Garden Usage & Style

To tailor your own site to your requirements you will need to analyze your family's needs and recognize that this is a continuing process.

Need Assessment

Who uses garden now? How is the garden used now? Will the garden have the same uses in the future or will the usage change?

Here are a few ways the garden can be used:

• Playground
• Outdoor Dining and Entertaining Area
• Pretty Picture from Windows of Home
• Place for Meditation or Exercise
• Dog Run
• Place to Grow Food
• Wildlife Refuge
• Creative Outlet

How many hours a week will be spent in the garden? Do you have any special needs for your site such as screening, privacy, save water, reduce noise, control soil erosion, improve safety, dry clothes, etc.

Design Style Preference

Once you have assessed your needs, it's time to decide what style you like - formal or informal. Formal style has symmetrical compositions balanced about a central axis, whereas informal style is inspired by nature; soft, flowing curves and shapes.

Is there any garden design style to emulate such as English Cottage Garden, Mediterranean Herb Garden, and Japanese Tea Garden? What about a special mood? What is your color palette preference? Any special forms or textures you enjoy? Any special scents or sounds?

Think about things you would like to include in your garden. Would you like to include a water feature? What kind of materials (for paving, fencing, edging, furniture, pots, etc.) do you like? Do you have a special piece of garden sculpture or art that you would like to include? What whimsical features do you enjoy?

Once you pick a design style, stick with it! Keep the style you have chosen in mind when you purchase materials, pots, furniture, and garden ornaments. It will help to unify your garden.

"Helpful Hints"

1. Make a list of specific requirements and what you want your garden to be.
2. Talk to your neighbors about what works for them and what doesn't; what they like about their gardens and what they don't.
3. Take a drive around your neighborhood and surrounding areas and see what appeals to you and what does not. Take notes.
4. Take a drive to local nurseries and botanical gardens to see what plants are available and that grow well in your region. Check out native plants. Take notes.
5. Buy a pile of garden magazines and clip out what you like and start a file.
6. Get in the gardening catalog loop and tag photos, ideas, or lists that you like.
7. Copy photos, ideas, or lists, etc. that you like that you find in gardening books.