You've moved into your new dream home but the space outside is as interesting as a bowling lawn, or worse yet, a building site. What can you do?
Adding your stamp of personality on a new build garden design is as simple as 5 easy steps
Tip #1: Think about how you'd like to spend your time in the garden?
Do you want to become a green-fingered grow-it-all, or would you rather spend your time with your feet up with a cold drink in hand? (Or a bit of both?) Consider if you want your garden to be your private haven for peace, or a social space for gatherings. This will help you decide how to balance how much of the space needs to be 'hard landscaping' (such as paved or gravelled surfaces) versus 'soft landscaping' (such as lawns and planting).
Tip #2: Looking inwards or outwards
What can you see when you stand in your garden? Are you surrounded by neighbours? Are you looking out into the countryside? If you are in an urban or suburban setting, the chances are you can see your neighbours homes, so add a focal point which draw your eye inwards, into your space. If you have a view without neighbouring homes, use a focal point which draws your eye outwards, like a tall sculpture or an arch.
Tip #3: Shape and space in your new build garden design
Whether you have a long thin garden, a perfectly square yard or a mish-mashed dog-leg of a plot, bringing order to the space is what makes a garden work. Simple, bold shapes work best, so think about a lawn or paved space in a shape that appeals to you. Avoid a skinny planting border along every boundary, it will just emphasise the shape you have, and offers few opportunities to create interest in your space. If you have a square garden, for example, even just cutting a circle or a rotated square into your lawn will make the space more interesting.
Tip #4: Think evergreen
Every garden needs a structure of evergreen plants which hold it together in all seasons. These plants provide the background for your garden, whether its bold or blousy blooms. Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price' is a favourite of mine, as it grows happily in most places, has a lovely scented bloom in winter and never gets too thuggish. I usually fill at least a third to half of a garden with evergreens, more if my client is strictly low-maintenance. But do take a moment to do a bit of research, and check the mature plant sizes so that you don't put in something that later turns triffid and takes over the street. If I come across a variety I'm not familiar with in a garden centre or nursery I quickly google it to see what to expect.
Tip #5: Last but not least, think colour
A garden is like a painting which changes everyday, so the last (and trickiest) part is to think about how the garden evolves across the seasons. Plan to have some plants which perform in each of the seasons you want to spend in the garden. Some of your evergreens will put on a flower show of their own, so start with those in mind and add others that you like. There is a whole world of colour theory and planting styles, but the best advice I can give is to think if you want a peaceful relaxing feel choose a small number of different plant which have flowers which are a similar colour (all-white is a classic approach). If you want a more energetic and invigorating feel, then go crazy with contrasting and clashing colours.
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