Your garden should be your own private oasis. A place where you can go and enjoy the outdoors just as you like it to be. For some people this means creating formal or modern-looking spaces, and for others it may involve working with nature in a way that is both comforting and rustic.
Decide on Your Style
Firstly decide whether you want a more clipped formal look or a casual cottage style to your garden, as this will affect the shape, plants and plans that come next.
Draw Up a Plan
Don’t start buying and planting until you have sketched out a plan for your garden. This should include areas of beds, shape of lawn, paths, entertainment areas and any features like trees that are already there.
The Benefits of Lawn
While labor intensive and costly to maintain, having a lawn provides a picturesque surface for walking, playing and lounging and a well placed and shaped lawn can provide the perfect backdrop for your borders and beds while serving to maximize the feeling of space.
Try and Plant for Year Long Interest
While flowers can create stunning displays in the spring and summer months, think beyond beautiful blooms and look to create diversity with different foliage, textures and barks. Source plants with winter berries or consider dogwood for its winter color. Visit your garden center in the winter months to identify plants that will bring winter color and interest to your scheme.
Create a Feature
Consider creating a feature in your garden to draw the eye and spark the interest. Simple paths woven around beautiful beds can be simple enough to achieve and are very effective. Consider adding a water feature or if your budget allows for a natural swimming pool design by expert Larry Carnes, you can expect him to create pools that blend magically with your landscape for a truly beautiful finish.
Create A Comfortable Space
Whether it be a deck, or a terrace, or simply two steamer chairs on the lawn, it’s important to consider an area from which to relax and enjoy all your hard work.
Consider Sunlight
It’s important to know which spots get the most sunlight and which areas are mainly in the shade before you start planting. This will guarantee that the plants you put into the ground will thrive and continue to bring interest year after year.
Allow Depth in Borders
Give your plants enough space to grow and yourself the space to create a display of plants at different heights as well as extra space for additional planting.
Pick Out A Palette
Deciding on a color scheme in advance can help when it comes to picking out the plants that you want to use. Whether you are going for a formal white and green scheme, or a heavily colored cottage feel, a color palate will help guide your choices.
Set A Budget
Creating the perfect garden can be expensive, so it’s important that you set your budget first. This will help determine the size and quantity of the plants you can buy.