Part 5: Drawing a design

7. Design a garden

Now that you have had a practice drawing a theoretical garden to scale, it's time to have a go at designing a real garden.

Activity
  1. Use the techniques you learned in the surveying section to measure up and gather information about your site, such as soil conditions and existing features.
  2. Decide what should be included in the garden - practical features as well as beautiful design.
  3. Try different shape combinations for your space. Do you prefer the look of more formal squares and rectangles; do you like flowing curves and circles?
  4. Remember the techniques from the first section of this course when you consider your layout: design an area which has good flow, has several focal points, a good balance of space and enclosure, and a beautiful colour palette.
  5. Choose materials to fit your style and think about the function, colour and texture of your plant choices.
  6. Bring all this together, drawing up your ideas to scale.

Most of all, enjoy being creative and don't be afraid to give it a go.