Planning gardens is much more than deciding which plants to put in; good garden design starts with a landscaping plan. You can spend a fortune on exotic and unusual plants, but without interesting contours, focal points and design elements the garden can look flat and uninteresting.
Think of the Chelsea Flower Show. Quite often, it isn't the plant species which draw the attention, but the innovative extras: gazebos, pathways, fencing and so on. Of course, you don't have to be an award winning professional to get good results - neither do you have to have a degree in exterior design. And you certainly don't need to spend vast amounts of money. Most large DIY stores, like us at Wickes, have a garden centre with everything you need to create a winning garden design - at a very reasonable cost.
Often, the hardest thing about designing gardens is coming up with an initial plan. It's worth visiting a few gardens to get ideas. This doesn't have to be the Chelsea flower Show. The National Gardens Scheme allows householders across the country to open their gardens up to the public for a small fee - which goes to charity. The scheme operates from March to October, and gives you the chance to see what can be achieved on your own patch of land. Alternatively, there are plenty of good garden design books you can flick through.
There are many things to consider when planning a garden, so start with making a list of essential design elements that you want to incorporate. These may already be present, of course - but don't be afraid to be ruthless if they don't meld with your own ideas. If you really can't stand that tree overshadowing the house, or the choice of fencing - now's your chance to change it! Do check though, that you are allowed to do so.
Start by planning your garden on paper, to scale. Remember to indicate where established features such as trees, sheds, gates and doors are placed. You may have a "blank canvas" - though this can be a good or a bad thing. Many people do a complete "blank" themselves when faced with a featureless, grassed over rectangle. So think what definitely needs to go in there - a shed, a pathway etc. Visit a DIY store to get ideas, taking your blank "map" with you.
The easiest way to begin transforming a garden is with the paths and walkways. If there are existing pathways, remember that these will define the new layout. Sometimes, it's better to dig them up and start afresh - this way, your new garden is truly your own.
Be inventive; don't just have a straight pathway from top to bottom, or round the edges. Obviously, you must allow access to essential areas like the bins or washing line, but after that, add little detours into hidden areas - one day, these will become focal points.
Some may already exist. If the garden has a neglected shrubbery, for example, you can think of interesting ways to lead the walker there - making it into a garden design feature, rather than something to be avoided.
