s tarting from scratch - diy garden · 2019-03-13 · and pets. if you have a swimming pool, make...

94 FEBRUARY 2019 | gardenandhome.co.za

GARDEN DESIGN

Daunted by the thought of turning a small bare patch into a garden? Not sure where to start? Follow these expert guidelines

With the help of landscaper Shirley Wallington, this small rectangular

courtyard garden now includes a lawn, a lap pool and a covered

pergola (not visible).

Starting FROM SCRATCH

gardenandhome.co.za | FEBRUARY 2019 95

You’ve bought the townhouse/cluster; the furniture is in but the garden is a bare patch of lawn. Where and how do you start to turn it into a lush environment for relaxing and entertaining? Tasha Tollman of DIY

Garden Designer has this advice.

ESTABLISH YOUR STYLEThe first step is to decide on the look and feel of the garden. It should always be an extension of the house so take your cue from the architecture, for example, a very modern design should be complemented by a contemporary garden. However, you may be fortunate that the design of your home is neutral enough to accommodate any style.

Look through magazines and websites and collect pictures of gardens that you love. From these you’ll know what appeals to you. Here are some popular styles.

Cottage Informal lines and curving beds overflowing with flowering plants such as roses, foxgloves, day lilies, salvias, phlox and felicias. In these gardens, herbs, vegetables and flowers are interplanted.Romantic Arches and arbours covered with creepers, hidden paths and flowers chosen for their scent; think jasmine, wisteria, sweet peas, roses, lavender, rosemary and pelargoniums.Oriental Symbolism plays an important part in oriental design with rocks representing mountains or islands; sand and gravel representing water; and paths representing your journey through life. Think clipped and shaped shrubs and trees such as acers and bamboo, and moss.Mediterranean Clean, simple lines, warm earthy colours and drought-resistant plants including cypress and olive trees, bougainvillea, lavender, salvia, Tulbaghia violacea and pelargoniums.Tropical Combine large-leafed plants, colourful foliage

and flowers like frangipani, hibiscus, delicious monster, philodendrons, cordylines, ornamental ginger and canna lilies. Formal Lots of structure, straight lines, classic features and restrained use of colour. !

When space is tight, combine features such as a bench that

accommodates a water feature.

Characteristics of a cottage garden are relaxed curving beds filled with a mix of flowers, herbs and vegetables.

Include terracotta pots, gravel paths and lemon and olive trees in a Mediterranean garden.

GARDEN DESIGN

Daunted by the thought of turning a small bare patch into a garden? Not sure where to start? Follow these expert guidelines

With the help of landscaper Shirley Wallington, this small rectangular

courtyard garden now includes a lawn, a lap pool and a covered

pergola (not visible).

Starting FROM SCRATCH

You’ve bought the townhouse/cluster; the furniture is in but the garden is a bare patch of lawn. Where and how do you start to turn it into a lush environment for relaxing and entertaining? Tasha Tollman of DIY

Garden Designer has this advice.

ESTABLISH YOUR STYLEThe first step is to decide on the look and feel of the garden. It should always be an extension of the house so take your cue from the architecture, for example, a very modern design should be complemented by a contemporary garden. However, you may be fortunate that the design of your home is neutral enough to accommodate any style.

Look through magazines and websites and collect pictures of gardens that you love. From these you’ll know what appeals to you. Here are some popular styles.

Cottage Informal lines and curving beds overflowing with flowering plants such as roses, foxgloves, day lilies, salvias, phlox and felicias. In these gardens, herbs, vegetables and flowers are interplanted.Romantic Arches and arbours covered with creepers, hidden paths and flowers chosen for their scent; think jasmine, wisteria, sweet peas, roses, lavender, rosemary and pelargoniums.Oriental Symbolism plays an important part in oriental design with rocks representing mountains or islands; sand and gravel representing water; and paths representing your journey through life. Think clipped and shaped shrubs and trees such as acers and bamboo, and moss.Mediterranean Clean, simple lines, warm earthy colours and drought-resistant plants including cypress and olive trees, bougainvillea, lavender, salvia, Tulbaghia violacea and pelargoniums.Tropical Combine large-leafed plants, colourful foliage

and flowers like frangipani, hibiscus, delicious monster, philodendrons, cordylines, ornamental ginger and canna lilies. Formal Lots of structure, straight lines, classic features and restrained use of colour. !

