The key to getting yourself the garden you want is planning ahead.
Though most gardens evolve over the years as you add plants and features, a certain amount of planning at the beginning can help you achieve the garden you want. People often complain of gardens that have gotten out of hand: trees with gnarled roots deep in flower beds, patchy lawns, straggly plants. More often than not, this is because of little or no planning.
Any garden, formal or informal, needs to be planned. It is important to first of all have an idea of your style: neat and orderly or chaotic, minimalist, tropical, oriental or a mix of your favourite designs. Climate, location and budget also matter.
Put your requirements down in a Need List. Make a scrapbook of clippings of favourite gardens, flowers and features. Then you can indulge in a Wish List of projects to be added later. One man’s wish list may be another man’s necessities!
| NEED LIST | WISH LIST |
| Greenery: Lawn, trees, flower beds, potted plants, creepers, vegetable garden Seating: Garden bench, swing, outdoor dining set Lighting: Spotlights, pathlights, ornamental lights Water features: Bird bath, pond, fountain Garden features: Garden art, trellis, pergola Children’s play area: Sandpit, swing, slide, playhouse Walkways: Paths, bridges, steps Sports area: Badminton, tennis |
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In smaller spaces every inch needs to be carefully planned, as everything is magnified. Choose features and plants that complement each other and the surroundings. Larger gardens can have separate areas, a formal lawn leading to a rose garden, a quiet space for contemplation, and/or a water feature.
If you plan to design the garden yourself, make a simple sketch with the main building, trees and existing features. Draw in features from your Need List, moving them around until they fit — trees by the wall, flower beds by the front door, lawn, garden path, lotus pond. The layout of your planting space may have curves, the beds may be raised or sunken or, if on a terrace, may be a collection of large planters.
The final design should accommodate your Need List while leaving scope for your Wish List. It must complement your home and lifestyle.
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CHOOSING YOUR PLANTS
Start with a garden calendar, planning the growing of flowers, fruits and vegetables suited to your climate.
If you live in a water-scarce area or have minimal garden help, opt for gravel or paving instead of a lawn. Opt for hardy perennials instead of water-needy seasonals, and plant them in groups in the ground, instead of in pots (pots need to be constantly watered).
Look for flourishing gardens nearby to know what plants thrive in your area. If containers are a must, use a few large pots rather than an assortment of smaller pots. A group of big, beautiful containers, each holding different plants, is more attractive.
FEATURES
Look for that special spot in your garden for focus; every garden has potential or, at worst, some redeeming feature. This may be a beautiful old tree, a slope, a great view or even a borrowed landscape. You’re not breaking any rules if your neighbour’s beautiful gulmohar tree dips over your wall.
Do you long for the sound of falling water on your tiny terrace? Let that be your focal point. Have a sheetglass or fabricated waterfall built in. The former is perfect for small areas.
A friend’s city verandah was transformed by the addition of a small fibreglass rockery and waterfall, surrounded by plants. When the French windows were opened, the garden became an extension of the living room, as the pet turtle climbed out of the tiny pool and waddled inside for a visit.
COLOURS
A pastel scheme creates an illusion of space. Bright colours make a space look smaller. I can think of nothing more soothing to the eye, in hot climes, than a garden of white and green, combining variegated (streaked with white) foliage plants with white blooms. Add a single bright splash of colour to break the monotony — a brilliantly hued sculpture or garden feature.
Think colours when you plan: the front lawn bordered by red, blue and yellow flowers, large terracotta pots in the verandah planted with orange flowers, or a pink and purple flower bed with a garden bench to match.
HARD FACTS
Think of practical things like space for a compost or garbage pit, kennels, outside taps and a clothesline. Consider real problems and solutions, especially for areas that need special treatment, like an ugly drainpipe or septic tank that needs to be concealed, an outdoor dining area that requires privacy from the tall building next door. Not much can be done if you live in a noisy area, but a gentle tinkle of bells or falling water, combined with the greenery, may actually help filter out the noise.
FITTING AND IMPROVISING
Once you have your list, look at what you can incorporate into your space. Can you include a tiny dining area, a water feature and a clothes line in your terrace garden and also have room for a dog kennel? Plan a clothesline that folds out of sight, and use the kennel as a feature for your terrace, surrounding it with plants and a water feature. As for privacy, hang blinds near your dining space that can be lowered when required and do not block the sunlight your plants need.
If you want a badminton court, an area for entertaining, and flower, herb and vegetable beds, and your garden space is a narrow rectangle — think of solutions. The shuttle court can double as entertaining space, edged by raised beds with a mix of flowers, herbs and vegetable plants. Folding garden seats and tables and garden umbrellas can be set up for a sunny Sunday brunch and paper lights strung up for a dinner.
I had always thought trees were the backbone of a garden, but faced with a site where trees were not an option,
I had the idea of growing large shrubs in raised beds to create the illusion of leafy trees. Visiting the garden years later, I had to be reminded that this was the one garden with no trees. The dense hedges had tricked me into believing the garden was lush with greenery.
WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE
How can existing garden features, like an old garden swing, your grandmother’s carved tulsi planter or the raised flower bed be included in the new plan? The swing could be spruced up with a new tiled roof and a coat of paint; the tulsi planter could be a focal point; and the flower bed could be tweaked, perhaps by reshaping the border and putting in different plants.
I sometimes renovate gardens with old favourites that the client does not want to give up. One example was a particularly ugly pond. Instead of breaking it and constructing a new pool, I revamped it with a tiny wooden pier with rocks, reeds and grasses concealing the concrete edges. That summer, the children of the house enjoyed sitting on the edge of the mock pier with their feet in the water, sailing paper boats and pretending to fish.
Getting the garden you want may take years. Gardening, it is said, is one of the slowest performing arts. But much of the fun lies in the rehearsals — the planning, the trials and even the errors. The pleasure you get from the final performance is worth the wait.
Lathika George is a writer and landscape designer based in Kodaikanal
