Grading Design

3. Grading Design

The temptation with an awkwardly shaped garden is either to do as little as possible to it -- maybe a lawn surrounded with flowerbeds -- or to add too many hidden corners and details, which might work well in an enormous plot, but won't make the best of an average-sized garden. The ideal is to come up with a layout that's simple but uses design tricks to correct the shape of the garden. Better still, a clever layout can make the awkward shape an advantage, using odd corners for hidden storage or raised levels to define areas of the garden.
We asked Katrina Wells of Earth Designs to come up with three solutions for three classic problems: a sloping site, an L-shaped garden and a tapering plot. Our advice is to simplify the look of the garden, where possible, by using similar shades to unify the different elements such as decking, paving and walls. As for budget, we've suggested where you can make savings. Now all you have to do is pick the plan that's best for you.
• Designs for A Sloping Garden

 Make the most of a sloping garden by creating different levels, each with its own purpose. This design has an area right next to the house for outdoor dining and a barbecue. Then, wide steps lead down (or up, depending on which way your garden slopes) to an area with built-in seats (with lift-up lids for extra storage) and a water feature, or sandpit if you have children. The last level includes a play area and lawn, plus a shed and compost heap. Hardy plants that don't need lots of water, such as osteospermum, are great for a low-maintenance garden. Will it take much looking after? The lawn will need cutting up to once a week in high summer, but if you choose raised borders planted with hardy perennials, such as host and stable, they won't need much care or constant maintenance. Add splashes of color with drought-resistant osteospermum and geranial. How can I cut costs? Shifting earth and shoring up the terraces can be quite costly. In a gently sloping garden, save money by just decking over the top of the old surface, and swap raised planters for pots (which you could always add later when you've saved up).
• Designs For An L Shaped Garden

 The trouble with L-shaped gardens is that the slimmest part of the? L’ is often wasted space. Try and use it to tuck away things you don't want to see from the patio, such as the bins and shed or a play area. Keep the rest of the garden simple and break up the straight lines with a curved patio, borders and lawn to make the most of the space and give it a relaxed feel.

Will it take much looking after? The lawn will need cutting in summer, but if you use bark chippings the kids' play area will be maintenance-free. For borders, choose long-flowering, care-free perennials, such as yarrow, bleeding heart and black-eyed Susan. How can I cut costs? This garden shouldn't be expensive to create or maintain, as long as you keep the borders quite narrow. You can make them seem deeper, though, by planting evergreen climbers, such as Clematis armadas.

• Design For A Tapering Garden

 The best design for a tapering garden uses strong diagonals to trick the eye. The main border comes into the middle of the garden, while the lawn widens as the garden narrows, balancing the tapered shape. The shed hides behind a water feature at the far end, making the narrowest part of the garden a useful spot.
Will it take much looking after? In the summer the lawn will need cutting once a week and the plants in the borders will need regular watering. Put down a weed-suppressing membrane (from garden centers) to cut down on the amount of weeding, then plant the border with ground cover plants, such as geraniums or catmint. Geraniums, in particular, provide good ground cover and color through the summer. Use tall pots planted with grasses for an eye-catching display. How can I cut costs? Replace the pots with tall plants set into the ground -- bamboo would be a good choice because it's evergreen and makes a good screening plant. Making the lawn area larger and the border narrower will also save money.

You can find more information on garden design ideas and garden advice at house to home, helping you create a look you'll love
Spending time in the garden is a great way to ensure that you get lots of fresh air and sun, and often a good way to ensure you get some exercise too if you kick a ball around with the children or throw one for the dogs. At the same time the act of gardening is something that many of us find highly enjoyable and that we often find a lot of pride in - and you can even grow your own fruit and vegetables which is a healthy, eco friendly, money saving and highly rewarding activity. On top of this it's also a fantastic place to entertain guests, or enjoy a romantic meal. Many people don't use their gardens enough, and don't consider how nice it can be to eat outside every now and then in order to enjoy the stars and some candlelight while you share dinner. It's just as romantic and special as eating out at a restaurant or something but completely free. When you have a party, then having people stand in the garden drinking cocktails is one of the best ways to ensure there's space for everyone and they're all having a good time.
In order to facilitate all these great garden activities though, you need to have a great garden design. This design needs to at once look the part - so that you actually want to spend time in it, and be practical so that it provides space for all these activities. If you have a big family and you want to do all the things listed above this can be a challenge - for example if you love gardening and rearing vegetables, but your children love playing football, then the garden needs to provide a space for football that is away from the plants and flowers.

