Top 10 Tips While Designing a Garden

Top 10 Tips While Designing a Garden

If you like landscaping, you have probably ever wondered how to design a garden, since a good outdoor space provides multiple satisfaction to its owners but if, in addition, we add the pride of having designed it ourselves, the motivation is even greater.

Surely you have searched on Google, Facebook or Instagram on many occasions for inspiring images from blogs and landscaping websites, dreaming of one day having the garden of your dreams, full of beautiful plants and design corners. Nowadays it is very easy to get information on the net and be up to date on trends, so I encourage you to start like this, looking at outstanding works to take note of what you like. 

I do not mean by this that you have to dedicate yourself to copying designs from others, far from it. It's about taking perspective, getting inspired, but never plagiarizing. The truth is that, as in any discipline, it is important to know the terrain in which we want to move and see what others have done to open our eyes and facilitate learning.

There are many styles and ways to approach design even more, so the first thing you should ask yourself is what kind of garden do I want? From there, other questions will come to be solved, such as what do I want it for? Or for whom? Well, how we are going to make use of that outer space should determine the way we design it. If you are looking for an excellent garden designer in Wimbledon or South West London, look no further than JustinGreer.

1.- ANALYZE THE SPACE TO DESIGN AND THE ENVIRONMENT 

Take good note of the geometry of the site, the topography or unevenness, as well as all those existing elements that may condition your design, such as pipes for underground installations or foundations for adjoining walls.

If there are trees or shrubs that are to be maintained, it will be necessary to catalogue them and know their exact location, to incorporate them into the plan that we make in the place that corresponds to them. Do not forget to measure approximately the diameter to avoid interference with the new elements that you incorporate with your design.

This step is very important, since a good data collection and efficient design can be obtained, avoiding unforeseen events at the time of execution.

2.- ORGANIZE THE SPACE BY USES, STAYS AND AREAS OF INTEREST

Now is the time to start the design. The dreaded blank paper will make us paralyzed if we are not fluent enough in the matter. Peace of mind, everything is a matter of dedication and implementing one of the most important design guidelines: Organize the space.

Let's forget about the varieties of plants for the moment, let's focus first on configuring the different areas that we will need.

Think about how you are going to use that garden. Are there children in the house? Do you have pets? Do you like to have a reading space in the shade? Is there a swimming pool or is there planned? Are you going to want to have a garden? Do you need to hide views? Do you want to have special views of the garden from specific points inside the house? ... All these and many more will be the questions that you must ask yourself and that will give you the keys to organize the exteriors.

3.- DEFINE THE TRAILS AND TRANSITION SPACES

As important as defining the areas well is to draw coherent paths and transition spaces.

Remember that for a garden to "work" it must be easy to use and, for this, the paths that connect areas must be operational.

Regarding this question, we can be given as many cases as we undertake designs, but we could say as a general rule that we avoid having to make detours to get from one place to another and that we provide the routes with steps, footbridges or auxiliary paths when necessary.

Sometimes it is interesting that the routes that communicate zones are configured in such a way that from the starting point, the next area where we go is not completely gone. This does not mean that the paths take detours, but that we know how to interpose strategic elements that only allow us to see where we are going, to create a feeling of discovery at each step we take through the garden.

4.- DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE AND WHAT YOU WANT TO HIDE

I already anticipated it at the beginning of this post. There will be views that we have to hide and others should be used.

Think of solutions that are not just hedges; there are more things. Half-height wooden walls, compositions of shrubs with enough density and height to hide something, constructions such as a Chill-out, which could be a meeting place but which, in addition, will hide behind the barbecue or irrigation facilities.

It is very useful to have a place in the garden to store outdoor furniture in winter, without taking up space inside the house. Take advantage of those chill-out backs, for example, to create a closet in the garden. It will also help you to organize your gardening tools and supplies.

5.- DESIGN AND DEFINE THE CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS OF THE GARDEN

It is important to define the details when we already begin to advance the design.

Obviously, for an amateur who is faced with his first design, it will be difficult to face this point, since a more professional level is needed for it. But try it and, as far as possible, make details of encounters, constructive solutions and auctions.

The higher the definition, the less unforeseen events during assembly.

For example, if you are building a new brick or stone planters attached to an existing wall, provide steel connectors to prevent cracks.

6.- CONFIGURE A GOOD DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR WATER COLLECTION

Collecting the water, both from rain and from excess irrigation, is a must in a well-designed garden.

You must design a good drainage system if you do not want to have flooded areas and dead plants due to excess water.

7.- CHOOSE THE VEGETABLE SPECIES AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT DIFFERENT CRITERIA

Now is the time to choose the plants for the garden. By the way, haven't we talked about them up to point 7? Well, no. Contrary to what many people think, plant selection is not the first thing to do in a garden. Take a look at the number of concepts we've covered before getting here.

It happens very often to me that when I visit a client for the first time, he asks me again and again what variety of plant I would put here or there while we walk through the garden that needs to be remodelled. I always try to convey that this is something that I cannot know in the first visit because it depends on many solutions and previous configurations that I must analyze and decide.

8.- DEFINE THE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

An irrigation system is somewhat more complex to do if you do not have knowledge of the matter. Perhaps for this part of the design you need to have a specialist, but if you dare with it, at least do not forget these simple guidelines:

1.- Make different sectors and control them with an irrigation control unit so that they do not all jump at the same time. This way you will avoid running out of flow or pressure and that the irrigation does not work properly.

2.- Try to use drip pipes with self-compensating drippers or, if not, make closed circuits (circular) so that there is the same pressure throughout the pipe.

3.- Trace well on the plane the sweeps of the sprinklers or spray irrigation diffusers, so that no corner is left without water.

4.- Carry out pressure and water flow test before designing the irrigation system, to know if it is necessary to increase the pressure (installing a pump) or if not, install a pressure reducer, know the general operation of pipes distribution, sprinklers and drippers ...

9.- SELECT APPROPRIATE EXTERIOR FURNITURE AND DECORATION

Look at many examples, have fun looking for decoration on the Internet, there are thousands of beautiful accessories for the garden.

Think that the balance is in designing with plants and furniture at the same time. Armchairs, design pots, puffs or other elements are as important as plants, so define them from the beginning in the project and do not think "we will put something in". You must be clear that in that reading corner you will place a seat make and model "such".

10.- CONVENIENTLY LIGHT UP EACH AREA

We cannot think of a good garden if it is not properly lit at dusk/night.

Correct lighting will facilitate night time use and transform the garden into a space full of theatricality.

Combine path lighting with room lighting. In addition, it strategically places adjustable floor projectors illuminating the treetops; you will see how the result is spectacular. Of course, just choose the odd tree, in a corner, at a point of passage... do not overload the environment and get the chosen ones to become true protagonists.

Use led technology and try to use warm light. Unlike inside the home, where white light is used, in gardening the use of yellow light is more welcoming.

In the living areas, choose a furnished corner to place a decorative outdoor design lamp. There are many spectacular ones on the market.