Garden design

Garden design Tips For Professional-Looking Garden Design

Remember: Heads up!Leave plenty of headroom under archways, arbors, and pergolas. I consider 7 feet to be the minimum, a...
10/08/2023

Remember: Heads up!
Leave plenty of headroom under archways, arbors, and pergolas. I consider 7 feet to be the minimum, and I usually add at least another 18 inches if I know there will be plants growing over the structure. This may sound high, but outdoor structures tend to look smaller than they would if they were indoors. Plus, it’s better to be safe than sorry and to avoid butting heads with a climbing rose or wisteria. Posts for arches and pergolas should be set at least a few inches outside the pathways that run through them to allow adequate elbow room.

Stay steady on your feetBe certain that any paving provides secure footing. Avoid slick surfaces or loosely set pavers t...
10/08/2023

Stay steady on your feet
Be certain that any paving provides secure footing. Avoid slick surfaces or loosely set pavers that wobble. Paving materials like polished granite or smooth outdoor tile may not offer enough traction in rainy and wintery climates. Gravel walkways are fine—just use unsifted gravel. Unsifted gravel contains various-size aggregates, which compact firmly and provide a solid footing. (Sifted gravel is made up of similar-size aggregates, which do not compact well and remain loose underfoot.) Whatever your paving material, make sure your paved surfaces are slightly sloped (1 to 2 percent) to keep water from pooling on them.

Provide plenty of elbow roomPatios and decks are perfect spaces for outdoor entertaining. Plan for enough room to accomm...
10/08/2023

Provide plenty of elbow room
Patios and decks are perfect spaces for outdoor entertaining. Plan for enough room to accommodate dining and mingling. Consider how many guests you’re likely to host regularly, and then plan on at least 4 square feet of space per person. Outdoor dining means outdoor furniture, so try to leave a 3-foot-wide perimeter of open space around any furniture grouping to allow for comfortable circulation. See garden rooms for entertaining.

Watch your stepsOutdoor steps and stairways should ascend gently; otherwise, they are liable to seem daunting. Steps wit...
10/08/2023

Watch your steps
Outdoor steps and stairways should ascend gently; otherwise, they are liable to seem daunting. Steps with a rise of 6 inches or less are the most comfortable. The run (or depth) of each step plus twice the rise (or height) should equal 26 inches. So steps with a 6-inch rise would require a run of 14 inches. If your garden stairways include more than 10 steps, consider landings after every fourth or fifth step to ease progress. Landings should be at least as deep as the stairs are wide. A generous landing is an absolute necessity wherever a stairway changes direction.

Make sure your pathways are wide enough for comfortable passage. Nobody enjoys squeezing through narrow spaces, indoors ...
10/08/2023

Make sure your pathways are wide enough for comfortable passage. Nobody enjoys squeezing through narrow spaces, indoors or out. Main thoroughfares should be wide enough for at least two people to walk side by side, no less than 5 feet. For secondary paths where people walk single file, the width should be at least 3 feet. Keep in mind that the taller the plantings or structures that flank your walkway, the wider the path needs to be. Tall boundaries make any space feel more restricted.

What type of soil do you have? Our guide to Garden Soil Testing will help you learn all about your soil, the foundation ...
30/07/2023

What type of soil do you have? Our guide to Garden Soil Testing will help you learn all about your soil, the foundation of a healthy garden. You can also bring a sample to a local nursery or send a sample to a local extension program to have it tested. Soil and plants are interdependent, so to feed your plants, you must feed your soil. Always use natural and organic soil amendments, as nature intended.

Where is it in relation to the house or other permanent plants? How close is it to the house and water supply? Do you lo...
30/07/2023

Where is it in relation to the house or other permanent plants? How close is it to the house and water supply? Do you look out on the area, or can you see it from the street? Is there root competition from nearby trees or shrubs?

What are the light levels and growing conditions? Are you planting in a hot, dry south- or west-facing location with ful...
30/07/2023

What are the light levels and growing conditions? Are you planting in a hot, dry south- or west-facing location with full sun exposure? Or, are you planting in a cool and shady north- or northeast-facing area? Take some time to observe your new garden space, and look for plants that are suited for those conditions.

Garden Design: Getting StartedHere's a list of factors to understand before any plants go into the ground:How big is the...
30/07/2023

Garden Design: Getting Started
Here's a list of factors to understand before any plants go into the ground:

How big is the area to be planted? Even if it's only approximate, this tells you how many plants will fit comfortably without becoming an overgrown jungle.

When it comes to planning a flower garden or preparing for a newly landscaped area of your yard, there are lots of choic...
30/07/2023

When it comes to planning a flower garden or preparing for a newly landscaped area of your yard, there are lots of choices to make. Many gardeners don't know where to start – but not to worry, the planning process can be simple! The helpful tips below will make garden design easy. Read on to learn more.

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