Garden Design

Be Bold

Garden design may seem like a "black art" and the best designs are the result of natural flair, an open mind, study of basic principles, along with experience and hard work.

But don't be be put off from "having a go". Some designs may be costly but good design does not have to be expensive. Starting with what you already have and a bit of judicious bartering, you can soon assemble all you need for a first attempt.

Start with a little planning

Before you start digging over your plot. Make some basic decisions such as:

• Decide what you want from your garden, but be realistic. A lawn like the greens on your local golf course would be nice but not as a playground. If you have boisterous children and pets you need something a little more rugged.
• You may start with too many "wants" that may not be compatible with each other, so do some prioritising. Start with the "absolutes" such as the size and shape of your garden, prevailing climate, any features that are essential, available budget.
• Most importantly, consider the needs of people. Do you have particularly young, old or infirm people? Is outdoor entertaining important or do you intend growing your own fruit and vegetables? Do you need a safe place for the children to play or is wildlife more important?

Be realistic in your design decisions

You can usually cater for most requirements at least in part, but you need to establish priorities so that a prize plant destroyed by a wildly-kicked football doesn't result in serious family friction.

Whatever your requirements, be realistic so that you don't start something that is doomed to failure before you even begin. If you are short of ideas, there is a wealth of information on the Internet (see our own list of site reviews) and there are plenty reasonably priced books available.

View the video (courtesy of Successful Garden Design) for a few ideas to help inspire you.

Further Reading

Secrets of Garden Design

	Priorities for Garden Design Establish your priorities as the first step in designing your garden
	Garden Design Software Ideas about computer programs that are available to help you design your garden
	Successful Garden Design Plenty of ideas, inspiration and even training courses for those starting out with garden design
	Garden Design Ideas Ready made garden designs to suit your style (Requires free registration)
	Design Considerations Some basic ideas to get you started
	Hard Landscaping Ideas Selection of "How To" guides
	Garden Paths Designing a garden path
	Patio Gardening Inspirational ideas for brightening your patio
	Garden Structures Tips for building garden structures
	Garden Seating Choosing the right seating for your garden
	Raised Beds Benefits of using raised beds
	Water Features Design ideas for garden water features
	Rock Garden Tips for constructing a rock garden
	Vegetable Garden Planning a vegetable garden