ALL GARDENING ZONE

Basic Elements of A Garden Design

Gardening should first and foremost be an exercise towards self fulfillment to make it enjoyable. Some gardeners start their gardens without any formal design in mind while some others prefer to have a detailed design and planting plan. For novice gardeners, it is entirely up to you to decide which of the approach you are more comfortable with. If you have the confidence to forge ahead and follow your intuition, then do it! If you feel however that you need to get some professional advice, then get one!

In garden design, there are no exact rules to follow, however it is equally important to note that there are basic elements to consider that when combined together constitute a generally accepted good garden design. One of the most valuable design tools is a site plan, or bird’s-eye view of your yard. Seeing your garden on paper makes it much easier to identify underlying design elements such as patterns, scale, and symmetry. A professional designer will give you a site plan that is precisely drawn to scale, but you can make your own rough sketch.

Here are the basic elements to start with:

Style: A garden like a person should have a distinct personality to it. Begin by thinking about whether you want your garden to have a formal or informal look. Consider your site, the style of your home, and your own personality. Though you don’t have to be too rigorous about striving for a consistent style, you’ll want to avoid a jumble of diverse and unrelated elements.

Flow: Think about how you would like someone to view and move through your garden. Paths are one way to connect some of the various parts to achieve a sense of order and cohesiveness. Focal points, such as a piece of sculpture, a distinctive tree, or a captivating view, can be used to draw the eye and pull us forward into a new space. A garden is more pleasing if there is a logical progression from one area to the next.

Scale: This is about proportions – how the sizes and shapes of things relate to each other. Most scale problems are due to skimpiness, such as beds and paths that are too narrow, or plantings that are too small and tentative. If in doubt, err on the side of boldness and generosity, or better yet consult an experienced gardener or a professional landscape designer (whichever is applicable).

When all of the above requirements are satisfied, then it is time to move on to other underlying and equally important elements needed to make a successful garden design.

Form is what gives the shape and definition of a garden when viewed in its total perspective. Every plant has a distinct growth-habit, a unique mass and volume which develops and changes as the plant matures. Each of the individual and distinct shapes whether columnar, spreading, or round, define the spaces in the garden. As plants grow and mature, and change with the seasons, most often they do affect the basic lines of a garden. Thus it is vital to select the type of plants to use and their planting arrangements because these are the foundation that give the form of the garden, its dynamic spaces and pleasing silhouettes.

Light makes colors and textures come alive. Place trees and shrubs with colored foliage along an east-west line so they can benefit from the backlighting of a rising or setting sun.

Use artificial lighting to produce soft pools of brightness at dusk; you will be amazed at how an ordinary garden can be transformed into a magical night garden with just a few strategically placed lights. Lights can also help people with busy lives get maximum enjoyment from their garden.

In garden design, the element of a line creates a sense of direction as well as a sense of movement. The eye automatically follows a garden line, whether it be the edge of a walkway, the curve of a flower bed, or the outline of plant materials. Gentle, slow curves and horizontal lines tend to be experienced as restful while jagged diagonals or vertical lines create more excitement and tension. Common lines include paths, fences, edgings, or a wall.

Paths lead us through a garden and link one area to another. Paths in themselves are an age-old comfort, showing us the way we are to travel, assuring us of a progression that is safe and intentional. The paving material and the way the paths are laid out can help define the style of the garden. A meandering pathway made of flat stones spaced several inches apart will have an intimate, informal feel; a wide brick path suggests neatness and order; a broad path of closely mown lawn conveys grandeur and expansiveness. Paths also create edges that suggest where new plants or even entire gardens could be located.

Here are sample of enticing pathways: