A Simple Guide to Garden Planning
by silver medal winning garden designer Mary Newstead
Images: Mary Newstead 2004
The little extras
Electricity, irrigation, water
Now that you’ve drawn up a basic plan - probably several times - you should also consider building in services like electricity for lights or a pond pump.
Installing an automatic watering system is also a good idea, and for this, I strongly recommend you employ the services of a professional (equally important for any electrical work you are planning), because DIY systems can be costly and, if not installed correctly, a waste of money. After last year’s long dry summer, business is booming for irrigation companies, so if you are looking to install something in time for a possible repeat weather pattern this year, now is the time to get a quote and fixing a firm date for the work to start. At the same time, ask them to install an outside tap because, even with automatic watering in place, there are sure to be occasions when access to a separate source of water is useful - in the greenhouse or containerised plants not integrated into the main system. If you don’t want to go the whole hog, at the very least you should have an outside tap with a long enough hose to reach all corners of your garden.
Structures: sheds, compost bins, summer houses
Ready-made structures such as a sheds and summer houses can be tricky to incorporate into the garden as they are usually out of scale and unsympathetic to the materials used in the house. Ensure that other structures you may include, such as compost bins and a cupboard for the refuse bins, are in harmony with the shed material - this is particularly important if they are visible from the house. If this is not possible, the problem can be easily overcome by hiding them all behind a screen (see drawing in Part 3. Doing the Design).
By grouping all these elements in a utility area, serviced by one path, it will also help achieve unity. If you don’t have the space to screen off an area for this purpose, staining them all the same colour will also create unity, but do make sure you choose dark colours that don’t shout out - dark green is always a good choice as it will recede and give your space the illusion of being larger.
When watching the many 'how to be a property developer' TV programmes, it is clear that would-be developers nearly always fail to provide fitted wardrobes and storage space. It’s the same in the garden, so don’t forget to include storage. In Part 2 I drew your attention to this, and it’s worth repeating - when it comes to choosing a shed, where you intend to keep bicycles, deckchairs, lawnmower, bags of compost, pots and tools; double the size of your first choice because it will not be big enough. If your garden is too small for a shed, I recommend you at least screen off a small area for unsightly garden necessities, as you don’t want them on general view in your beautiful, newly designed garden.
When building a pond, if there is an octagonal summer house or conservatory on the house, build an octagonal pool to strengthen the visual theme.
Structures: pergolas, arches, tunnels
A pergola can be ‘directional’ i.e. one that leads you from one space to another, possibly with a focal point at the end such as an urn or sundial, but don’t make the mistake of introducing too may focal points - in a small garden, one is probably enough. On the other hand, it can be ‘static’ i.e. where it is attached to a wall of the house and acts as a roof for sitting under and keeping the house cool in summer as it shades the windows from the sun.
Whether you choose a wooden pergola or metal framed arches and tunnels, climbers scrambling over will soften the effect and provide shade and privacy. We will be discussing plants in the next feature, but it’s worth mentioning here that, when choosing plants for a structure that is attached to the house, you should take time to consider if the plant loses its leaves in winter or if it is evergreen, because if foliage is too dense it might make the house too dark in the winter months, when you want maximum light.
You can also make an interesting structure to act as an arbour by using living plant material such as Sorbus aria (whitebeam) (see image below) or willow, although ‘living’ arbours do need regular maintenance.
Think too about the shape of your structures - look at the house and if there is a square or round bay window, maybe your arch needs to echo these shapes. This will have the effect of bringing the garden into line with the proportions of the house.
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Julie Toll’s ‘living’ arbour (Sorbus aria) at RHS Garden Wisley |
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Metal tubular tunnel covered in climbers at RHS Garden Wisley |
Features, ornaments, furniture
The appearance and comfort of furniture is important - classic benches and tables look good anywhere. Darker shades of paint, natural stone or plain wood are best as they blend in and will recede into the overall composition of the garden. Avoid white furniture and vibrant colours which will stand out and detract your eye from the plants. If you want vibrant colours, let the plants do the work.
If space is at a minimum it’s a good idea to incorporate seating into your structures - a wide brim around a raised bed or pond acts as useful fixed seating. Wooden or brick built benches can also double up as storage - by incorporating a wooden hinged lid seat you have space inside big enough for all manner of garden tools or toys.
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Wooden chairs and table at RHS Garden Wisley |
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A simple wooden bench with informal pond at RHS Garden Wisley |
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This stone bench at RHS GardenWisley also acts as a focal point |
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A raised bed at RHS Garden Wisley can also be useful |
Pots and containers
When it comes to pots and containers, it goes without saying that natural materials are best - Italian or Spanish terracotta, ensuring they are frost-proof - stone, wood and lead. If you have a roof garden though, heavy containers may not be an option so plastic is a better choice. Don’t despair though, there are some very realistic plastic containers on the market and indeed you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference between real and imitation lead.
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Stone container at RHS Garden Wisley |
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A chimney, terracotta pot, statue and terracotta seat |