Good garden designs that cater for lots of different purposes then will often use various 'sections' within the garden that cater to particular activities and uses. You might for example have an area for eating with a table and perhaps under a canopy. This way you can sit underneath the shelter even in the rain and be protected from the rain and falling leaves while you eat. This area will need a patio too so that you can go out in nice shoes without getting muddy, and something leading up to it. Meanwhile if this area is near all of your plants and flowers then it will look more decorative and scenic while you eat. It makes sense for this area to be by the door, as you will likely be coming and going in order to get your food and drinks, and because the table area will also be perfect for entertaining guests and standing drinks - and at parties people tend to congregate by the door in the garden.
For football and games, or for sunbathing you will then need an open area of grass and this should be as far from the plants etc as possible. If you can have multiple tiers for your garden this is a perfect way to section that area offend after that look for it.…
o TYPES OF GRADING

No matter if they are urban or rural, all gardens benefit from preplanning and design. This doesn't mean just knowing where you want your garden, but the overall design of the garden. Today, gardening can include everything from vegetables to flowers to lawn care. Carefully planning what you want, and where you want it, beforehand will help you get the most from your garden.

o Planning Your Garden

To begin measure and draw a plan of your yard and/or garden as it is now. Your plan should include the placement of your house, driveways and walkways, property boundaries, trees and shrubs, and utility services. Using graph paper, draw everything as close to scale as possible.

o What Is Your Garden's Purpose?

Make a list of everything you want to have in your garden area that you consider essential. This could include a vegetable plot, fruit trees, or flower borders. Once you have your basic essentials listed, move on to your "wish list." Your wish list would include items such as a water feature or a potting shed. Put the items in your list in the order of their importance. Now, place a piece of tracing paper over your original garden plan drawing and draw in your essential and wish list items. Divide your garden plan into zones such as public area, surface area, and private areas.

o How Much Space Will You Need?

Everything that you want in your garden plan may not fit in that area that you have available. You may have to make decision about which features are the most important to you, or how to incorporate them differently (like in containers). Think carefully about how much time you will have to devote to your garden's maintenance and care. Eliminate those things that you know you will not have time for.

o What Kind of Garden Do You Want?

There are many different types of gardens that you could have. Besides having vegetables and fruits growing in a certain area, you may also want one of the following types of gardens.
o Your Final Plan
Your final gardening plan should include those items that you consider essential to your garden and those on your wish list that will fit in your gardening area. By now, you should have all of these features drawn in on your graph paper. Take a good look at your plan to make sure that all of your flowers, vegetables, lawn, and other features are placed in areas that are most appropriate: where they can get the best shade and sun and are aesthetically pleasing.
Now, following your plan, start putting your garden together. It doesn't all have to be done in the same day. In fact, it's best to take it slowly and create one area at a time. This way, if you find that some features would really fit another place better; changes can be made before planting.

o THEME OF GRADING

A garden can be your canvass for your artwork. Like a painting it makes use of a multitude of color, texture but with it comes other element such as texture, scents and in some cases, flavors. When it all comes down to it, a garden is all about beauty. Everything comes in second.
A start of great garden is always a patch of land but before it can become a landscaping masterpiece it must have a set direction. Garden design themes can help set a direction for your garden, making for a style that is coherent and unified. Here are just some of the more popular garden designs you can use on your garden.
Japanese Gardens
This type of design is gaining more and more popularity as more people gain a fascination of Japanese culture. However this does not mean that the design is not timeless. Japanese gardens have been hailed over the world because of its timeless simplicity. This design is characterized by the use of grass, stone and moss. The contrast between the hardness of stone and softness of grass create a complimentary effect that highlights each element. In some cases, a central focal point is emphasized, usually a bonsai tree or a Japanese Zen garden in the middle of the main garden.
Formal European Gardens
This form of garden is known for its structure like the Japanese Garden but unlike the Japanese Garden it does not aim to recreate nature in your space. Instead, the European garden uses nature to create symmetrical and linear formations. Most often, one may find mazes and pathways created from woody hedges.
Cottage Gardens
Cottage Gardens is another popular type of Garden where it provides contrasts to the formal European garden. Instead of defined lines, cottage gardens made use of loosely designed beds of colorful perennials. It is also far more practical where the plantings are based on the preference of the plants itself.
Rock Gardens
Not all gardens need to be filled with plants. In regions where there is a shortage of water it is both expensive and difficult to grow plants and keep them alive. If properly positioned, the rocks can be an adequate design piece because of the many colors and texture that it provides.
Tropical Gardens
Tropical Gardens are characterized by the use of tropical plants and aim to recreate the natural scenery that you would normally find in countries like Bali, Jamaica or other tropical countries. Often you can find sculptures native to island nations to add character to the design.