Landscape & Garden Design
What is Landscape and Garden design?
Starting a garden from scratch can be a daunting task as can planning for changes in your garden either seasonally or a complete change in layout, plant varieties and structures in and around the garden. Landscape Design and Garden Design are subtly different activities and its useful to understand the difference.
- Landscape design is covers both landscape architecture and garden design. It brings the two areas together to plan for both the structures and garden elements of an outdoor space to ensure the elements are integrated and the overall aesthetic is well resolved and achieves the overall goals for hoe the areas will be used and appreciated.
- Garden design is plans for layout and planting of gardens. It can involve the structure in and around the garden such as garden borders gazebos etc but largely focusses on the garden elements of an outdoor area
You can undertake landscape and/or garden planning, design and implementation yourself or get professionals in to get you set up. Regardless of which you choose, it is always worthwhile spending time to plan for the outcome your want in your outdoor space. See our Landscape and Garden design checklists to ensure you have thought through all the relevant factors before starting a project on your own or engaging with a professional.
Garden Features
A Garden feature is really anything that enhances the appearance and enjoyment of your garden. Considering appropriate features that will enhance the appearance, usability, maintenance and aesthetic of your garden will add to your overall enjoyment of the garden and its surrounds.
Common and popular garden features include:
- Lighting
- Sculptures
- Ponds or Water features
- Vertical Garden
- Hedging
- Borders
- Pots and Planters
- Fire pit
- Garden furniture
- Patio or deck
- Pergola
- Raised garden beds
Raised Bed Gardening
Why add a raised garden bed to your garden? Raised garden beds have the following advantages to adding additional growing space for special harvests.
- Add them anywhere – they can be added to any area, over clay, in front of shed or garages and even on large decks
- Easier Access – they are easier to access and reduce the need to bend and kneel in the garden
- Soil quality – its easier to improve the quality of the soil in a a smaller confined space which can lead to better plant health
- Protection – for edible gardens in particular, it can be easier to erect a cover to protect the harvest from garden pests looking to enjoy your bounty
Ponds & Aquatic Gardening
For larger gardens, adding a pond can add an additional layer of interest to your garden. Water also has a very calming and relaxing effect so a pond is a great way to add some zen to your garden retreat. Ponds can also extend and enrich the eco system of your garden by adding varieties of fish and also extending the types of plants you can grow by providing the environment for aquatic plants.
Aquatic plants are easier to garden once the pond ecosystem is established and healthy. There are many varieties and some grow submerged in the water while others grow above water. Water lilies, floating heart and Madagascar lattice leaf are the most common aquatic plants and combined will add both flower and green interest to an aquatic garden