' with tension points that |
| regimented. Plant material is allowed to spill over | | | | captures your attention on the way. For example |
| the structural elements such as walls, steps and | | | | a narrow oblong garden can be made more |
| paths. Plant material is allowed to self-seed and | | | | interesting if you can't see the back fence - that |
| wander around the garden. Informal garden design | | | | there is a feature (plant or statue etc.) that |
| is softer, full of surprises thus you don't know | | | | obscures the fence. It also becomes more |
| what to expect. | | | | interesting if the path way is narrow then opens |
| And semi formal is the combination of the above | | | | up into another room. A winding path adds |
| two. Usually it is the built structures such as | | | | mystery to the garden if you can't see what is |
| retaining walls, paths and steps that are formal | | | | around the corner. Surprise comes when you go |
| and the informal element is the plant material | | | | around the corner and discover a focal point. |
| which is allowed to spill over them, softening their | | | | A focal point is something like a seat/statue |
| hard outlines. | | | | water feature that leads your eye directly to it. |
| Within these three types, there are many | | | | For example - a pergola that has a statue at the |
| different styles of gardens to choose from such | | | | end of it. The statue is the feature and is the |
| as contemporary, Japanese, Mediterranean, | | | | reason why you look/walk to see it. Another |
| cottage, courtyard, kitchen garden or secret | | | | example of a focal point is a pathway leading |
| garden. | | | | through a door that is open and shows a vista of |
| Contemporary is a modern style that likes to | | | | the wider landscape. |
| reflect the surrounding but also use a wide range | | | | The success of the focal point can depend on the |
| of plant material. Form and texture of foliage are | | | | how successfully the ground patterns lead you |
| as important as flowers. Hard landscaping is | | | | there. If the paving encourages you along this |
| woven into geometrical shaped buildings; all of | | | | path thus creating some tension and mystery, |
| which flow into the wider landscape. Plants are | | | | you are more likely to follow the path to see |
| used as focal points to highlight the architectural | | | | what's there because you have become |
| forms. | | | | inquisitive. Narrow paths encourage you to walk |
| Cottage was a late nineteenth-century ideal to | | | | quickly and not to dilly dally along the way, where |
| return to the simple cottages of the country. | | | | as wide paths say stroll, take you time, look at |
| They were planted with hardy bulbs, flowers, fruit | | | | the surrounding vegetation. A gentle curve can be |
| bushes and herbs and vegetables. They were | | | | negotiated at speed, but a tight curve can't be so |
| geometric, colours were harmonised and luxurious | | | | people slow down as there is risk involved. Paving |
| as plants grew well as they were heavily manured | | | | is used as a directional tool says don't walk that |
| regularly. | | | | way, but walk this way. Edging bricks say don't |
| Mediterranean is not limited to one particular area | | | | step over this - this is a boundary. Paving can also |
| but are defined according to hot summers and | | | | be used to reflect the ground plane of the house |
| low rainfall. They encompass entertaining areas, | | | | or other shapes in the garden. |
| shade, good views and dramatic shadows. Hot | | | | Long narrow gardens have a strong directional |
| colourful plants are used and lots of lush green | | | | emphasis that needs to be broken up. Square |
| foliage plants to create a cool atmosphere. Plants | | | | plots are static. To solve these problems the |
| need to be drought tolerant. Evergreen plants are | | | | space's shape needs to be changed. A circular |
| popular because they cast shade on hot days. | | | | design distracts the eye from the straight lines of |
| Walls are white washed to reflect the sun, | | | | the boundary fence. You could also use a series |
| pergolas built to create shade and use terracotta | | | | of rectangles using the boundaries as part of the |
| pots. There is often a water feature and water | | | | design. |
| provides cooling vibes. | | | | Another method is to turn the garden onto a 45 |
| Japanese gardens encompasses religion and | | | | degree angle. A long diagonal line will immediately |
| Japan's cultural history. Japanese gardens are very | | | | create a feeling of space. The paving near the |
