Charlie Albone

The shape and detail of each garden element inevitably impacts on the finish of a garden design. For example a seating area could be purely for function or it could be the main feature of the garden. When designing remember not everything can be a stand out feature. For example the seat I built below is rather quirky but works in the area as it is its main and only feature. This could work with other elements but they would have to complement the bench and not fight it for attention.



Working out the finer shapes and details of such elements cannot just be for esthetics. The function and use of the garden have to play a major part in the design. How will people enter and depart the garden? How will people travel through and around the garden? How will people travel up to, enter and depart each element. You will find these questions dictate the finer points of laying out the garden. The real trick to a great landscape design is incorporating beautiful form and function as one.

Once you have worked out what you want in your garden and where you want it, you then have to work out how you will apply the style you want. This is done by the materials used to construct each element in the garden. The key here is research or to make it sound a bit more appealing “shopping”.

When out shopping try to restrain from buying the first thing you see that you like. You need to start gathering samples of all the different elements you like and placing them together to see how they sit with each other. Samples I always gather would be flooring materials, walling materials, timbers, paint colours and plants. Other smaller samples will have to fit with these major components (for example the type of mulch you use), but these have less impact on the overall design, so can be added during construction. Be sure to check each sample in different areas of the garden, paint especially can take on a whole different mood when in the blazing sun compared to a shady corner.

The next major component to a successful garden design is the plant material you use, so next month we will take a look at how and what plants to use to add the finishing touches to a great garden design.