Written by Ron Howe
What do we actually want when we say, “I want just a casual garden space? “
To some it means a place where we can feel comfortable and relax a while after a hard day. While to others casual gardens mean spaces that are easy to maintain. Still others think of a meadow with soft edges in an informal design, perhaps with clumps of decorative grasses swaying in the breeze.
One kind of casual garden
How do you proceed when considering casual gardens? First of all, make a list of what you think its function should be and what it should look like. Peruse garden books and magazines and cut out pictures of gardens and elements you like. Go through other types of magazines to look for colors and color combinations that you enjoy or ones that make you feel good. If you want to include a patio, deck, or terrace for relaxing, look for those elements in your research as well as photographs of furniture. Once you have a good collection, go through them to find some common themes. Maybe it’s color combinations, or plants, or a style of design that keeps popping up as a recurring theme. The common theme will be the foundation of your plan.
If you are going to use a landscape architect, or other professional design person, show them your collection of photographs. The designer will then get a feel for what you wish to achieve. Talk about how much of a garden person you are and what you are willing to spend for a design. Are you a person that likes to work in the garden, or one that likes to just enjoy the garden and hire someone else to maintain it? Some gardens require intense maintenance and others require little. Some need soil amendments and intense preparation and others don’t. All of this is important to talk about before making a decision on a plan.
Generally speaking, a casual garden is one that is pleasant to view and one where you want to spend quality time. It should be one for relaxation and rejuvenation. To create a space like this you need to look for plants that have multi-seasonal interest and non-plant features that are functional as well as artistic. It needs to look good throughout the entire year.
Another casual garden
After all, a garden is like a new room, but it’s outside. Think of its elements as you would if decorating a room inside your home. Start to design with the big items, next the smaller things, and finally the details and accessories. For gardens it is best to use long sweeping curves for lawn areas, plant beds, walks, and patios. All these elements will play a part in achieving the relaxed casual feeling you are wishing to achieve. Trees,shrubs, perennials, and annuals are selected after the basic design elements have been decided. Then the details add the final touch.
It’s the little things that make the biggest impact. Choosing the correct colors, pavement materials, lighting, and other features are all very important. The use of water is especially good in the casual garden. Water helps drown out other sounds that might be disturbing and the sound of water is very soothing in its own right. Subtle lighting makes the casual garden a relaxing place to be during the night hours.
Whatever the design, it’s important to remember that a casual garden can be achieved no matter what your budget dictates. If you plan wisely, and take your time, it can be done. Here’s hoping you realize your dream of a casual garden very soon.