Garden landscaping ideas

Garden landscaping ideas how to plan and create your perfect garden

Re-designing your garden is an exciting prospect. Do you wish you had somewhere to sit, relax, entertain or let the children play? Maybe you are just a little bored and want a garden design that is more colourful, varied or maintenance friendly. Garden landscaping is the ideal way to craft an attractive space to grow plants that give you a beautiful environment and design a practical layout that allows you to use your garden how you want.

But where do you start? Take a look at our answers to common garden landscaping questions; whether its planning and budgeting, resourcing and building or aesthetic planting, our guide holds the key to the garden landscaping design of your dreams.

How do I start my garden design?

Landscaping ideas start with good research. Take inspiration by visiting garden centres, public gardens, annual garden shows, even other people’s houses to get a feel of what is to your taste. Take into account your garden size and think about what you need your garden to do for you. Then, take to the drawing board to sketch your ideas and make mood boards from magazines and Pinterest of your dream garden landscape.

Elements to consider when first planning garden landscaping ideas

Walls and boundaries Hedges and fences Paths and patios Lawns Water features Zoning areas (dining, playing, shading) Planting: trees, shrubs, pots Lighting Out-buildings

22 Next consider your plot. Look at the size and shape and take into consideration the direction if faces, the style of your house it will be framing and the surrounding area. Achieving balance is a strong aspect of good garden design; pay equal attention to all areas and remember that plants and shrubs will change size and shape throughout the seasons.

Do you prefer formal or informal gardens? Formal gardens tend to be tidy and geometric with lots of straight lines and clipped hedges, whereas informal gardens are made up of organic curves and planting is much more relaxed.

Soften a sloping garden with grass steps

If your garden is on different levels but you’re not keen on hard landscaping severely breaking things up take inspiration from this garden we saw in North Bristol. Instead of incorporating stone steps, They used grass treads, integrating them into the existing lawn to connect the lower patio to the small sun terrace above. Creating a softer approach to the flow, seamlessly journeying from one space to the other.

Pave the way

The trend for creating garden zones is hugely popular, meaning the need for having a garden path is great. A link that unites the different areas is not only highly practical, it can also be visually appealing as this example demonstrates. Without a pathway you’ll soon find that you tread an unsightly channel into the lawn – which will ruin all your hard work with the overall garden aesthetic.

While the best time to redesign your space is in winter when plants are dormant, looking at it in summer gives you the chance to really understand how you use the space. Or if you just want to add new surfaces, you can do so now and reap the rewards this summer.

Either way enjoys your garden

Method

Slice the peaches into thick wedges

Arrange on a griddle pan over a high heat

Cook for 3-4 mins, until lightly charred

Put half the slices in a blender, along with 200ml of the Rosé and blend until smooth

Strain through a sieve, pressing down with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible

Pour the remaining 550ml rosé into a tall jug before adding the peach mixture, along with 100ml white rum, 50ml orange liqueur, the remaining peach wedges, 1 lime, cut into wedges, 3 mint sprigs and plenty of ice

Stir well before serving

*2.1 alcohol units per glass

Ingredients

2 large peaches Shiraz Rosé 100ml white rum 50ml orange liqueur 1 lime, cut into wedges 3 mint sprigs Ice