Step 1: what do you want with your garden?
Are you interested in a wealth of colour and atmosphere, or is the garden mainly a place to receive friends for garden parties and barbecues? Do you want to enjoy home-grown vegetables, or is play space for the kids at the top of your list? The answers to those questions determine your new garden design.
Step 2: Make a sketch.
Start with a sketch. This is best done on a large sheet of paper, on which you draw the space to scale. Start with the fixed things like the house, the garden shed, the driveway and the elements you want to keep.
Step 3: Make a wish list.
Make a list of all the family’s wishes. A play lawn, a flower garden, a pond, level differences, labour-saving watering, a rock garden, fruit trees — you don’t have to think about the costs yet, and you can let your imagination go wild with your ideal garden.
Step 4: Look around for inspiration.
Now is the time to look around to see how other garden owners have realized their ideas. You can find all the inspiration you need on the internet.
Step 5: Test your ideas against the practical possibilities.
There are always practical limitations between fantasy and reality. Things like soil type, sun position, neighbours and local regulations, and the budget you want to put into your new garden design may require you to adjust your plan a bit at this stage.
The implementation of your garden plan
Your new garden is on paper, and everyone is happy with it. When the season is over, you have months to work on the implementation. Over the years, we have provided practical do-it-yourself tips and step-by-step plans for quite a few garden ideas on the Klium blog. Here you will find some of them. There is bound to be one that will come in handy for your garden plan.
The terrace
The terrace is the living space in the garden, and for many garden owners, the most significant element. Here you can enjoy balmy summer evenings with friends and family around the barbecue or relax in the shade of a parasol with a cool glass of lemonade and a good book. And if you like the natural look of wood better than a tiled terrace, you’ll find everything you need to know in Making a wooden deck.
The lawn
Is a sturdy and reliable play lawn on your wish list? Read here how you can easily lay an artificial grass lawn yourself.
Garden pond
A water feature brings an extra dimension to your garden life. With a pond, no matter how small, you create a whole new animal and plant world. In How to make a garden pond with pond liners, you will find exactly how to proceed for a professional result.
Borders
Flowering borders are a defining element in the garden. With the choice of plants, you can create any atmosphere you want, from wild and colourful to sleek and understated. You can create a special and back-friendly effect with raised borders.
Fences and walls
Garden fences provide privacy but also contribute heavily to the atmosphere. A brick wall as a shield for a terrace, a flower bed or finished as a bench is a surprising natural element. See here how you can build such a rustic wall yourself.
