When designing the garden of your home, consider how you would like to utilize the space. Do you enjoy entertaining in the garden, swimming, playing tennis, golf, bocce or any other type of recreational outdoor sport or do you prefer to relax in your newly created alfresco retreat with a book and a cup of tea?
You might want to achieve both aesthetical and practical goals, such as pretty flowers and a kitchen garden, small intimate spaces and open places for playing fields. Choosing the right type of plant material will attract (and in some cases, preferably deter) wildlife. The need for creating privacy can be achieved by adding beautiful screening materials; trees will provide shade. Water features add a soothing sound and at the same time mask traffic noise. Beauty and functionality can also be incorporated with structures that will increase your home’s value, such as patios and trellises, pool cabanas and outdoor kitchens, fireplaces and beautifully designed staircases.
Let’s not forget the importance of upkeep and how much time and effort you would like to put in. Lawns, sheared hedges and blousy English gardens in general require more maintenance than a rock/succulent garden. Adding mulch, for example, will help keep weeds out; a sprinkler system throughout eliminates the need for hand watering.
And remember: ‘There are no gardening mistakes, only experiences.’ Janet Kilburn Phillips
