Go Beyond Landscaping and get a Complete Garden Design
Garden design is sort of a catch all phrase that really seems to have come into use more and more these days. Much more than landscaping, garden design involves everything from the type of garden, the layout, the structure and even the total effect you want to create with the garden. There are as many ways to design a garden as there are people in the world, but regardless there are always a few things to remember that will be the same for any climate, any garden:
1. Location – will affect your garden design. How much or how little sun there is, the type of shade (dense or sparse), drainage, irrigation availability, soil, breezy or not, etc. You need to know this so you can use the right plants. If you purchase plants that require shade and you place them in full sun, they will die.
2. Climate – where you live will have an impact on your garden design. Check with local nurseries as to whether the type of garden design you want is even feasible. An example would be wanting an outdoor tropical garden in Alaska, it may not be the best choice for the climate.
3. Soil – is it brown dirt, red clay, sand, rocky, a mixture, a little of everything, does it have good drainage. It may be necessary to create a raised area for your garden design so you can have the right soil content and good run-off.
4. Plants – it is best to go with native plants or ones that will easily acclimate to your climate and soil. It’s not to say you cannot use non-native plants, but they will require extra care, water and work on your part if you want them to survive.
5. Water – is water easy to access or an even option for you if you are considering plants which require more irrigation.
6. Layout – you should place ground cover and short plants in front and then layer towards the back with increasing heights. Use adult plant heights and widths for your basis. Choose compatible plants as well.
Designing a garden is a lot of fun and very rewarding once you see the finished results. Just remember to use these universal hints when planning your garden design and you will have a gorgeous garden for years to come. It just takes a little extra time to make your garden design perfect in every way.