APPROACHES TO GARDEN PLANNING

1) 'GROUND PLAN 'APPROACH

Pros - * It is a useful and entertaining exercise

 * It is a useful way of looking at what may be a complex area - A TOOL

Cons -

* In practice you never see a whole garden from above the nearest is through a bedroom window, but most people don't generally view the garden from there!

* One rarely has the opportunity to make a garden entirely from scratch.

* It is more likely to close options.

* What looks good on paper may not work out in practice.

2.' EVOLUTIONARY' APPROACH

Pros -

* Can be carried out over a much longer period of time.

* Can be done an area at a time as you have the time and money etc.

* Easier to preserve good mature plants or plantings and features & proportions.

Cons -

* There is a tendency to keep second rate plants etc.

* It makes radical change less likely.

Conclusion

Use the Ground Plan approach to help in planning

- but unless you are very sure and have lots of money and energy go for the Evolutionary Approach

Making a ground plan:-

1. Measure & use scale say 1cm = 1 m depending on size of the garden - with or without squared paper.

2. Use simple  Triangulation to fix objects & plot irregular shapes (take any fixed point & measure the distance to the object being located, using a protractor see where the curves cross.)

3. Draw  in 'Immovable objects' features, hedges, patios, buildings, greenhouse etc.

4. Note Orientation / Shade / Name plants where possible / Note soil conditions / shelter etc.

5. Put in access, gates doors, viewing info.

6. Identify main viewing points e.g. living room and kitchen windows.

Use sketches and other visual aids -

These can help you to see how things will look if you change them, without closing your options.

* Basic ground plan with transparencies or tracing paper, showing the effects of different

options and ideas for layout, use of space , shapes etc. You can also use a PC to help you.

*Rough sketches or photographs, with transparencies help to show the visual impact of

planting, especially shrubs and trees, climbers, fences and pergolas, trellis etc.

*Use visual aids using whatever you have to help you visualise your ideas on the ground.

 

(S.Lord CYOP '00)