Gardening Resource

Garden Design

Garden design is the process of planning and coming out with designs and layouts for gardens taking into consideration both the aesthetic appeal as well as the needs of the plants and trees. Garden design is even a profession that some experts in the subject practice. However, garden design may also be undertaken by the garden owners too, which is the normal practice at smaller scales. Professional garden designers will usually have acquired knowledge in the elements of garden design such as horticulture, landscape design etc. through both specific training as well as practical experience. But in most cases, garden owners acquire a sense of good garden design with time.

Many garden owners have been taking a keen interest in garden design of late. There are more and more beautiful gardens coming up and everyone wants his/her own garden to be the best. If you are into garden design, then here is a list of a few elements of garden design you might want to know:

• Location - Where do you want the garden? For a home owner, he already has some free space that is to be converted into a garden. But if you have the option of choosing between two locations, make sure the one you choose has enough access to water-supply, the proper climatic conditions for the kind of plants you are going to have, good sunlight, rich soil and also the proper topography suited for plant growth. If you have only option, just have your garden there. Location isn't as important as some of the other elements we are going to discuss.


• Soil (the earth) - Loamy soil is the best for gardening. It is easy to work with and suits a wide range of moisture content. It is best to excavate the whole topsoil and subsoil in your garden and replace it with the loamy soil. Next, the soil needs to be properly aerated by properly digging it up and keeping it loose so that air can pass in through the soil.


• Water - Proper watering is very crucial for good plant growth. Optimum conditions of wetness can aid faster and more prolific growth of plants. Installing water pipes and spigots all over the garden will help a lot. Even the placing of these pipes can be done in a professional manner so as to not hamper the overall garden design.


• Lighting - Lighting is another important factor that can make or break a garden. Sufficient sunlight is essential for survival of the plants. Use of reflective surfaces for better light can also be considered. As for artificial lighting, use of soft lighting on artistic poles throughout the garden can make the garden look exotic at night.
  
• Boundaries - Demarcating the external as well as internal boundaries in your garden can also be done with plants. Certain shrubs and bushes look good when used as boundary plans and can enhance the overall look of the garden by introducing more greenery into it. The use of hedges for dividing sections in a garden can look good but is not recommended as it might take up lots of nutrients and water from the soil.


• Walls - Some also use walls for the boundaries. Internal boundaries too, can be marked by small walls. The walls can be of different colors and could be made of wither concrete, bricks or stone depending on aesthetic factors. You could also have creepers climbing over these walls.


• Fencing - Use of fences can also enhance the look of a garden while keeping it out of bounds of unwanted elements. There are several varieties available depending on whether you want just animal-proof fences or peep-proof ones or strong and sturdy ones that will protect the garden from strong winds etc. Again, you could have creepers climbing over these fences.


• Surfacing - A classic smooth lawn will always look down on plain surfaces of a garden. However, using some alternatives such as small pebbles, bark ships etc can help in giving the garden a heterogeneous look instead of looking green all over.


• Garden Furniture - There is a wide range of garden furniture available and some creative use and placement of some good pieces of furniture can enhance the whole garden and give it a relaxing and homely feel. Though wood is the most preferred material for garden furniture, use of their metal and plastic counterparts too might not be a bad idea especially considering their durability.