Garden design principles

Designing a garden can sometimes feel like climbing a mountain. But before you start mapping out specifics we suggest some basic design principles that can take your garden from Mt Doom to Shangri-La.
Before you launch into where to place paths or garden beds, consider these basic design principles that will  guide and inspire you.


COLOUR
You may be after a garden that is bold and colourful or leafy and green. Your choice of plants, trees, paving  and other elements will add to the overall look and feel.
Warm colours such as red, orange, yellow, are bolder than cool colours such as green, blue, and purple.
They will stand out and give an instant impact. To increase the visual splendor of warm colours try adding a contrasting element such as a light paver or pot nearby.
And when using warm colours, try placing them in a smooth and gradual sequence, for example, red to orange to yellow.


FORM
Form is the shape or visual appearance of your plants. A way to create interest in your garden is by grouping plants of varying forms together.
Another option is to create form is using climbing vines on designed lattice or clipping your hedge into interesting shapes.
Your eyes are drawn unconsciously both vertically and horizontally by the way plants are grouped. This is handy to remember because it can draw the eye towards pleasant areas of your garden and away from unattractive areas.
The use of line can also give your garden a certain character for example, curving and graceful lines are soft and pleasing. While straight lines and shapes are bold and official.  And using irregular straight lines can give your garden an energetic feel.


FOCAL POINT
Some gardens have a particularly prominent feature that attracts the viewer.
Things like water features, sculptures, or large trees and plants should be arranged to stand out, perhaps with a line of plants or a path to lead the eye to them and isolate them from the rest of the garden.


SCALE
Scale is simply the size of one object compared to another. If your garden is not in proportion it generally won't look right.
However this can used to your advantage, placing a seriers of large to small pot plants in a line can add an intresting design element to your overall arrangement. Try experimenting with scale to create your preferred look.


TEXTURE
Similar to Form, texture is the tactile surface of your plant's leaves and trunk.
Using texture can be subtle, for example placing a Paper Bark next to a Silver
Birch tree, or it can be overt grouping a fuzzy Kangaroo Paw with a shiny Lilly Pilly.
Consider the texture of the leaves and trunks of your plants to add to the overall appeal of your garden.


GROUPING
The grouping of your plants and trees is important. Individual plantings should be grouped in odd numbers and  irregularly spaced - don't use equilateral triangles. If you're planting a mass grouping, pay attention to the texture, colours and height of the plants you're using, and arrange them in a sequence to lead the eye.


REPETITION
This technique creates harmony by referencing visual elements of the garden over and again.
You can also take design cues from the house itself. However, be sure to find a balance. While too many contrasting elements can make the garden busy and cluttered, too much repetition is boring.


SPACE
Space can have a huge impact on the feel of your garden. Small enclosed spaces can seem claustrophobic, while large sweeping areas will seem bare.
Luckily, there's a magic number to help you strike the right
balance. Make sure the ratio of your home's height to your garden's width is 1:4 or less to give your green space the correct sense of proportion.
To add space to a small area consider using smooth edges and perimeters, creating a slight downhill slope  adds length, and fine textures for depth.
If the task ahead sounds massive a landscape designer will be able to draw up a plan to suit your needs and budget. If you come to them with as much information as possible about your needs and wants, they will be
able to incorporate practicality and aesthetic appeal with the design principles.


Reproduced with permission Century 21 Life@home  http://www.century21.com.au/life-at-home/