| symbolic often the symbols relate to nature. | | | | house could be done on an angle and high light the |
| Plants are 'tamed' and there is an emphasis on | | | | diagonal line of the entire garden. |
| evergreen trees and shrubs. They are very | | | | Gardens with a dog-leg in them can utilise the |
| controlled and often minimalist. True Japanese | | | | bend by using tension, mystery and surprise to |
| gardens are contemplative a place of meditation | | | | lead you around the corner to a focal point of |
| and great calm. | | | | some kind. |
| Planning | | | | Unified space is created by controlling the |
| If you feel overwhelmed and don't know where | | | | movement around the garden. It is the way |
| to start when designing your garden, I suggest | | | | areas are linked together by paths, bridges, |
| you break it up into areas called rooms thus | | | | pergolas, steps and terraces that determine |
| dividing one big space into several smaller spaces. | | | | whether a garden is successful. Careless placing |
| For example: there is the front garden, the side | | | | can ruin the flow of the garden. If you wish to |
| garden and the back garden. Once you have | | | | direct someone's attention to a particular point |
| decided where they begin and end you can then | | | | then there must be a clear reason in the design |
| divide each of those areas up again. For example | | | | for following this pathway. |
| in the back garden you could have the | | | | Ground levels are very important when designing |
| entertaining area, the grass/children's area, the | | | | a garden. If a slope is too steep to walk down |
| utilities area (includes the compost heap and shed), | | | | safely, steps may be needed and if the entire |
| the pool area and the vegetable/orchard area. | | | | block is on a slope, the whole area may need to |
| Once you have defined the areas/rooms you can | | | | be terraced. What material you use is also |
| tackle one at a time, thus making a huge project | | | | important. Steps should not be of slippery |
| into several smaller projects. | | | | materials and gravel may wash away. The |
| The Three Planning Stages | | | | surfaces need to be flat otherwise they could be |
| To create an interesting and exciting garden there | | | | dangerous and people will not want to walk along |
| are 3 sets of plans (may be four if you need an | | | | them and instead they may create a desire lines. |
| engineer's structural plans) you need to devise:- | | | | Levels help to create interest and 'rooms' in a |
| Site Analysis Plan, Concept Plan and Planting Plan, | | | | garden because you move from one place to |
| usually all drawn to scale. | | | | another by steps/paths/etc. Allow your levels to |
| The First Steps | | | | gently flow into one another and keep them |
| To design a garden that works there are several | | | | simple. Don't over decorate them. A slope up |
| things you need to do before buying plants and | | | | from the house will appear foreshortened |
| planting them. If you follow these steps you are | | | | whereas a slope down from the house will appear |
| more likely to have a successful garden. | | | | larger. |
| Site Analysis | | | | Choosing Plant Materials |
| It is important to make an inventory of the area | | | | There are 3 types of gardens:- the plants man, |
| you are designing. Things to include are: | | | | the garden designer and the gardener's (mix of |
| Levels - steep/flat | | | | the first two). The plants man gardens consist of |
| Aspect - North/south | | | | lots of singular plantings, unconnected and often |
| Sun/shade | | | | rare and difficult to source. The garden designer's |
| Sun Summer/Winter | | | | garden consists of plants that are tried and tested |
| Shadows | | | | - they use plants that they know and how they |
| Existing trees and buildings | | | | perform. The gardener's garden has learned that |
| Wind | | | | their favourite plants can be more effective if |
| Views - good and bad | | | | planted in a scheme. |
| Soil conditions | | | | When choosing plants you must consider what |
| Entrances - Front/back doors | | | | the conditions are of your garden. There is no |
| Power lines | | | | point putting alkaline tolerant plants in acid soil or |
| Underground cables and pipes | | | | vise versa. It won't work! You need to think |
| Clothes line | | | | about what your plants you have chosen require |
| Fences | | | | moist soils, dry soils, shade, sun, well drained, |
| Sheds and garages | | | | boggy soils. If you do your research correctly and |
| Paved and unpaved areas | | | | place your plants in the right position, you are well |
