Garden Design Basics

Gardens are therapy for the soul. They become an outdoor room that serves  to expand and beautify our surroundings.  Not only  are they the canvas for nature's artwork, but  also provide a means for needed exercise. They can be simple or extravagant, it all depends on your design.

• Decide what you want and allow it to evolve. The best way to design a garden is by preplanning your style either in your head or by sketching it out on paper. You are only limited in the ultimate result of your garden by a lack of imagination or your pocketbook.


• If you have a large area to work with, you might want to consider adding rock gardens or a water feature along with your choices of plants and flowers. If you only have a limited area, creating a flowerbed around the house would be a nice touch. Once you have a plan, get to work in bringing it to life.


• Till up the soil and remove the grass from your garden. Amend the planting area by adding compost and thoroughly working it into the soil. Decide what flowers to include. If you are planting a variety of flowers, plant by height from back to front.


• When choosing plants for your garden, determine whether you want annuals, perennials or a combination of both.


• It is also vital to know how much sun the various locations of your garden space receive. Some plants require full sun, while other requires partial sun or shade only.


• Plants also like different types of soil. Some prefer sandy soil, while others like loam and clay.


• Continue to add features and items to your garden until your desired garden takes form.


•