It doesn’t matter whether you are building a garden from scratch or making revisions to your existing garden, some fresh ideas can help you on your way.
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Do Your Research
A real trap for the unwary is impulse buying. Do lots of research and ask lots of people about plants.
Walk around your neighbourhood; it will become very obvious, very quickly what grows well in your area. If you don’t know the name of the plant, take a photo and ask your local nursery.
Choose wisely as the foundation trees and shrubs are going to provide the main structure and (bones) of your garden.
Think Carefully About Outside Spaces
Seating and other significant areas should be close to the house where they are easily enjoyed. Elements too far away from the house tend to be neglected and not used.
Create Intrigue
The old rule about creating rooms is critical, mostly because a garden works really well if you can’t see it all in one sweep. If, through an arch or gap in planting, you can see a garden seat or a hint of another space, it will draw you in and encourage you to explore.
Mystery is essential in an interesting garden. A used garden is the best garden.
Add A Focal Point
A sculpture or some garden art gives the eye a place to rest and appreciate the surroundings.
Combining Styles
Formal plants work really well with natives and less sculptured plants. The combination creates structure and balance.
Produce
Dedicate a space to production. Even if you only want a few herbs and tomatoes, growing your own food brings you great joy.
Think About Repetition
Repeating trees and shrubs throughout your garden provide visual rhythm and cohesion, even if areas are separate from each other.
Plant For All Seasons
This is something I consider in all gardens and designs. You want seasonal interest in your garden and choosing plants with flowers, berries, bark, fragrance and structural impact will mean you always have something of interest in the garden in every season.
Think About Plant Spacing
Happy plants often grow bigger than the label indicates, but that doesn’t mean you should plant them further apart.
If you are starting with a blank slate you usually want growth and development as fast a possible and planting at the recommended distance or closer helps create the effect faster.
Look After Your Garden
Once you have designed and planted your garden it is imperative to follow up with regular maintenance. Follow up care of a new garden is often overlooked and is a critical component of designing your garden.
And lastly, think about how your garden makes you feel.
If it’s a place that doesn’t excite you and makes you want to be in it, work out why, and start to make small changes to fix that.
As your garden starts to make you feel happier, you will want to be in it more often.