| Patio/BBQ | | | | on the way to a successful garden. |
| Lighting | | | | The height and spread of your plants also needs |
| Drainage - runoff of storm watered | | | | to be considered. Tall growing plants are placed at |
| Once you have noted the above, it is time to | | | | the back of the garden bed, graduating down to |
| draw up the space. You can draw it roughly (not | | | | the low plants. Remember some plants send up |
| to scale) but eventually you will have to draw it | | | | flower spikes that may be much larger than the |
| to scale. Start by measuring the area you are | | | | plant itself, so they need to be positioned |
| designing, draw it to scale ie. 1:100 and put all the | | | | according to their flower spike height. Some plants |
| above points onto your drawn plan. All these | | | | are bushy so don't forget to leave sufficient room |
| influences need to be drawn on paper, so that | | | | for them to spread. They may need annual |
| you can gauge any trends. For example there | | | | pruning to keep them in check. |
| might be a paved path from the back door to | | | | Colour |
| the garage, but everyone takes a short cut | | | | Another trick in the designing tool bag is using |
| across the lawn, creating a desire line. No - one | | | | colour. Colour is the sensation of illumination which |
| uses the paved path. So perhaps pave the desire | | | | is light. The way colours inter-react with each |
| line and make it the official path. | | | | other depends on their position in colour wheel. |
| The next step is the concept plan and this is the | | | | Manipulating colour is great fun and can create all |
| plan where you put down you ideas. It can be as | | | | sorts of illusions. Colours are divided into 2 groups |
| wild and as adventurous as you like. Forget cost, | | | | primary red, yellow, blue and secondary green, |
| enjoy your creativity. This is the stage where you | | | | violet, orange. Secondary colours are made of |
| put down your dreams of what you have always | | | | combining two primary such as mixing blue and |
| wanted. Later on, you hip pocket will decide for | | | | yellow together to create green. You can make a |
| you whether you can have them. Anything is | | | | space look cold or create distance by using pale |
| possible, so don't be shy, dream away. Again this | | | | and brown colours. You can also make a space |
| can be roughly drawn or to scale, it is up to you. | | | | looker bigger than it really is by using warm |
| The third and final plan is the planting plan and it is | | | | colours such as oranges, reds or yellows. If you |
| preferable that it is drawn to scale as this allows | | | | want to make a space look closer to you, again |
| you to know exactly how many plants you will | | | | use warm colours. As reds, oranges or yellow are |
| need. It incorporates all the ideas you have | | | | very busy colours to the eye, it is a good idea to |
| decided upon and shows you how the finished | | | | intersperse white flowers or grey foliage plants to |
| garden is going to look. It is the road map which | | | | calm the visual scene down. White and grey also |
| will guide you to building your new garden. | | | | intensify blue and pale colours. |
| There may be a fourth plan if your site is steep | | | | One thing to remember about the Australia sun is |
| or you are having major elements built, as you | | | | that the best time to look at our gardens is in the |
| may need the advice of an engineer. | | | | late afternoon when the sunlight is not as strong. |
| Points to Consider | | | | Our hot sun tends to fade our flowers colours |
| Think about your soil conditions, is it heavy clay or | | | | and the glare at mid-day tends to wash the |
| light and sandy? What plants will grow in these | | | | colour out. |
| conditions? Are some areas boggy and some | | | | If you are feeling overwhelmed about designing |
| always dry? | | | | your garden, divide your space up and take it |
| Sun conditions | | | | slowly, completing one section at a time. Don't |
| The sun is higher in the sky during spring and | | | | start another part until you have finished the |
| summer and shadows are shorter. Whereas in | | | | section you are working on and very soon you |
| winter, the sun is lower in the sky and casts | | | | will have a beautiful garden. Remember gardens |
| longer shadows. So a plant might be in full sun in | | | | are ephemeral, it is a process that is for ever |
| summer and complete shade in winter. Can it | | | | evolving. You never really finish. |
| tolerate this? Also think about the conditions the | | | | |