So you have decided to save some money on your garden makeover project and have a go at doing the the garden design yourself. Here are some tips on what you ought to consider when you draw up the plans for your new garden.
What kind of theme are you going for? Landscapes a bit like art or paintings and usually have a central object or point of interest that surrounding objects point to or enhance. Thinks about what this might be-a lawn, a tree, a water feature or maybe a patio etc. If you have a walled garden space, you could add a colour theme to it by painting one or more of them.
If you have a lawn then you already have a focal point for the garden. Don’t overcrowd it with too much bedding, statues or garden ornaments. Leave it as open space that is enhanced by its surroundigs.
Ascertain what type of soil you have in you beds. Certain plants grow better depending on the acidity or alkalinity or the soil. If there are certain plants that you really want to include in the plan but your soil type is not quite suitable for them you can change your soils acidity/alkalinity by adding mulch, peat, limestone etc. and get a better match for you choice of plant.
Different plants need different amounts of room to flourish. Each plants’ root system vary greatly in size and you need to consider what plants will go well together so as one plant does not smother its neighbour and possibly kill it. Make sure your plans account for each plants space requirements, some need to be feet apart from each other to grow.
If possible use plants that are native to your region as they will flourish best. Plants from other regions and countries will require a lot more care. Also choose plants that come into bloom at different times of the year. By staggering the time of year of blooming you will have a more varied and interesting garden with something drawing the attention at most times, rather than a flurry of activity just once a year and a rather dull looking garden the rest of the time.
If you plan to plant trees, be mindful not to place a large tree that overshadows other plants or a portion of the lawn as they will not do well if in too much shade but a large lawn can handle a large tree as a central focal point. Don’t plant too many trees too close together as they will compete for root space and light as well as over shadow any lawn they might be near. Choose trees for their interesting foliage, unusual bark patterns, or their flowers and try to match trees that compliment each other. Also consider how large the trees are likely to grow over time, so make sure that they are not planted too close to any buildings etc.
Wood chips placed around plants, shrubs and trees are a good idea if you like the look as they also help keep in moisture, repel weeds, and provide natural food as they break down. It is also a good idea to put down some kind of membrane underneath the wood chips for even greater ease of maintenance.
Here is a new post over at http://gardenersbrighton.com for tips on designing your garden yourself!
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