Knowing your garden - the garden fairy

Rudyard Kipling once noted, "Gardens are not made by singing ‘Oh how beautiful!’ and sitting in the shade."

Knowing your garden means you need to take as much time as you can to really get to know your outside space, ideally over the course of a year. Gardens are very different places throughout the seasons, as are our expectations and uses for them.

Viewpoint

The first thing that I would recommend is to follow WH Davies’s advice and to ‘stand and stare’ at your garden from different places, or even better, grab a cup of tea and have a good look at your garden - from inside and outside your house. Have you got a sheltered corner that catches the morning sun for an alfresco breakfast, or do you have a spot that is bathed in evening sunshine and is perfect for a pre-dinner tipple? Are there any parts of your garden that are overlooked or do you want to bring in features from outside your garden like trees or open fields?

Just as important are the views from inside your house. Where do you spend most time looking out to your garden – your kitchen, study, sitting room? How could you enhance those views and use your windows to frame these focal points? Where are the exit points from your house into your garden and how can you start to link those rooms to your outside space?

Sue walking in her garden

Knowing your garden aspect

Knowing your garden and the position that your garden faces or the ‘aspect’ will have an impact on how you use your garden and indeed, the plants that will thrive for you. If you have lots of sun in the morning, your garden will have an easterly aspect, however a west facing garden means more afternoon sun. Do you have any large buildings or trees nearby that will affect the trajectory of the sun and create shaded areas, or a more open plot through which the sun can track unhindered? Most gardens will have hot spots during the day, so make a note of where these are and the times during which they are in sun.

South facing walls/fences are the hottest and can create a ‘microclimate’ which may allow you to grow more exotic plants. On the other hand, a north facing wall is one of the coolest aspects and this will affect the way you use that space and the plants that you may choose to grow.

As a starting point, you could sketch out an outline of your garden and house and plot the trajectory of the sun as it passes across your garden. Include the compass points and make a note of shaded/sunny areas and the times the light changes in each part of the garden.

Climate and conditions

Another reason to take time to get to know your garden is that weather conditions are going to have a big impact on your garden space. In the UK, the further south and east you live, the climate tends to be warmer and drier while in the north west for example, it is generally cooler with higher rainfall. You should also factor in your proximity to towns and cities as these are warmer and more sheltered than a rural location due to the density of the buildings and the heat generated by urban living.

As well as temperature and rainfall, wind is a key factor when considering how to plan and plant in your garden. If you notice that your garden is particularly windswept or has areas that are prone to gusting which may damage plants, make a note of the direction the wind comes from the most (prevailing wind) and consider installing a windbreak such as hedging, trees or a structure to break up the wind flow. As well as physically damaging plants by blowing them over, wind is very drying and can desiccate and erode soil making it difficult for plants to thrive. An easterly wind is traditionally a cold wind which can cause damage to foliage, while a westerly wind tends to be warmer and often brings in rain.

garden soil

Soil type

The mention of ‘soil types’ tends to scare new gardeners but getting your hands dirty by getting to know your soil will give you a huge advantage in giving your plants the best growing conditions. Knowing your garden and that different soil types feel and look different is important. Many plants will grow well in each one so don’t panic!

The first thing to do is look at how wet or dry your soil is. Are there any particularly damp or boggy areas – Hostas and Hydrangeas prefer wetter soil. Which parts of your garden dry out quickly – consider Achillea, Poppies or even herbs for this area. Taken in consideration with the aspect and climate of your garden, knowing your soil type will help you to find the right plant for the right place.

There are basically four main soil types, and the key is to work with what you have rather than changing it completely.

  • Clay – heavy and tends to be higher in nutrients. Clay soil is wet and cold in winter but can become baked dry in the summer.
  • Sandy – light, dry and warm soil which can be low in nutrients and if often acidic
  • Silt – very fertile and light but retain moisture so are easily compacted leading to drainage problems
  • Loam – a mixture of clay, sand and silt. A balanced soil which avoids the extremes of the individual types above

Soil can be ‘improved’ with the addition of garden compost and well-rotten farmyard manure which will increase fertility and help with drainage issues. There are specific types of compost available, to enhance soil for particular plants. For example, ericaceous compost is an acidic compost which will help plants like Rhododendrons, Camellias, Azaleas and Heathers to thrive by increasing the acidity of your soil.

cottage garden

Creating a sense of place and focal points in your garden

When you are in your garden, look around you for visual cues to help you with ideas for your design. Sometimes the style of your house can be the inspiration, for example, a Cottage Garden style of planting for an older house or a contemporary scheme if your house is more modern. Look at your local area and bring in ideas from what you can see around you. Maybe a woodland theme if your garden backs onto trees or a subtle post and rail fence to allow your garden to run into the countryside beyond and give the impression of a larger garden.

Creating points of interest in your garden draws attention to specific spaces and allows you to take a visual journey round your garden. This can be a simple as grouping pots and planters on bare patio areas, using a hanging basket to draw your eye to a different level or upcycling objects like old watering cans, sinks or even wellies as planters to create a unique look.

Garden buildings like summer houses, arbours and sheds can be situated in places to draw that eye to different areas in the garden. These are ideal structures for climbers to flourish, providing scent, colour and a space to relax and enjoy your garden from a different perspective.

Hard landscaping like paths in different materials, decking, patios and even small water features can all inject interest into your garden and can be achieved cost effectively – let your creativity flow!

If you would like further advice about how you can get to know your garden then please get in touch to arrange a FREE 30 minute consultation.