How To Design A Garden
You’re feeling a little bored with your garden but you don’t know what to do or where to turn to change it up! Don’t worry, I want you to have a great place to relax and enjoy the (fingers crossed) good weather.
Function
First, I want you to ask yourself; what do you want to do in your garden?
Not what have you been told should be in a garden, but what do you do/want to do in the space?
Do you want to hold intimate dinners outside or throw big parties? Sunbath or read a book? Just sit out with a drink after work? Exercise? Or even just admire it from your sofa?
There are no wrong answers to this question so be brutally honest with yourself at this stage.
For example, I love deep flower-filled borders but I HATE weeding so I have invested in top dressing for my flower beds, then grew more flowers from seed to reduce costs.
If you want to sunbathe all day then you’ll want open hard landscaping to accommodate all your friends, whereas if you want to exercise you may want height, trees or pergolas, for privacy and creating dappled shade (to prevent overheating).
Maintenance
The next step is to decide what your style is; are you ultra-modern or more traditional? Do you want minimalist or maximalist planting?
Again, no wrong answers but be honest as some styles require lots of work to maintain them. If, like me, you love spending time in your garden then a higher maintenance style could make you happy.
If you do want a flower-stuffed space then I might suggest a cottage style, as there are both very modern and very traditional designs for this style out there, but they all look full of life. This style is wildlife friendly too, and can look just as good if you forget to weed for a couple of weeks, but the cost of plants can add up quickly.
If you want a minimal maintenance garden, then a more modern style is probably for you. Choosing porcelain or stone patios over lawn, making sure you follow ‘right plant, right place’ and minimising exposed soil will massively reduce the work needed to keep your space looking great.
Colours
Colour can have a huge impact on mood, even if it isn’t obvious! Cool-tones create a relaxed atmosphere and can make a space feel larger, plus you see whites and purples for longer at night.
Warmer tones, like rich reds and bright yellows, make a place feel lively and exciting. They can also make a place feel cozy and welcoming, some people think red helps spark conversation; hence deep reds being a traditional colour for dining rooms.
You could even use both tones in one garden, if your careful! White flowers and silver leaves planted around the boundary, to push them back, with deep reds and rich chocolate tones around a dining space to make it feel inviting and intimate. Just don’t mix too many colours in one view.
Whatever your style there is a garden for you!
But if this sounds like a lot of work and you still feel a little overwhelmed then get in contact with us and we can help transform your space!