Laying out a garden correctly through good planning

A garden should be laid out according to a plan, because the wish list is usually long and often not everything grows and thrives as one had imagined. That is why it is very important to consider the basic requirements in advance, such as the location, size, and condition of the property. Furthermore, there are the wishes regarding what you want to do in the garden: rather beautiful places to linger or a kitchen garden where you can harvest plenty of fruit and vegetables? Or do many children want to romp around in the garden?

1. Creating a wish list for the perfect garden

First, you should write down your wishes. You should take a lot of time for this, so that you don't realize after a short time that something does not meet your expectations at all. You should ask yourself a few basic questions:

• Do I want a garden for relaxation? I'm not interested in gardening? Then the garden should be laid out to be low-maintenance.
• Do I want to use the garden actively for sports? Or for my children? Then choose a durable lawn and leave large areas free.
• Do you love gardening and enjoy large flower beds? Then you can plan for high-maintenance beds.
• You want to bring the garden into harmony with nature, then the choice falls on a natural garden.
• It should be a very special garden, then you can venture into plant rarities or a theme (Asian garden or Mediterranean).
• Or you want to create a kitchen garden to be able to harvest fruit, vegetables, and herbs.

In addition to these questions, you should also consider the family situation. Are children planned, for example? Then do not plant the whole garden for now, but plan space for a play area (swing, slide, etc.). Or plan roughly how you want to redesign the garden when the children have moved out. Or you can already plan how you can switch to raised beds later when you are older, as these are easier to work with then. Do you want to mow the lawn yourself or would you rather buy a robotic lawnmower? When making the wish list, it is very important to set priorities.

2. What is actually feasible in your own garden

Once you have created your wish list, the next step should be to put the real conditions to the acid test.

• What are the light, shade, and wind conditions?
• What is the current status, are there trees, springs, ponds, exposed rock?
• Are structural measures necessary (fences, paths, steps, terrace, pond, etc.)?
• What about the costs?

The house should be in harmony with the garden and harmonize beautifully. Of course, you can also try it with contrasts; it is entirely a matter of taste. The best use of space and lighting is achieved if you position the house in the northeast of the property. If you want to plant certain flowers or vegetables, then also make sure that the characteristics of the respective plant are taken into account. Because every plant has its own preferences regarding shade, sun, and water. It is best to study the labels before buying or get advice! For a sloping property, it is advisable to create terraces so that you can maintain the garden and the water does not wash away the soil. Be careful here too, a robotic lawnmower unfortunately cannot mow on sloping meadows.

3. The most well-known garden styles

There are of course a lot of garden types and styles, but there are basically 3 styles that have become the most established:

• Formal garden

This garden is characterized by its correct symmetry and geometry. Here, areas are strictly separated by hedges, fences, or paths. Of course, hedges, standard trees, etc., which are trimmed into various shapes, beautiful statues, and fountains should not be missing. This variant is very maintenance-intensive and is also very suitable for small gardens.

• Natural garden

As the name suggests, this garden should be very natural. You want to intervene as little as possible and also attract many animals and insects. Once it grows, not much maintenance is necessary. This includes natural, wild, and organic gardens.

• Free style

This garden is a mixture of both and should radiate an artificial naturalness. Here, trees and shrubs are planted loosely, and beds are laid out. The plants are the focus; structural elements such as fountains or ponds are subordinate. Here, a geometrically shaped element can exist next to a freely designed one. Often, beds are laid out beautifully geometrically here, and a little further away lies a natural pond.

Making the garden usable for living creatures too

Environmental protection is becoming increasingly important, the climate has already changed significantly, and yet still too little is being done for the environment. Bees are dying out, birds are disappearing, this cannot go on. Make sure to have natural areas in your garden. Do not pave the whole garden or always mow everything down completely. It is becoming increasingly important that we actively do something so that insects, birds, and animals RETAIN space in our garden. Therefore, plan the following things in the garden:

• Let natural meadows grow in the garden (do not always mow everything down)
• Ponds or water points for insects and birds
• Birdhouses, nesting places
• Plant trees
• Plant native (!) shrubs
• Plant many colorful flowers and herbs
• Provide insect hotels
• Do not always get rid of leaves immediately, hedgehogs often find shelter there

The garden must suit you

Ultimately, it doesn't matter what you choose, the only important thing is that it suits you personally, because what is the point if you create a maintenance-intensive garden and then realize that you actually have far too little time or even desire for it. Design beautiful corners, be it a flower bed or space for an arbor or hammock. A garden should give you joy, and you should feel comfortable in it, then it can really become a wonderful place of relaxation.

Read also: Decorations for house and garden

Photos by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at