5 Questions to Ask Before Designing a New Garden

While we are pretty focused when it comes to redesigning the interior décor of our home, the outside is sometimes a different matter. Most people will consider a few rather strict options – either leaving their garden as it is, paving over the ground or installing something like decking. The good news is that, if you ask the right questions, there is a lot more you can do with your garden space than you probably think.

Ask These Questions

#1 What Do I Really Want for This Garden?

One area we often find that many homeowners have difficulty focusing on is what they want to use their garden for. It’s worth considering before you do anything else because this will determine your new design.

You might, for instance, want to create a space that all the family can use. Perhaps you like entertaining regularly and would love a really good barbecue area. Maybe your focus is on creating a natural habitat that will attract lots of wildlife. Or you could simply want to add value to your property.

It’s a good idea to sit down with a pen and paper and make a list of all the things you want your garden to be and it should give you a great starting point for your final design.

#2 Do I Want to Spend Time in the Garden Maintaining It?

Unlike the interior of your house, there’s a lot of maintenance that goes into most garden spaces. If you are a keen gardener, this is all well and good. If not, you may like to look at low maintenance solutions and how you are going to keep this space in pristine condition. For some that could mean including more permanent features like decking and paving rather than grass and flower beds.

#3 What’s the Budget for My New Garden?

The next area you should explore is the budget you have for your new garden. With a lot of hard work and the right choices, creating a new garden doesn’t have to be expensive. But if you’re looking to introduce features like a pergola, for example, it’s going to involve an outlay of more serious capital on your part.

The big question is whether the expenditure is going to be worth the effort. One option, if the budget is tight, would be to phase your project over a longer period of time.

#4 What Features Do I Want to Install?

A lot will depend on the size of your garden but there are plenty of different features you can choose to install. You might like to create a lovely arbour with vines and other intertwining plants or you may be looking for a pond or water feature that adds a touch of serenity during the summer months. These are going to be focal points for your garden design so it’s worth sitting back and considering them carefully.

#5 Should I Hire a Landscape Gardener?

If you love doing things yourself, it will be rewarding to recreate and redesign your garden, but it almost certainly takes a lot of work. Another option is to get some professional input, especially if you are looking to radically change the look of your garden space.

At The Garden Design Co we’ve got over twenty years helping to create stunning outdoor spaces. If you’d like to find out how we can help, contact us today on 0116 210 0760.