The Summer Garden for Outdoor Living
No wonder that the modern attitude toward the gardens and what they represent have developed views traditional over the past fifty years. Not long ago, the garden was "an area" designed to be enjoyed, easy to maintain, however, full variety and ideally provide color throughout the year. In fact, except for running children to play, cutting the grass and decide the best way and the time to prune fruit trees, gardens were considered more in visual terms, that is, within the space of the garden, took a priority over any garden activity. This traditional view has been drastically surpassed in part because of the wide range of garden products with new innovative technologies, but mainly by the dynamic changes in modern life and work habits.
Yes they have become smaller gardens and those in generally have less time for landscape maintenance activities, but most demand more and spend (time and money) more on getting the right air space free for them and enjoy more time outdoors, either alone or with family and friends.
No matter if we take into account your garden big or small, minimalist or traditional, should not be seen only as an asset to add value to your home or property, but more importantly as an asset that enhances your lifestyle outdoors.
A place to sit
Most likely to spend more time sitting in the garden and eat than any other activity. Therefore, it is vitally important the provision of outdoor space has this important aspect into account. Invariably the sitting and eating activities take place at or near the patio areas. Not so long ago were built of concrete patios or slabs. In more advanced gardens, always crazy paving broken pieces of natural stone used. Today the choice is extensive including a wide range of natural stone that includes best sellers like sandstone, granite and stone limestone to name a few. Undoubtedly sandstone available in a wide range of sizes and colors is a bestseller and the preferred option by far most people. maintenance natural stone remains undemanding preferred option over other alternatives other products like the man patio and terrace. Locating the patio in the sunny garden is obvious, but you'd be surprised to discover how often this precious place in the garden is occupied by the garden shed. Monitor the movements of the sun throughout the day to determine the best location for the patio. Most prefer sunny positions in late afternoon or evening, but others prefer the dappled shade during midday. So choose a location for the patio, where and when you are more likely to use it most. Patios should be level so you do not have trip hazards in the joints or patio chairs, no annoying rock every time I change position. They must also have a slight slope or drop of rain to escape. A typical drop is 25 mm 1000 mm (approx. 1:40). Fall should not be confused with the slope sites can be intelligently used to create division or different levels in the yard. In other words it is not too fast sloping ground level and look for new ideas rather than developing imaginative ways patio. In larger sites is not uncommon to find two or more courts, designed to maximize the sun at specific times.
Plants please
Of all the elements that will compose the perfect garden, the plants after the component structure are essential. The choice plant of today is almost infinite, if your preference is evergreen or deciduous (shed leaves in autumn), haters of lime or lime-tolerant,
prefers sun or shade conditions, dry or wet, open or protected. Also how to use plants in the garden can produce specific effects on the size and garden style in general. Some plants can be planted as a single specimen, ie the center of attention in a bed or to provide low level detection requirement. Others may be planted as informal ie, natural or formal groups to create stunning geometric designs.
Ideally that plants should be used as a natural way possible in order to enhance the look you want if you try to follow a smooth curve, or sometimes affect the overall appearance. For example, trees and shrubs can be cleverly used to disguise a long narrow garden to look larger, in fact, on the contrary the plants also can be used to extend large gardens that are not very long with the taller plants near the house and shorter distance to create a perspective effect that makes the garden appear longer.
Although plants can be used in a variety of ways, it is well worth considering the maintenance issues before to make the final selection. There is little point in planting large varieties in confined spaces, and despite repeated cutting or pruning the plant or gardener will never be happy. Instead choose plants carefully consider mature height and spread not only what the label states … in ten years … "Because the plants are growing. Instead try to determine what is the actual plant height and circulate at maturity. Choose plants adapted to suit the soil from the site, prevailing conditions and size. In this way you will have flowering plants and require little or no court.
Borders may be straight, but better to have smooth curves. Avoid intricate curves and especially the roads that dissect the lawn that will destroy the open aspect and make the garden appear smaller. Conditions in place via of oneside. Ideally, the borders with at least two or three plant lines look much more interesting. The backline which generally account for more varieties are the backbone high throughout the year with the middle and lower lines in the foreground providing seasonal impact. Beds should be at least 900 mm to 1200 mm deep and hide like structures rotating lines or garden sheds may be greater than 2,000 mm or more.
For added interest, try to use plants and shrubs with contrasting shapes, heights and colors all linked in a smooth flowing around the garden. More impact can be achieved by planting in groups and I think here the best that odd., ie, the plant in groups of 3,5,7,9, etc. for this purpose. Group planting can be very effective to emphasize the curved nature of the border. It is also best to leave at least a gap of 100 mm-150 mm between plants first line and the edge of the lawn, this can be easily maintained and looks especially attractive when topped with bark mulch dressing mini-chip. Alternative lawn edges are available including brick, stone is a solution very effective in the long term for the definition of grass-bed border, but also provides a useful (grass should be at least 20 mm above the height of the stone) cut the strip and walking area for seasonal maintenance work.
