The Property Magazine Oxfordshire Spring/Summer 2019

GARDENING
Designing a
brand new garden
from scratch
It can be quite daunting, especially
for some one new to gardening, to
be faced with their own plot for the
first time, particularly if it’s just bare
earth or grass, as if often the case
in newly built properties. Think of
your garden, as an extension of your
home. An outdoor room as it were.
The principles are very similar to
designing the interior of your house,
and importantly, the two have to work
together. Designing a garden, at its
most basic is solving logistical problems
with the style being dictated by the
site in which the house sits. It is the
relationship between the house and its
setting that should pervade all aspects
of the design.
The first thing to do is to make a list of
all the things you need your garden to
do. Use the following questions as a starting
point:
1. Who is going to use the garden? Children/
pets/ elderly/ disabled? It is important to consider
everyone, even the wildlife, for example, do you
want to attract birds and into the garden?
2. Are there any good aspects to your garden?
Usual examples are trees/ a view/ privacy/ hedges/
some of the planting. What sort of boundaries do
you like, fencing or hedging?
3. What it is you would like to change or improve?
Usual examples are screening/ better lawns/ nicer
planting/ more all year round interest.
4. Do you want a water feature or garden building,
greenhouse, sculpture?
5. How much time do you have for gardening? You
may need to consider low maintenance plants and
an irrigation system if your time is limited.
6. What sort of plants do you like? Usual examples
are plants for scent/cottage planting/formal hedges/
evergreen shrub borders. Also, consider what sort
of plants do you NOT like!
7. What are the practical considerations? e.g.
parking, access to the garage, routes to the house ,
storage, a compost bin. Do you need a windbreak
or screening?
8. Seating area/s. How many people will use the
terrace? Do you want a barbecue? Do you want to
sit in the sun or shade? What sort of material do
you like ? Does it link to the house? Do you need
lighting for the seating or other areas of the garden?
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