Principles | Compatibility | Water | Courtyard

PRINCIPLES

Garden making like gardening itself, concerns the relationship of people with the natural landscape. To make a garden is to organize all the elements present and add fresh ones. Observing the skyline, the soil, the color and shape of the trees and contours of the land. Once we understand the essential nature of the place, then using lawns for playing, water for swimming and for plants and fountains, terraces, loggias and pergolas for shelter and shade and plants for beautifying, we can begin to make a garden.

Style for the garden designer means to bring together all the physical elements into a coherent whole that reflects the mood and character in the style the designer was intending. To portray it, it should have a:

• Sense of refreshment
• Sense of unity
• Sense of tranquility

PRACTICAL LAYOUT

It is important to assess your needs realistically taking into account the amount of time you will have to maintain the garden.

Do you need a large entertaining area that is going to be suitable for entertaining on a grand scale? would a small, more intimate courtyard with room for just 4 or 5 people be better for you. The smaller courtyard would leave more space for planting and perhaps give more privacy. How much lawn do you need, if children are involved then you will need a reasonably large area for playing. The soft green expanse of lawn is a wonderful contrast to the planted areas and can be artfully shaped into semi-circles and curves to guide the eye towards focal points in the garden.

Do you need a small herb/vegetable garden or would your life style be more suited to a few herbs in pots? I find more of my clients are asking for small productive areas of garden, they want to pick herbs or salads for the table and have a compost bin, they are aware of the sustainable aspects of our lives. Utility areas need to be defined and easily accessed, the design should be mindful of security and privacy.

The front garden should be a welcoming space but not one that invites burglars in. A squeaky gate and gravel path that makes a crunching noise are two deterrents and avoid using dense plantings near the entry points where burglars can hide, plantings should be kept low with height used where the perspective requires. The entrance should be well marked and easy to find. It may be fenced for security or the boundaries can be defined with plants. Whatever shape it takes, let it make a welcoming statement.

You need to draw a distinct line between style and decoration. A well designed garden should be able to stand alone when stripped of every single purely decorative attribute. Decoration should only be used to heighten the style. If a decorative piece, be it a sculpture, urn, iron gate or pot, is not directly related to the theme, then it should not be used.