When space is tight, combine features such as a bench that

accommodates a water feature.

Characteristics of a cottage garden are relaxed curving beds filled with a mix of flowers, herbs and vegetables.

Include terracotta pots, gravel paths and lemon and olive trees in a Mediterranean garden.

GARDEN FEATURESDecide what features you want to include. These could be a sitting and dining area, a quiet spot for relaxation, a children’s play area and an edible garden. Keep in mind that in a small space you’ll have to combine some of these, for instance, surrounding a paved outdoor living area with beds in which edibles are planted. You may need a lawn for children and pets. If you have a swimming pool, make this part of the entertaining area with a paved section big enough to accommodate a table and chairs. If you want somewhere to bird watch, read a book or meditate then make sure that this is in an out-of-the way nook in, for example, a corner or side passage.

HARD LANDSCAPINGMake a scale drawing of the layout on graph paper. The functional hard landscaping elements – boundary walls,

pathways, steps, edging, patios and terraces form the framework of the design. Choose materials that suit your chosen style. For instance, sandstone and gravel suit French-style gardens, while railway sleepers and bricks are ideal for a rustic or tropical look.

Start by deciding where the largest features will go. The entertaining area should ideally be near the kitchen and extend off the living area to create a sense of space. Place the lawn alongside. Connect each area with pathways as these are essential for getting from one end of the garden to the other and for moving equipment such as lawnmowers and wheelbarrows. Although primarily functional, pathways can be attractive landscaping elements, inviting you to explore and adding interest through the pattern, materials and shape.

DECORATIVE ELEMENTSDecorative elements accentuate the style of the design and draw the eye. These include archways and arbours, pergolas and gazebos, water features and finishing touches such as benches, pots, urns, sculptures, murals and mosaics.

Also consider water features as the sound helps to muffle the noise from traffic and neighbours. Position a small fishpond or wall-mounted fountain so it’s a focal point and keep sightlines from inside the house in mind to establish attractive views.

Use decorative elements to overcome the challenges of a small area, for example: to detract attention from the neighbours’ house, place a gazebo against the boundary wall. Turn walls into assets by embellishing them with mouldings, wooden panels and artwork. With the help of creepers and trellis, walls can also become vertical growing surfaces.

Landscaper Shirley Wallington designed this outdoor kitchen, which includes a

dining area and pizza oven.

A change of levels creates a sense of space as well as a destinationfrom which to admire the garden.Design Sonita Young

Railway sleepers complement the natural look of meadow planting.

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SOURCES Tasha Tollman DIY Garden Designer

diygardendesigner.com Shirley Wallington wallington.co.za

Sonita Young younglandscapedesignstudio.co.za

PLANTINGOne of the advantages of a small garden is that it requires fewer plants, but limited space means reducing the number of different plants. Choose around seven varieties and plant these in large groupings. This gives a calm unified effect that’s pleasing to the eye. Spend time researching suitable plants and select only those that thrive in your area as each plant plays a vital role in a small space. Make sure that those planted together have the same water requirements.

To link the house and garden, place beds close to the house, as well as along boundary walls. Start by establishing a framework of trees and shrubs to form the backdrop for the planting and block out unwanted views. Check the full-grown height of shrubs and trees before making a selection to ensure that they won’t grow too large for the space. Good trees for small gardens include Heteropyxis natalensis, Bolusanthus speciosus, Acer palmatum and Olea europaea subsp. africana. Evergreen shrubs include Buxus sempervirens, varieties of pittosporum and euonymus and Abelia chinensis Floribunda.

The next layer of planting will be perennials that add seasonal colour. Choose those with long flowering periods and interesting foliage for year-round interest and contrast. Salvias, Limonium perezii, achillea, argyranthemum, dietes, felicias and erigeron are great value for money. To create the illusion of depth and make a small garden appear larger, plant the large-leafed plants in the front, the medium-leafed ones in the middle and those with small leaves at the back.

You don’t have to do everything at once. Start with the backdrop of trees and shrubs then put in the hard landscaping as a sitting area is usually essential. Then gradually add layers of decoration and planting.

A pot water feature takesup very little space and helps to muffle noise.

Choose decorative elements such as a bench that

emphasises the style.

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