Garden Design Resources – Modern to Traditional

Autumn and Winter are still an important part of the gardening year & the focus is on tidying and preparing for winter whilst helping set the garden up for the spring and summer ahead.

The landscaping element is a key part of any property renovation or new build. The outside space will likely be the largest area within the property boundaries. It is therefore important that the landscape design and landscaping plans are arranged and organized as soon as possible.

A Garden Designer should be someone who is professionally trained in the designing and planning of a garden project. This will encompass the creation of a brief based upon your key wants and functions from which a design will be developed encompassing use of space proportionately, a balanced and unified layout within the garden boundaries through the use of shape, materials and planting.

Choosing the right trees for your small garden enhances more than aesthetics – it can be a key step towards attracting more wildlife. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the top trees for small gardens in the UK, perfect for anyone aiming to improve their outdoor space thoughtfully.

The key is breaking up the view straight down the garden to take away the impression of one long narrow space. This can be achieved by angling the route of flow perhaps by 45 degrees through the hardscaping and planting area layout. Creating zones or ‘rooms’ using a mix of plants or screens will also direct the sightlines to takeaway that straight and narrow impression.

When considering decking within a design project there is now the consideration to make between two different materials – the traditional choice of timber or the newer composite option.

As Garden Designers we will be asked to design lighting schemes for customers who want to enjoy their beautiful well-lit gardens into the evening and throughout the year whilst getting the most from their investments. You could argue that illumination in your garden is almost like having two different gardens.

Discussion around garden design styles will often touch on terms like modernist, modern or traditional. I am going to touch on the first two in this Blog and try and clear up the difference between the two despite the very similar label.

As Garden Designers we have a responsibility alongside our clients to recognize the impacts we can have on the environment and eco-systems we work within. Gardens offer a fantastic opportunity to work towards reversing climate change and improving bio-diversity where currently the trends are very much one of a warming planet and extinctions of species worldwide.

As designer John Brookes MBE said ‘Water is the source of life and one of the Four Elements: it must be that which makes its use so irresistible in the garden!’.

Including a lighting plan in your garden can really help you maximise your outdoor space, extending the hours you can make use of your garden entertaining whilst also creating a beautifully lit outdoor room you can enjoy viewed from inside all year round.

I wanted to write this blog to support in my own small way the work of the Society of Garden Designers, the RHS and the Landscape Institute who have helpfully published the information I provide below to counter the claims that Plastic Lawns are ‘eco-friendly’.

You may be thinking about undertaking a garden improvement so that you can both maximise the enjoyment of your outdoor space and add value to your home. However, how much does a Garden Designer cost?

The colour wheel enables the designer to create different combinations that will have differing impacts on the look and feel of the scheme. Therefore, understanding the wheel will enable an appreciation of the relationships between colours.