Increasing your mood
Raised beds are becoming a very popular feature for more gardens, not only to provide greater height and therefore the presence of the plantation particular arrangements, but a great solution for creating the soil conditions required for specific groups of plants not found elsewhere in the garden. Here azaleas, rhododendron, flame of the forest, all with spectacular foliage and flowers and features are easy to grow if the soil is free lime soil. These soil conditions are easy to create raised beds. Raised beds can be placed against the wall dividing or more prominently as island beds within paved areas. Raised beds can be built a brick, natural stone and a variety of woods can also be used to create attractive venues water games. creeping plant beds can be used to great effect on raised beds.
Watered Features
There is a wide range of types and sizes, but today people choice is influenced by aspects of security and low maintenance requirements, hence the popularity of Reservoir features typically located at or near the patio area which enjoys better for both visual and sound effects of dripping water. In more contemporary gardens Stainless steel columns are a popular choice. Regardless of your style preference, water features add a new dimension to any garden. All that is required is careful attention to detail, thoughtful selection of plants, eg ferns, ornamental grasses combined with natural river cobbles to create compositions great features and very pleasant to behold.
The Meaning of Light
Lighting is really one should have in the garden. Not only can a regular garden look spectacular that reveals a facet not seen during the day, but come dusk silhouettes of trees and shrubs against textured walls take on a whole new meaning. As well as gardens can be visually admired for his interest during the day, lighting offers a new dimension to the meaning of beauty in the garden at night though. Many lighting effects to be considered as distributed lamps on access roads, uplighting to direct light through the branches and trunks of trees or building walls, spot lighting can be used to illuminate a statue or water feature and Downlighting is often used to illuminate the steps.
Content Treasures
Growing plants in containers in the case of seasonal summer planting and / or all plantations throughout the year has an important for planting aspect of the gardens. Much easier and less costly to introduce a garden, whether container urns, planters or terra cotta pots poor can be very cleverly used to add drama and bold color schemes for areas within the garden. Container planting also allows the cultivation of plants which might be too strong to grow in the open due to lack of space or other limitations. The bamboos are great container plants so are the Japanese maples, but require sheltered conditions, which may not be available in open beds during the winter months. Containers may be units mobile very useful in locating around a courtyard with great effect. Try bringing scents (lavender, santolina, rosemary or Helichrysum) closer to the patio. For more impact and try to use three types of plants per container, ie, shows the high place in the center, small compact trailers in the corners and between corners.
In brief
For some of us relaxing in the garden is just sitting or guidance in the hammock, usually in the sun, but perhaps increasingly in the dappled shade. Whether alone or with family and friends, sitting, eating, sleeping or entertaining outdoors is an important aspect of how we relax and sometimes, let's be honest, a popular place to get away from everything. "In today's outdoor spaces reflect our preferred approach life with an inner life and hence the common bond to cover or take out the garden in. Regardless of how it does, more and more people are demanding more of outdoor living space and want to integrate more with the "inner world created" both visually, but also how and what activities take place outdoors. How using the outdoor space is increasingly becoming more important than how it looks. In other words, homeowners today are demanding more functionality from the gardens, yes, you guessed it, the form follows function, is the principle that prevails and the most intelligent approach to the determination of outdoor space.
Chubb is Director Owen Owen Chubb Garden Landscapes Limited, an established and award winning landscaping company that offers clients a complete landscaping service including Garden Design, construction and planting. A full member of the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland (ALCI), the only professional body for contractors gardening and proud winners of the prestigious 2005 Award for Best ALCI private garden (more than € 13,000 Category). Tel 128 087-206 / 01-492 0904 www.owenchubblandscapers.com
About the Author
The Author is a professional garden designer and owner/manager of award winning Dublin based landscaping company: ‘Owen Chubb Garden Landscapes Limited’. The company has extensive experience of designing and constructing stunning gardens in a range of sizes and styles. Featuring natural paving (sandstone, limestone and granite) and mature planting, it’s attention to detail that has made it’s name and practical kno-how that has created many stunning compositions.
website: www.owenchubblandscapers.com
blog: www.owenchubblandscapers.com/news
The Children’s Room – a garden grows
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A Kid`s Guide to Landscape Design (Reinforced Hardcover) $29.65 Provides advice and instructions on designing and creating a landscaped garden, including tips on plant selection, keeping a gardening journal, and making compost. |
