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Planning a garden
Gardens can be designed
from scratch, but frequently they are re-created from an established
garden. Often a few simple changes are all you need to bring new life and
much pleasure to an existing garden.
Whether you are adapting
an existing garden or designing one to make it more inviting and easier to
work, involves making decisions. Who will use the garden? During what times
of the day & year? What is the level of their disability?
There are many ways to
change an established ground level garden to make it more user-friendly, to
suit your physical abilities, needs & aesthetic preferences. The new
garden can designed around, and incorporate, existing
ground level garden beds, paths, fences, decks, patios, overhead structures
(eaves, pergolas, arches).
A helpful starting point
is to sketch a scale drawing of the site. Cut out pieces of paper to represent
new elements (e.g. raised garden beds, containers, seating) and move them around
until you find a pleasing arrangement, one that provides ready access to
indoors, tool sheds, water, paths etc.
Assess the
garden’s aspect i.e. the degree of warmth & shelter. Can the
garden layout & plantings be improved to make gardening more
comfortable? This is especially important for gardeners sensitive to
temperature & light.
Once the garden areas
& paths are suitably surfaced, gardening spaces can be incorporated or
added using raised beds, planter boxes, pots & containers and vertical
garden structures (pergolas, trellises, hanging baskets).
Decide on outdoor garden
planting type: ground level, raised beds (of one or more heights), pots
& containers (small to very large), raised planter boxes, vertical
elements, window boxes.
Some important factors
to consider:
Access from house to garden
- Ease in
getting around in the garden is an essential factor.
- Anyone who
uses assistive equipment (crutches, walkers, wheelchairs) or who has
compromised balance & coordination, will need firm paving to get
around the garden.
- Grass,
loose gravel & woodchips are unsuitable surfaces for paths &
working areas.
- Provide
adequate night lighting.
- Paths
& ground surfaces that are smooth, firm,
non-slip, non-reflective, and that provide good traction and minimal
trip hazards are desirable.
- Ground
surfaces should be level (maximum slope 1/20) and preferably
well-drained and low maintenance. Such surfaces also provide a stable
base for garden structures (containers, planter boxes etc). Examples are
properly installed concrete, pavers, bricks, stone flagging & setts).
- Timber
decking may be an option but it can be slippery when wet. Crushed
gravel is an option if well compacted & drained.
- Paths
should be wide enough to accommodate passage & turning, and sharp
turns should be avoided.
- The slope
of paths should be no steeper than 1:20; avoid steps.
- Areas such
as patios that perform several functions (like outdoor dining, as well
as gardening) should be large enough to allow access to all garden
elements (e.g. seating, raised beds) allowing free movement for all
who use the space.
- Incorporate
hand rails & seating where appropriate.
Garden structures
- Consider
making changes in the garden layout to enhance the ease with which you
can move through the garden & access all elements.
- Add raised
beds, planter boxes, & containers to the garden, bringing the soil
level & plants up to a comfortable working height. Make sure they
are set at a height that gives maximum arm comfort & flexibility.
- Minimise
digging by making your garden a no-dig garden.
- Incorporate
vertical structures to train plants against (pergolas, trellises,
tee-pees, stakes) or espalier plants against
a wall: to grow plants upwards, for easy tending.
- Hanging
baskets suspended from overheard structures (such as pergolas or house
eaves) can bring plants to a comfortable working level.
Watering
Design the garden so
that all parts are easily accessed by a water supply.
Minimise your watering
needs. Good strategies are to
- Improve
soil structure (add compost, use an organic mulch such as leaf litter)
- Mulch the
soil to reduce evaporation
- Grow
drought tolerant plants
- Use large
containers & raised beds as they dry out less rapidly than small
ones
- add water
crystals to the soil mix.
- Use a hose
in preference to a watering can
- Use a
lightweight watering can
- Have a
hose reel on wheels which makes it easier to reach all parts of the
garden.
Garden tools
Consider different tools
& techniques to make gardening easier, so you can spend more time
enjoying the efforts of your labour.
For example
- Try
multipurpose tools such as those with interchangeable fittings.
- Long-handled
secateurs that are controlled by the arm
& hand may be easier to use than hand-controlled secateurs.
- Lightweight
tools & light lawnmowers are available for mowing small areas of
grass.
Plant selection
- Choose
plants that are not fussy & tolerate occasional neglect.
- Choose a
mixture of low maintenance plants and fussy ones.
- Visit your
local nursery on a non-busy day & get advice about appropriate
plants that grow well in your locality.
- Keep trees
& shrubs near paths pruned, to prevent trip hazards & injury.
- Avoid
growing prickly plants near paths.
- Consider a
lawn alternative (convert the lawn to garden beds, use ground covers,
or pave to use as a sitting area).
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