Garden Designs

Garden Design Ideas

If you have never tackled planning a garden layout or landscape design before, you can easily get overwhelmed by all the choices. But if you follow certain basic principles, even beginners can design a garden to be proud of. Of course, you can also hire a garden designer if you would prefer help with the planning. The first thing you need to do when planning a garden design is make a list of needs and wants, then create some very rough sketches. Get to know the sun and wind patterns in your garden, so your design can take into account what the sun and wind do at different times of the day and year.

If this is your first garden project, start small. Don't be swayed by DIY TV shows where entire gardens are seemingly transformed in just three days. These shows are heavily edited and may also have a large crew working on the project. A garden makeover that takes a few days on a TV show could easily take you months working on your own, so don't be too ambitious to start.

Landscape Design Guide

Part of creating a landscape is slowly developing a garden and enjoying the process. Start small, working on one section at a time when you have the time, and don't worry about getting everything done straight away. Try starting from a single focal point. A garden design could include a focal point such as a sculpture, water feature or tree. Get this completed first and work away from it. Be open to change, as some things you loved in the planning stage may no longer reflect what you want as the garden develops.

Some things can seem like a great idea on paper but, in practice, may be too time-consuming or simply don't look right. Even if you are comfortable carrying out gardening work yourself, you may want to consider hiring a garden designer to help with the design and planning stage, plus any time-intensive landscaping, particularly hard landscaping. Remember, you don't have to do everything yourself, nor do you have to hire someone to carry out the entire project.

Garden Turfing

Turf can be laid all year round. However, avoid laying it when the ground is frozen or during extended periods of hot and dry weather. Turfing requires just a few basic tools such as a wheelbarrow, rake, knife, spade, garden hose and sprinkler. Turf requires four things to prosper: sunlight, air, water and nutrients. Three of these important factors come from the soil, so ensure the topsoil is in good condition before seeding or laying turf on top. Prior to turfing a lawn, you need to dig over the topsoil and then rake it to a fine tilth.

Grass should always be laid out straight away, as it can begin to deteriorate when left rolled up. When laying turf, use planks for walking along and working on. The grass can be cut using a knife or spade to fit. If you are not sure that you can take care of turfing your lawn yourself, there are plenty of local gardeners who can help.

Irrigation & Drainage Design

Water is an essential element in any garden, especially during dry and hot weather, as most plants need regular and frequent hydration. By installing an irrigation system, you can help maintain a healthy-looking garden and provide plants with regular watering. Bespoke irrigation systems are available which can be tailored to your garden's requirements, including fully automated irrigation schemes which require little supervision and can help reduce water use compared with watering by hose or sprinkler.

Drainage is also important for lawns, plants and the use of the garden itself. There are a number of solutions available for draining waterlogged ground, from simple drains to automated sumps. Local gardening contractors can offer advice on drainage or irrigation issues.

Garden Design Cost

Small garden design projects, such as a border design requiring around half a day of a designer's time, will typically cost around £200. A complete garden scheme will normally cost around £500-£600 for the drawings alone. Once structural and planting plans have been added, the total cost could be around £1,000-£1,200. A complete garden makeover, including the design and planning, materials and employing contractors, may cost from around £5,000, with some garden designs costing more than £20,000 once complete.

When discussing ideas with a garden designer, be clear from the outset about your planned budget to help keep costs under control. Get in touch with local garden designers near you by using the free quote service on this site. Simply enter brief details of your garden project along with your contact information and let local companies get in touch with you.