So you want to have the perfect garden? Well that does seem like an ambitious task or is it? I suppose that in order to plan this perfect garden the first thing we should do is to is define just what the perfect garden is.
Defining The Perfect Garden
The perfect garden is _ (you fill in the blank)
Well I guess that is not really fair but it accurate. You see before you can go about designing the perfect garden you really need to have a clear picture of just what it is that you want from this garden. Do you want to have a quiet area for you to sit and read a book in a soothing wooded area? How about a bright flashy garden full of flowers blooming in all colors and shades butterflies flitting from flower to flower? Do you love the sound of water splashing off rocks? Or does the sound of songbirds in the trees happily calling and singing to each other ease your mind and your soul? Once you have a clear idea of what you are trying to achieve then you are on your way to creating the perfect garden.
Landscape Design and Garden Design are two different things. Landscape Design is generally the combing of elements meant to be seen and appreciated by the masses. Landscapes can be either functional, aesthetic, or both and are usually to frame areas viewed by the public. Garden Design is the vision and wants of the Garden Steward. I say steward, as you can never really own a garden because in the true sense a garden is a living dynamic thing that is always in a state of change and will really never be finished. A garden is different every day there will be new blooms, fading blooms, and yes even plants dying and returning to replenish the soil from where they sprang.
The real definition of the perfect garden is a place that you can go and enjoy a place that makes you happy and that fulfills your senses. The perfect garden is different for everybody as long as you like it that is all that matters. If per chance your design appeals to the masses well that is an added bonus and gives you a chance to do a little chest puffing.
Step One
The first real step in the process of course is to determine where you want to place your garden to an extent this will have some bearing on the final design. If the area is sunny you will need to consider this when choosing plants. Are their natural features that will need to be incorporated like rock outcroppings or streams? How much change to the current conditions are you willing to make? How much money are you willing to spend?
This may take you several minutes or several days the best thing to do is got to the area several times throughout the day. Check how the sun moves across and the general conditions of the area. Spend a good bit of time looking and then thinking what would really appeal to you.
Step Two
Now that you have a good idea of what you want and where you want to put it is time for some research. Knowing the general growing conditions spend some time with garden catalogs and online plant websites to determine what will grow in the conditions of where your garden is going. Choose the plants that appeal to you and note if they require any special cultural conditions. Remember that the full-grown size will also determine where you will be able to place certain plants.
Next you will need to determine how many of each type of plant you will need to finish the area you are planning. Once you have all the numbers in place it is time to think about your budget. Small plants can quickly add up to big money if you start buying hundreds of them. A good idea may be to start with some and over the years divide them up or take cuttings and start new ones. Another good idea is to ask friends and neighbors for some cuttings or divisions of their plants.
Before you actually start your planting you should be sure improve the conditions of the soil in your planting beds. Most county agricultural extension services and many college horticultural departments offer soil-testing services for little or no cost. This is the best investment you can make in getting your garden off to a good start.
Even if you are revamping existing beds it is a good idea to check the soil and add amendments to give your plants the best growing conditions. The money spent on compost and manure or lime and sulfur will pay off for many years to come and insure that the money you have spent on your plants will be more secure because of the proper soil conditions.
Step Three
Now that your research is done and you have your planting areas prepared it is time to start the final step. The final planting of your garden is about to begin. The best way to approach this is to list all the different elements and plantings you will be doing and then put an estimated completion time next to them. The other most critical thing for step three is to put together a garden notebook. This will include all the plant ideas that you had research earlier, your soil test, your list with the completion times, and the most important thing will be a lot of blank pages for all the changes and ideas you come up with.
You see in reality step three is really just the beginning of your plan. As you start to add elements to the perfect garden you are going to see things that are just what you want and then you will find things that look okay but you may want to tweak them. Even with the best of research and pre-planning you will find that some plants just don’t look right where you had planned them or are not doing well and will need to be moved. Each time you are in the garden you will be able to find something to ad to your notebook. You may very well never get to all the ideas and plans in the notebook.
The most important thing is as the years go by the changes you make and the time you spend sitting, exploring, and enjoying your garden will ensure that your garden is the perfect garden for you because it will evolve and change and be shaped by you into the area that will fill your senses and sooth your mind and soul.
One last thought that will help you to really savory your garden and all your accomplishments is to invest in a digital camera. Start out by taking photos before the first shovel is turned and then keep taking pictures through the seasons and through the years. There is nothing quite so satisfying as looking back over a number of years and seeing the fruits of your labor and the fruition of your dreams and plans!
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