2. Learning objectives
Creating the outline design
Explain the use of a design grid in beginning a garden
design.
Describe how to draw a concept or theme design
Material choices - hard and soft landscaping
Choices in hard landscaping - suiting materials to style,
budget, maintenance considerations, texture, line and
form.
State three hard landscaping materials and relate
these to particular garden styles.
Identify three maintenance issues one for each of
the materials named above
Identify budget considerations for each material
Choices in soft landscaping - seasons of interest, colour,
texture, contrast.
State advantages and disadvantages of ‘instant
gardening’ with mature plants
State three uses of soft landscaping in design
3. Group Discussion – ‘mood board’ and
design ideas exercise
How did you go about finding ideas?
How are you storing and organising
them?
Why did you choose the
images/ideas/objects that you did?
Is there a theme at this stage or did
you just go for interesting stuff?
How can you use this process to find
new ideas, rather than just confirming
existing tastes/attitudes?
4. Design Grids
A guide not handcuffs! But a useful
trick to help keep design in scale and
proportion to the house and, therefore,
people.
On tracing paper over the scale plan.
Draw horizontal and vertical lines from
house corners, then add lines from
corners of windows, doors etc. Add
sight lines in another colour.
Choose a subdividing line to create a
grid – it does not have to be regular
(but this may be better) nor in squares!
5. Theme drawings
Theme drawings are those based on strong
shapes that divide the grid into different
areas.
Circular, rectangular, square themes –
aligned with the house or at an angle.
Start to locate use and circulation spaces in
the areas you identified in the appraisal
process
Scale up the grid for use away from the
house in large gardens, scale it down to
plan smaller, intimate spaces close to the
house.
6. Design grids – use to create themes
Place another sheet of tracing paper over
the grid and begin to draw use and
circulation spaces in – strong shapes work
best (squares, rectangles, circles).
Create several of each type of shape –
looking for balance between the use
spaces and the planting etc spaces.
Angle the grid for diagonal use – 45
degrees.
Just outlines at this stage – looking for a
satisfying theme to work further.
7. Design Grids – layout plan
Choose the theme plan that you like best.
Secure over your scale plan.
Take another sheet of tracing paper and
secure over the top.
Add the grid lines in fine pencil and the
theme lines in pencil, adjusting them for
scale and use. Once you are happy then ink
them in.
Allocate uses and note materials and
features. This brings in style and design
choices.
Then draw the master plan – transferring all
the scale and design information (not the
grid lines) to a final large sheet of tracing
paper. Add the North point and plan block.
8. Materials -Hard Landscaping
Refers to everything in the garden
design that is not living.
A wide range of choices of varying
cost, difficulty of construction,
maintenance requirements and
appearance.
The choice will be partly dictated by
the style of the design – rough
stone in a cottage garden for
example.
9. Hard landscaping – horizontal
surfaces
Material Benefits Limitations
Wooden decking Can be painted or Not for heavy loads.
stained to any colour. Can become slippery
Cheap. Relatively easy in damp. Short life.
to install. Regular maintenance
Paving slabs or Hard wearing, little Requires skill to lay.
stone maintenance. Wide Does not suit irregular
variety of sizes and shapes well. Stone is
colours. Can bear loads. expensive
Concrete Very hard wearing, can Can look rather
be coloured or textured. industrial. Large
Relatively cheap. areas will need expert
installation.
Pavers Can be matched to the Not easy to lay well.
house bricks. Variety of Expensive.
patterns possible in
bonds.
10. Hard landscaping - verticals
Material Benefits Limitations
Wood – fence Painted or stained. Define Require regular
panels garden boundaries; provide maintenance.
security. windbreaks for Limited life span.
productive areas. DIY
possible. Cheap.
Brick - wall Bricks come in a variety of Require expert
colours and textures. Very construction.
long lasting. Create Expensive.
microclimates
Metal – e.g. Can be painted, create Expensive, require
pergolas interesting detailed shapes regular maintenance.
not possible with wood etc. Large structures
need expert fitting.
Stone Natural appearance, link to Most expensive,
location. stone walls need a
mason to build.
11. Soft Landscaping
The term refers to the plants and living
elements of the garden.
Chosen to suit the design and the
conditions.
Thousands of ornamental plants in
cultivation – choose the effect required
first.
Can be used to provide ‘instant’ effect if
mature plants used. However expensive
and high maintenance approach.
12. Plants for purposes
To provide a focal point
To provide structure and interest
year round
To provide changing colour and
texture combinations as the
seasons change.
To control movement – e.g. a mown
path in rough grass.
To provide rhythm and balance.
13. Learning outcomes
Creating the outline design
Explain the use of a design grid in beginning a garden
design.
Describe how to draw a concept or theme design
Material choices - hard and soft landscaping
Choices in hard landscaping - suiting materials to style,
budget, maintenance considerations, texture, line and
form.
State three hard landscaping materials and relate
these to particular garden styles.
Identify three maintenance issues one for each of the
materials named above
Identify budget considerations for each material
Choices in soft landscaping - seasons of interest, colour,
texture, contrast.
State advantages and disadvantages of ‘instant
gardening’ with mature plants
State three uses of soft landscaping in design
