A chill wind can prevent us from enjoying the garden, and for much of the year this will come from a particular ‘prevailing‘ direction. If wind is a problem, check the prevailing direction and mark it on your survey so that you can provide an effective windbreak.
GOOD OR BAD VIEWS
We are so often preoccupied with what goes on within our plot that we tend to forget that there is a world outside. Good views are a bonus and should be left open or even emphasized. Bad views — an overlooking upstairs window or the back of a neighbour’s garage — should be screened, either with a solid structure of some kind or by planting. Read the rest of this entry »
The problem with many a plot comes down to lack of planning. While many people are quite happy to tackle interior decoration and planning, their ideas often tend to dry up as soon as they move outside. In part this is due to the confusion of all those long, Latin plant names, in part to sporadic binges at the local garden centre, when we return home with a car-load of goodies and little idea of where to put them all. But the real problem is that many of us still look upon the garden as separate from the house, a different environment for a different range of activities. As soon as we realize that the two elements, house and garden, are in fact one, the whole problem becomes a lot simpler.
For a garden to be a success, the layout should be thought about in much the same way as a room inside the house. True, it may not have a ceiling, but the floors and walls are just the same, and you will need furnishings and space for sitting, dining, play and other activities, as well as the growing of plants. Arches and pergolas are the equivalent of doors; overhead beams and arbours help to define intimate areas; while water, something that is little used inside, can be enjoyed for its almost endless variety as well as its cooling influence. Read the rest of this entry »
Once you are happy with the approximate position and the size of each feature, you can fill in the detail by firming the design up and finalizing the list of features you want to incorporate. It’s worth bearing in mind that the `hard landscape‘ areas of paving and walling will take the lion’s share of any budget. Plan these to link sensibly with the adjoining house. If the building is of brick, then brick might also be used in part of the patio or to build raised beds; if the floors inside the building are stone then this could be run outside to form a patio that will link the two elements together.
As has already been emphasized, simplicity is so often the key to success. By keeping the materials used for hard surfaces to a minimum, you are far more likely to achieve a harmonious result. Of course, a large expanse of garden covered in a single material may look visually heavy — especially if you are using new bricks or concrete paviors — and in such instances it can be a positive benefit to mix materials: Read the rest of this entry »
Paths and patios are the hard landscape ‘bones’ of your garden and provide the design framework around which the softer elements of lawns, planting and other features can be positioned. They are crucial to your enjoyment of the garden, providing areas for sitting, dining, play and many other activities as well as access to other features. Simplicity and strength of purpose are all-important in this part of the design. You should choose your materials carefully from the vast range available, taking your time over the choice and thinking about the visual and cost implications. Paving is perhaps the most long-term investment in your garden; make sure it is right for you and your situation before you buy. Any paving close to the house will relate strongly to it, so this should also influence your choice. Look around your area to see what materials predominate locally, and use them for the most sympathetic result. Read the rest of this entry »
