The perennials are waking up little by little, some early season bulbs are already in full bloom… The beginnings of spring are making themselves felt and, to accompany them, the desires specific to gardeners are reborn: putting their hands in the earth again , start planting again… there is no shortage of ideas at the end of winter! This is why novice gardeners can sometimes feel a little helpless when faced with the extent of the work to be accomplished. Here are some tips and methods to get your garden design off to a good start:
1. Make a plan for the existing
Often, the plan is not the first thing we think of when we are a beginner: too tedious, too restrictive, the obstacles are numerous. The plan then comes late, to note the beds already built, to pinpoint the different species… and that’s a shame!
Indeed, with a plan, everything seems clearer: what should be highlighted, and what should be hidden more. The plan can be taken with a tape measure, but the simplest thing is to directly use the land registry of your land.
The surveys are flawlessly precise and the house is already established, as well as the secondary buildings. You can then reproduce the plan to scale on a separate sheet, or using specialized software.
When you draw up the plan, be sure to indicate the doors and windows of the buildings, this is very important for the future development because it is about highlighting the views…
2. Note existing plants
During this second step, you will decide and note:
The plants you want to keep,
those you would like to move,
and those you no longer want.
Then list the plants that you have chosen to keep, classifying them by type (trees, shrubs, perennials, etc.), then indicate their characteristics (soil, flowering color, etc.).
This inventory will allow you to have a clear inventory and not make any mistakes on the future design. This will also prevent you from buying duplicate plants…
3. Choose a design option
This is one of the most important points: a beautiful garden is a balanced, homogeneous and coherent garden.
So be careful not to mix too many different atmospheres: a bias is essential to ensure the good coherence of the entire layout. This can be chosen by affinity (if you are a fan of Zen gardens for example), or to reinforce a context (a pretty stone building) or to highlight a color.
For example, in some of my contemporary projects, I pay attention to the colors chosen by my clients for their furniture (or the color of the frames, etc.), and I make sure to find these tones in my layouts, in the choice of coverings, and even in the selection of plants…
4. Organize the plan by atmosphere
The design option chosen, you must determine the landscaped “rooms” you want in your garden: vegetable garden, terrace, swimming pool or pond?
Everything is possible, if there is enough space. Classify these atmospheres according to their purpose (games, relaxation, meditation, meals, decor, etc.). The landscape touch then follows quite naturally, depending on your affinities: a naturalistic path could lead to a slightly romantic terrace, for example.
Remember not to think too big: if you want to add too much, if it is not well arranged, the garden can quickly appear cramped. Which brings me to the next point: the pathways between spaces.
5. Target importance on the coherence and fluidity of passages
A pleasant path, seen from the plan, can be seen quite quickly: harmonious curves, stops at viewpoints, and continuity between passages. Even in a small garden, if the paths are well designed, the feeling is very positive.
Changes of rhythm (established by changes in materials for example), stops (a bench) and points of view (arrangement of an element of surprise, like a mirror) are all elements which will give the illusion that the garden is bigger than it actually is.
