An ancient proverb goes, “Getting Started Is Half Finished.” And I often see DIY landscapers struggling to develop their original design concept. Therefore I find this to be accurate. But once they set up a foundation of essential design components, things generally go forward rather well.
It’s hardly surprising that “where do I begin?” or “how do I start my design?” is the most often asked question about landscape design. I am aware of the challenges. In particular, if you lack a concept for your design.
So how do you start? How do you begin designing a landscape or garden?
Although each design is unique and each designer adheres to a set of rules and principles, I find that most do-it-yourselfers succeed the best when they all start from the same place. Lay out any necessary walkways, driveways, access routes, or walk spaces first. Additionally, establish access to any regions you may be building. This will often assist in creating a framework you can quickly make in numerous ways.
Naturally, not all designs will use this since many don’t need access or transportation. Therefore, heed this advice and put it to use if you can.
In your landscape or garden, paths and walks may fulfill various purposes. Of course, their primary goal is to mark a way for people to travel.
However, in terms of design and as a tool for innovation, their purpose can be to direct guests toward, through, or away from another part of the garden. They’re also a fantastic technique to break up a giant grass, meadow, or bed area.
Let’s first consider walkways, pathways, and similar structures as essential components.
Walkways are necessary to direct guests or you to and from a different places. The front entrance is, of course, where most people like to encourage visitors to arrive, so notice how practically every property has a pathway going there. Walks are thus required to “guide” or “direct” people too, through, or away from a location, whether they are sophisticated (brick, flagstone, etc.) or primitive (gravel, mulch, etc.).
So, where are the crucial locations where you need more access or walkways? Perhaps from the back door to the trash-dumping lane. In the vicinity of the pool to the home. Or from the playground or the outdoor cooking area to the pool area. You see what I mean.
In terms of design.
Walking, drive, and access zones may establish borders and limits. You can easily plan a lot of the landscaping around your walkways once they are set up. The same holds for parking lots and driveways. A path may be used as a border or as a place to grow beds on one or both sides.
If you can, keep it interesting.
If you were to, for example, designate a sitting space for the garden’s rear. You and your visitors would require some route to get there. But why not plan a meandering tour via other fascinating parts of the park on the way there instead of drawing a straight line?
Curves and twisting roads serve more purposes than only pique curiosity. They may provide the impression of more excellent room, distance, and movement. This is very helpful for building tiny landscapes and gardens.
You’ll have an excellent starting foundation for the remainder of the design after you’ve installed pathways, roads, and access points. Now, design around them.
