However, it’s often hard to know just how to go about turning your dream garden into reality. If you are not sure where to start, here is a guide to creating the outdoor space you want.
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What’s the Right Type of Garden for You?
The first step in a garden design is to think about what type of garden is right for you. This will depend on your personality and lifestyle. Are you too busy for constant lawn-mowing and pruning, and therefore looking for a low-maintenance plot, maybe a rock garden? Or perhaps your family loves to eat al fresco, and so needs a dining area, featuring a patio or garden decking together with picnic tables and a built-in barbecue?
Alternatively, if you have more gardening time available, would you like a cottage garden with flowering bushes and fruit and vegetables growing together? Or maybe you have a larger plot and plan to create a kitchen garden area, with raised beds made from railway sleepers to grow your vegetables and soft fruit.
If you aren’t sure exactly what type of garden would be best for you, it’s worth taking the time to look at various designs before deciding. You could visit friends who are keen gardeners to get some ideas, and even ask them for a few cuttings, as well as browsing websites and magazines.
Mapping out your idea
After you’ve decided what type of garden you want to create, the next step is to map the idea out in more detail, and decide what it is practical to include. You need to look at the available space and your budget, and work out what your priorities are. Also remember that you don’t have to do everything at once. You can create the type of garden and main design now and then keep adding extra touches in the future.
Once you have decided what the most important elements of your garden are, you need to create a plan, whether on graph paper or using your computer. Factors to consider include what is there already, the type of soil, drainage, slopes and existing paths and access. Think about which areas tend to be in sunshine or shadows – especially important when deciding where to site summer houses. Also look at how any unloved and bare areas could be improved, perhaps by the addition of a planter or rose arch. Consider the shape of the garden, too. For instance, you could improve the look of a long, narrow garden by designing it in different sections, with features such as shrubs, a trellis or picket fencing to separate the areas and add interest.
Clearing and Planting
Before landscaping any area of the garden, the first step is to clear away existing elements which you don’t want to keep, such as old paving, paths, earth and grass. Think about which items can be reused or recycled and which need to be discarded altogether. Often it is possible to use old materials in another way – for instance using soil removed from one area to plant beds elsewhere, or reusing old paving within a new patio.
As preparation for planting vegetable beds or laying areas of lawn, improve soil by adding a mulch or soil improver. Turf is the quickest way to lay a lawn, and is preferable to using grass seed if you have pets or young children, because with seed you have to avoid walking on the area for around three weeks. It’s best to lay turf during the autumn or winter months if possible, but if you do have to lay it in spring, remember it is likely to need watering.
Hard Landscaping and Materials
As well as the grass and plants, hard landscaping elements are an essential part of the look of your garden. Decking, patios, paths and paving all add versatility and interest to your Ipswich or Suffolk garden, while attractive garden furniture, patio lighting and heaters make it possible to spend more time outside in comfort. Even if you only have a small town garden or courtyard patio area, planters and perhaps a water feature will help to turn the area into your own personal haven.
When embarking on a redesign, remember to make sure gates and fencing are in good repair, as wobbly fence posts or broken fence panels will detract from the look. There are many attractive styles of fencing available, including decorative panels with a lattice top. Also, don’t forget to earmark an area of the garden for an outbuilding or two. Garden sheds are very useful, while log cabins are increasingly popular, offering the perfect vantage point to sit and enjoy the look of your redesigned garden.
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