Flowerbeds and lawns, patios and decks, firepits and grills – what is the best combination for your garden?

Planning your garden can seem like a daunting task but it doesn’t have to be. By breaking it down into small steps, you can create a garden that is beautiful, functional -  and will give you enjoyment for years to come. Plus, it will add value to your home. Few of us get to design our gardens from scratch but even a lawn re-shape or a new patio can make a difference – so should be considered part of the “masterplan.”

1. A vital question in garden design – what do you want?

 Are you a keen gardener looking to grow flowers and vegetables or are you more interested in creating a relaxed outside space for entertaining? Perhaps you have a young family and need space for play equipment? Thinking about the activities you will use the garden for will help fine-tune your layout and design.

In larger gardens, separate spaces can be carved out to accommodate different activities. Gardens often grow out of the needs of their owners, reflecting their changing lifestyle.

2. What do you have?

Sketch a rough layout of your site. Use landscape design software or graph paper to create a scale drawing of your garden. Or you may prefer to just get outside with a tape measure and some pieces of string to peg a few spaces on the ground .This will help you plan the different physical elements of your garden, dividing it between paved and planted areas, for example. There’s no point craving a grand country-house style herbaceous border if you have a small courtyard space, for example, though colourful plants can still be its crowning glory.  

3. Assess the conditions of the site.

Take note of the soil type (acidic or alkaline), amount of sunlight, drainage and whether it’s sheltered from the wind or exposed. These factors will influence the type of plants you can grow. The old mantra “right plant, right place” is good advice. Plants that struggle in a particular soil will be high maintenance and never flourish. In south-facing borders go for sun-loving plants, such as lavender, Shasta daisy, daylily, aster and lamb’s ear. In shade, grow cool ferns, hellebores, ivy, Solomon’s seal and Himalayan poppy. Try to find plants that provide more than one season of interest. For example, flowers that retain dried seed heads or shrubs with colourful stems.

4. Plan hardscaping elements such as paths, walls, patios and decks.

These can help define the different areas of your garden and provide a sense of structure.  A single generous terrace is often better for entertaining than two smaller seating areas. Any patio should be large enough to accommodate a dining table and chairs. If you’re lucky, there will also be enough space for a barbecue.

Remember to consider the path of the sun, privacy and views when selecting a location for any outside living area you want to create. Do you prefer to sit in the sun or shade? Do you sit outside in the morning or evening? If privacy is an issue, consider some well-placed shrubbery or screening.

5. Take stock of the size of your lawn and flower borders.

Given enough space, most people want a lawn - a place to relax and play games. Avoid all the planting hugging the boundaries by identifying areas where the middle space might be broken up. Don’t be afraid of rectangles, curves and circles.

In a small, urban space you may be  better off mixing hard materials to create a courtyard atmosphere. A combination of old York stone and brick infill gives a classic look. Combined with raised beds this can give a year-round colour, especially if you include plenty of evergreens. Little lawns with bare patches are depressing in winter, but a winter-flowering Christmas rose in a tub or a few colourful pots of cyclamen can brighten up even the bleakest days.

6. Add a focal point.

A focal point is a feature that draws the eye and adds a touch of drama to your garden. This can be a striking tree, statue, water feature or an imposing pot raised on a pedestal. There’s a wealth of ideas to choose from some simple and cheap, others more costly but all potentially effective. In small gardens, focal points need particularly careful placing. Set against the far boundary, they will draw the eye and create a feeling of more space rather than halting the gaze mid-garden.

7. Choose the right plants for your garden.

Consider the size, shape and colour of plants. A few tall plants in a small garden can have more impact than lots of small plants and pots, which can look fussy and become high maintenance.  Smaller plants can then infill as ground cover. Shrubs and small trees typically form the framework of planting, with perennials and bulbs below which reliably flower every year. Do you want a colour theme such as blue and purple with flame-orange accents or an all-white border, for example.

8 . Consider views from the house.

This will help to guide the positioning of any features or ornaments. Draw imaginary or real lines from windows and doors so that views of the garden can give as much pleasure as a stroll outside. Tall windows are ideal for giving a glimpse of an eye-catching feature, such as an ornamental tree. Floor to ceiling windows, whether sliding patio doors, French windows or bifold, offer panoramic views of the garden.

Don’t place a deck or patio right up to the house without provision for planting. Consider space for a border and/or pots of seasonal bulbs. Foreground and layering the planting will lead to a better garden design when viewed from inside or out.  Use fences or wall space to grow climbing roses and honeysuckle.

9. Pick the right materials.

When you have the basic layout, it’s time to consider surface materials. In a dark or shady garden, a light material such as white limestone pavers, can make a huge difference; it will help to bounce the light around. Decks can work well, especially if you have uneven surfaces because you can build a deck over them. The planting areas can then become the irregular shape in between and around any hard surfaces. Annuals and spring bulbs can be dotted in for extra seasonal colour. Or the spaces can be filled with loose materials, such as gravel and aggregates.

10. Take care of drainage.

The larger the area of paving, the greater the need to drain it. Slope it very gently away from the house, picking up  surplus water at the end of the paving and drain run-off below in the flanking border. Lead it to a soakaway if the ground in not porous enough to absorb most of the water runoff.  

If you want professional advice, call in a landscape designer. They can help you develop a plan that incorporates your needs and aesthetic preferences as well as other factors, such as soil type and layout of your property. Garden designers help you select suitable plants, hardscaping materials and other features to enhance the beauty and functionality of your garden.

If you are making improvements to your home, you may find some of these services useful: