Want to Build your Own Garden?
Good garden design starts with thinking about what you want. It's too late to plan your garden when you are standing in the garden centre eyeing every new plant that tempts you. Spend some time looking at your garden site, either during the off season, when you can really view it objectively or during the growing season, when the successes and failures make themselves known.

Purpose

The very first garden design consideration should be "What do you want to use your garden for?". Aesthetic beauty is a given,. However there are other garden functions.
  • Will you be entertaining in the garden and need paths or patios?
  • Are you looking for privacy?
  • Is this a space small children should be comfortable in?
  • Will you be viewing it mostly in the morning, afternoon or evening?
  • Is it your own private space or on public view?
  • Are you trying to create a view from inside the house?
  • Are you selling the house?

The Site Analysis

Once you have an idea of how you are going to use your garden, come back to reality and take an objective look at the garden site. view it during different times of the day
  • How many hours of sun does the site receive?
  • What times of day is it sunny?
  • Do trees allow sun in the spring and shade during summer?
  • How is the soil, as far as texture and structure?
  • Are there structures or large trees that will affect plant growth and selection?
  • Is there structures nearby that you would like to hide?
  • What plants are already growing

Constraints

Few of us have all day to garden or all the money we could wish, to buy plants. There are certain constraints to be considered before you bite off more than you can chew.
  • Do you have a budget? You may want to plan your garden to be completed in stages.
  • How much time can you realistically spend working in the garden.
  • Are you only here for part of the year?
  • Do you need your garden to be at its most striking for a special event?

Style

Now you know what  to use your garden for, what you are working with and how much time you can devote to it. so what do you want it to look like?
  • Formal or informal? Wild?
  • Four Season Interest?
  • Should it complement your house?
  • Do you want it to flow with the natural landscape?
  • Do you favour soft pastels or bold tropicals?
  • Will it be a border or a free standing island?

Plant Selection

Each step should get easier and more fun. Plant selection should be one of the last things you consider, or you may be overwhelmed trying to create a design to accommodate the dozens of plants you crave.
  • Keep in mind what your garden will be used for and when.
  • If you are only in your house for the summer, planting spring bulbs and early bloomers wouldn't be the wisest investment.
  • If you plan to entertain a lot and don't want to spend all summer on chores, look for lower maintenance  plants that don’t require constant  deadheading and staking to look good.
  • If you are planting for small children, choose plants that will bloom at their eye level, with interesting textures and scents..
  • Make a list of the plants you like and group them by colour, texture and form, Also view them by season of bloom. Consider both flowers and foliage. There are more and more plants being bred with colourful foliage that will provide interest in the garden all year.
  • Be sure to include some large plants that will look good all year. These are usually shrubs or palms and often evergreens. Now play with your plant list to see what will fit in your garden space and what works well together, given your special circumstances
Finalizing your garden design is a subject for another day. But now that you have your fundamental needs outlined, filling in the picture is almost like painting by numbers. And if you are like me painting by numbers you will probably never finish and can add to it every year .