Wow, what a fantastic response to my first post in this series! No pressure for me now! Thank you – I really appreciate it and will do my best to reflect what I have learned from courses, mistakes and just gardening. Next time you are out and about it would be a good idea to pick up some squared paper if you don’t have any.  

Flushing out Answers to the Questions in Part 1

Where are the best views from your garden to the outside of your garden in winter and summer?

Take pictures from your windows. Consider the views. It is important to take pictures now if there are deciduous trees outside your home because they will look very different in summer.

Are there views beyond your fence or property line that you would like to enhance, frame in some way, direct attention to, and ‘make your own’?

Are there unsightly views you would like to direct attention away from or camouflage?

When you look out of the window you most often look out of, can you see the whole garden or is part hidden? It is fun in any design to have some mystery, a secret area that can only be found by travelling around the garden – a surprise.

What aspect does the part of the garden you wish to work on, have? North, South, East, West, facing?

The aspect of the area you are about to plan is very important because the temperature and shade in that area will be greatly affected. The house, large trees and fences will affect the aspect.

An east facing area will receive morning sun and unless it is a large area, the house may well shade a large portion in the afternoon.

A south facing area without trees to shade it will be extremely hot and dry in summer. Snow will go from this area first.

A north facing area will be shaded especially if you have a two storey house. This area will be cooler and may receive little sun depending on how far it extends.

A west facing area will receive the full intensity of hot afternoon sun in summer and will receive long hours of sunshine.

Do you know what type of soil you have?

Please consult the Soil structure and Amendment articles in the soil Section.

What is your biggest wish for your garden?

Think big. Cut out pictures. Even if you cannot afford that perfectly bricked patio right now, plan for it. Some garden pictures that are from more temperate zones can be adjusted with plant selections to obtain a similar look. You may not be able to grow a Banana Palm in Zone three but there are trees that resemble a Palm

Gardening Experience

If you are moving from a more temperate coastal climate or you have lived in more tropical climes you will need to adjust your expectations. Gardening in this zone is tough and hard work.  It is not like a coastal climate where the humidity alone will keep plants happy. Unless you are prepared to put a lot of time into maintaining plants needs with water, it is best to plan for as much dryland gardening as you can – xeriscaping.  Many people choose to put in automatic watering systems but this does not work for all plants and we are getting drier and drier in our summers. There is no guarantee we will have an endless supply of water.

Maybe plan different areas in your garden. Produce areas require steady water. Perennials and Annuals vary in their needs. Do you really need grass?

If you are after a low maintenance garden, careful thought will need to go into it. No garden is no maintenance!

If you have little or no gardening experience, take your time, be realistic and start small. No beautiful garden was built overnight unless it is Chelsea or another Show garden! If you are already experienced, go as big as you realistically can manage.

Are you able to name any particular gardens or style of gardens that you admire?

Do you print or save pictures of garden scenes you like? If not collecting some and keeping them in an inspiration folder.

If you have not visited major gardens, go online and snoop around. Make notes of what you like or don’t. Maybe the mass plantings of annuals at Butchart Gardens or the relaxed perennial borders of Government House or the Rose Gardens in Kamloops. Don’t worry about zones at this point in time. Decide what you like. You will do better going to Images then ‘perennial borders’ ‘vegetable gardens’ or ‘annual plantings’, ‘low maintenance gardens’, ‘xeriscaping.’ You will get more variety that way.

The photos below are intended to get the juices flowing – practicalities, ease of maintenance, hard landscaping, style? What is appealing about these designs and what is not??

What style of décor do you have in your house?

Maximalist, Minimalist, Vintage, Modern, Ultra-Modern, Cluttered, Uncluttered, Eclectic

You may think this an odd question but I found in my years of doing garden design for others, nine times out of ten, what people were comfortable with in their garden reflected how the inside of their house was decorated. If their ideal décor was minimalist with clean lines and only a few focal points, that is what they wished for in their garden. Everyone’s tastes are different so to extend your style from the inside to the outside, it is good to understand what you really like and are comfortable with.

I hope you might be starting to get a vision.