A Simple Guide to Garden Planning
by silver medal winning garden designer Mary Newstead
Images: Mary Newstead 2004; Geoff Hodge 2003
Material world
If you have been following this series of articles, you should by now have a better understanding of your garden. You may have decided which plants (if any) you would like to retain and you might already have earmarked those you consider to be unworthy candidates. It’s a good idea to keep a note of all your thoughts in relation to plants so they can be recalled easily when the time comes to design your planting plan. If, on the other hand, you have not had the benefit of living with your garden for one whole year yet, then there are probably some surprises still in store.
It’s at this point I’d like to encourage you to leave your comfy armchair in the warm indoors, and step outside to see if anything is stirring in the garden. Right now bulbs are beginning their descent - daffodils, leucojum, scilla, arum - and if you look closely you will be able to see their noses poking up through the earth. And if not yet, then very soon, so keep your eyes peeled over the coming months.
When the weather is really bad you can still keep a watch on your demesne from an upstairs window. At this time of year, with the leaves off the trees, it’s a great opportunity to see if the lack of foliage has created any gaps and in turn any unsightly views. Make a note of these problem areas now because you may forget them come the spring - you might want to consider including more evergreens in your planting plan later to fill those gaps.
Budget
If you have already measured your plot and drawn your new design the next stage is to consider what materials you will use to create your masterpiece.
Your choice will, of course, depend on several factors - budget, personal taste, practicalities. It’s a good idea to consider a budget - how much do you want to spend very much dictates the type of materials you can afford within your means.
And then there’s the cost of construction. Will you build it yourself or will you hire a contractor? If the former, then the cost of the materials will be all you need to know to ascertain if the budget you had in mind is sufficient to implement your design.
And even if you intend to hire a contractor, it won’t harm to shop around for prices so when it comes to obtaining estimates you will already know much the materials will cost. If you are on a tight budget, it’s always worth considering purchasing the main materials yourself - paving, fencing, bricks - rather than having the contractor do it for you, as the builder’s merchant will often give you a discount and will usually delivery free of charge within a few miles radius.
Ask your contractor to work out the exact amount of materials you will need before ordering and don’t forget to include other incidentals like sand and cement.
Tip: Winter is a good time to begin the process of obtaining two or three quotes. This way you will be ahead of the game by the time the good weather arrives in early spring. If you leave it much later, you may find that most good landscape builders will be busy and you may have to wait a while to secure their services.
Shop ‘til you drop
Although plants are a major factor, the choice of materials to be used for paving, walls, garden buildings and furniture are all elements that should be in harmony not only with each other but with the house and its surroundings.
Keep the number of materials you use to a minimum - three should be enough - otherwise the overall effect will look confused and incoherent.
Look at what elements are already on site and select building materials that harmonise with the house - if brick walls are to be incorporated for instance, use the same brick as the house. For paths and patios use local stone or gravel wherever possible, which will be the same colour as your soil.
If the primary reason for fencing your plot is to screen you from your neighbours and to act as security, then you need to be looking at materials that are solid - usually suited to urban locations. In a rural setting, on the other hand, where the purpose of the fences is to keep out unwanted animals, an open style like picket fencing or post and rail would be more suitable, letting you still view the landscape beyond.
The choice of materials on offer today is varied and many. Natural materials are far and away the best but can be costly although there are lots of cheaper alternatives. Here are some examples.
Hard surfaces
Paving slabs: natural or pre-cast concrete
Paving setts or cobbles: granite or concrete
Brick
Timber decking
Poured concrete
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Painted timber at RHS Garden Wisley |
| Wood and metal in contrast at RHS Garden Wisley |  |
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York stone paving alongside brick setts |
| Natural slate and wooden post fencing |
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Soft surfaces
Pea shingle
Gravel
Slate chippings
Bark
Grass
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A contemporary look with wood and gravel |
| Rendered concrete blocks for the walls with natural stone, brick and pebbles intricately set into concrete for the paving |  |
Walls
Stone: natural or reconstituted
Brick
Concrete blocks: rendered and painted
Pierced walling units
Railway sleepers
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Dry stone walling from Yorkshire Forward at Chelsea 2003 |
| Rendered and painted concrete blocks create an undulating wall |
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Boundaries, fences and edging
Wood: feather edge/larch lap/trellis
Iron railings
Hurdling
Picket
Post and rail
Woven panels: bamboo/willow
Gabion: metal cage packed with stones (traditionally used on motorways)
Victorian edging tiles
Wood: railway sleepers
Hedges
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Slate chippings, Victorian edging tiles and natural driftwood fencing |
There’s a lot to think about when it comes to designing a garden so keep looking at magazines for ideas, don’t be afraid to change your mind and whatever you do - don’t have sleepless nights!
Next article: Building in services - electricity and irrigation - as well as adding features and ornaments, furniture, pergolas, arbours and water