Garden Design and Creation

Index

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© Mike Greaves 2006

What do you want in your garden?

You can download the directions for our Internet Design Service which contain similar instructions.

Features and Objects

Begin by thinking what you would ideally like to have in your garden, and rank them in order of priority. Remember to discuss with the rest of the family! Have a look at some of the examples in our Portfolio and in books and websites to get some ideas.


Patio – how big? Do you want a table and chairs for eight, or just a sun-lounger? Built in barbecue?

Lawn – a bowling green? Somewhere for kids to play? How often will it get mown? Do you need a lawn at all?

Beds and borders – are you a keen plantsperson, always weeding, pruning and dividing? Or do you just want something that ‘looks nice’? Year-round interest? Shrubs or herbaceous? What about a gravel garden with plants in?

Water feature – do you want the sound of water? Or open water? Fountains, water-lilies, fish? Or even a bog garden?

Practical - do you need a hard path down the garden, or are you happy to walk across the lawn? Do you need a washing line or dryer-base? What about bins? Do you need a greenhouse or shed? Or both?

Pergola/Arbour/Summerhouse/Gazebo – a structure in the garden can be something to look at, somewhere to sit, or a climbing frame for plants, or all of these.

Statues, planters, urns, bird-baths, sundials, garden benches and other ornaments – very much a matter of personal taste.

Plants - a specimen tree, for impact. Fruit trees and bushes. A vegetable garden – do you want to know where your food comes from and how it has been grown?

When you have drawn up your list, go back and cross half of them out! Remember that too many THINGS will make your garden seem cluttered and disjointed. What are your priorities? Which will you really use?