Fall is an excellent time to start planning your garden for next year. Look out your window and think about how you used the space this summer and what worked and what didn’t. What would you like to change? The backyard we inherited as a family in NYC was well cared for, but we mostly sat inside in late spring and summer because we didn’t naturally gravitate outdoors. For me, connecting to the big blue skies of New York throughout the year was so important. To be able to enjoy morning coffee and family dinners in the garden. Being able to lie on a chair and read after a busy day. Your gardening priorities are linked to how you want to enjoy the space. So get yourself a gardening journal and start taking notes.
What do you want to do in your garden?
A garden can be a place to grow plants and vegetables; a play space for children or pets; a place to sit and relax; and eat and entertain. Write a list of what is essential for you. Do you already have what you need functionally? What’s missing? How much space do you have? Get a measure and sketch out the layout on a sheet of paper. Think about how you use each of the areas. For sitting/relaxing areas, there is a simple formula for figuring out how much room you need. For a
dining area for four people, you’ll need about 10×10 feet. For six to eight, make it 12×12 feet. A simple cooking area with a grill and a small table usually needs an area of about 6 feet square. For a single reclining chair, allow a size of 4×7 feet. For two reclining chairs, allow 7×7 feet. Go through your wish list of what’s essential. Do you have enough room for everything? If not, what can you compromise on? Do you need to create spaces for sitting/relaxing? If so, is there enough flat space? You may have to install a hard surface such as decking or paving. Do you have functional vertical space? This is often the case in small gardens where walls, hedges, or fences can create boundaries or for planting. Go through this process several times on different days with different light and weather conditions. Keep taking notes.
Outdoor rooms
Think of your garden as another room in your house. Once
you understand how much space you have and have a sketch plan; consider the theme for your outdoor room. Some people chose to reflect their interior design style in the garden. This creates unity by repeating color, paving, and sculptural features. It’s necessary to decide on a look for your sleek, contemporary, relaxed garden and base your layout on this. The same applies to deciding on your plant list. The combination of plants you select can create a specific look, such as English style, naturalistic, or tropical. This is when it’s helpful to browse magazines and create a mood board of plants you like, furniture styles that inspire you, and garden designers whose work you appreciate. Plant catalogs can be a helpful way to identify plants you want that suit your garden conditions.
A word on light
Landscape designers will always consider a garden aspect before starting to design. Use your compass on your phone to identify which way your garden faces and how much sun it will get during the day. South and west-facing gardens are ideal, with plenty of sunshine most of the day. However, the whole garden might be shaded by trees or buildings in urban situations. Take notes over 6 months to assess how much light falls on your garden through different seasons. It’s vital to go through this planning process. Don’t rush to buy plants; take time to understand what you want from your garden and what changes you need to make that vision a reality. Start to create a plan during the down months of gardening so you are ready to source what you need early in the new year.
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