Creating a garden requires a lot of planning, thought and sweaty work. Regardless of whether you want to redesign your personal retreat or create a completely new one, you will find numerous hints and tips in this article - well planned from start to finish.

With a nice lighting in the garden you can also enjoy it in the dark

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. inventory
  3. garden style and use
  4. plan garden
  5. build a garden
  6. frequently asked Questions

    7. the essentials in brief

    • There is a large selection of garden styles: from city gardens to kitchen gardens to country house gardens or gardens close to nature
    • Garden paths can be made of concrete, gravel, brick or wood
    • A garden should be well planned before it is planted

    Inventory: Determine horticultural requirements

    Surely you already have an idea of your ideal garden in front of your inner eye. These dream ideas do not have to remain dreams, but can definitely find their way into reality - at least partially. However, before you start the concrete planning and implementation, you should take a closer look at the area of the planned garden. The following aspects play a major role in the question of which ideas can actually be implemented and which tend not to:

    • terrain: Is it a flat surface or a hillside garden? How steep are the slopes? Can terraces be built? What about the slope fortifications?
    • soil condition: Which soil type predominates? Is the soil sandy or loamy? How thick is the topsoil layer? What is the pH of the soil? Is it necessary to improve the soil or even replace the soil? Did the previous owner possibly bury (hazardous) waste in the garden that first has to be disposed of?
    • existing area: How big is the garden area? Is it a small city garden or several hundred square meters?
    • position: Is the garden in a city, in a residential area or possibly in an agricultural area, for example in a village? This is also the basis for answering the question of how and with what you limit your garden or what you are allowed to build in it.
    • lighting conditions: Which garden areas are in direct sun, which are more shady? The sunnier a garden location is, the more suitable it is for planting.
    • climate: The climate in your region also determines which plants you can cultivate in your garden. For example, completely different crops can be grown in wine-growing areas than on the coast or in the Eifel. The microclimate also plays a role: it is generally warmer in the city than in the village, which in turn influences the choice of plant species.

    Which garden suits me?

    When planning a garden, the first thing to think about is which plants should be in it and where the garden shed or garbage cans should be. On the other hand, many people think less about how all these wishes fit together harmoniously and thus result in a pleasing overall picture. There are basically two approaches to a garden style: the planned and the casual. In addition, kitchen and ornamental gardens can be distinguished from each other.

    Before you start working on your garden, you should first think about the intended effect. Planned gardens are based on a central axis that runs at right angles and subdivides the garden. So they are symmetrical. Gardens without symmetry, on the other hand, have many curves and therefore appear more natural. When planning, keep in mind that mixing planned and irregular structures often looks messy and is therefore not a good idea.

    In the following sections, we present some popular types of garden, which are also based on their location and use.

    city garden

    In a city garden, the space is usually somewhat reduced

    City gardens can be found - how could it be otherwise - in small and large cities as well as on their outskirts. These are mainly very small gardens, such as those found in green inner courtyards, on terraced houses, etc. These areas are often rectangular or even square, which is why repetitive regular shapes are excellently suited as a stylistic device. It should be understandable that large trees and sprawling shrubs are not suitable for cultivation in a small garden.

    tips

    By the way: A typical narrow city garden can be perfectly paved with concrete slabs. Along one side, you could cut the concrete into a generous curve that leaves room for a relatively deep flower bed. This means you can cultivate two or three layers of plants at the widest point for more height and variety.

    country garden

    Country house gardens impress with a beautiful variety of flowers

    Country house gardens have long been one of the most popular types of garden. This style is based on the classic cottage garden and represents its ideal form, so to speak. Typical features of a country house garden are:

    • well-structured garden spaces, separated from each other by hedges and paths
    • Cut shrubs and ornamental beds characterize the picture
    • native plant species are planted wherever possible
    • Use of natural materials as possible

    Also characteristic of country house gardens are (artificial) bodies of water such as a garden or swimming pond and a stream. Decorative elements such as fountains, water features, small arbors or statues are not uncommon.

    kitchen garden

    A small vegetable garden also provides plenty of delicious, fresh vegetables

    If you want to harvest your own vegetables, you can create a separate garden for crops only. The entire area can be used for cultivation and the bed should primarily offer the vegetables optimal growth conditions. Decorative aspects are largely irrelevant, but a well-maintained vegetable garden with mixed and subsequent crops is visually very appealing. It has a natural geometry as the vegetables are grown in rows for convenience - after all you want to be able to move between them with ease.

    You can find out how to plan and create a vegetable patch in this article:

    youtube

    However, you do not need a lot of space for a vegetable garden, because vegetable plants can also be grown in a small area and on the balcony. In addition, vegetable plants can also be selected for their colorful appearance or cultivated together with ornamental plants in a bed. Herbs in the flower bed, for example, not only have a decorative effect, but often also have a practical use. They keep pests or pathogens away.

    tips

    However, vegetables are always in competition with ornamental plants for food, light and water. So never put too many plants in one area. Ideally, you should see the ornamental plants as an addition to the vegetables and not, conversely, put useful plants in the ornamental bed: this is the only way for the vegetables to have optimal growth conditions.

    ornamental garden

    Ornamental gardens please the eye and create a pleasant balance to the stressful everyday life. Such a garden is ideal for small garden areas or front gardens, whereby ornamental areas can also be mixed with usable areas. If you prefer to plant flowers rather than vegetables, you can choose from these garden styles, for example:

    shape of the ornamental garden Typical characteristics Examples of planting
    Alpinum imitates high alpine landscape with typical planting, high-maintenance rock garden Dwarf yarrow, stone purse, dwarf lady's mantle, ornamental onion, stone herb, man's shield, (mountain) columbine, mountain master, ice plant, tufted bell
    English garden Varied garden spaces with lawns, trees and ponds, often hilly and need space Begonias, petunias, dahlias, delphiniums, jasmine
    Formal Garden straight and precisely laid out paths and beds, typically bordered with low box hedges Boxwood and other topiaries, ground cover
    Japanese garden few flowers, but trees and water, gravel and stones Bamboo, maple, cherry, camomiles, mosses
    rose Garden romantic garden Roses and matching perennials, e.g. B. Lavender
    perennial garden individually designed garden with colorful or single-colored perennial beds different flowering perennials
    rock garden area made of gravel and stones for drought-resistant plants Thrift, gentian, woolly ziest, blue fescue, blue cushion, thyme, gentian, dwarf pine

    Natural garden

    Native plants dominate in the natural garden

    In such a garden you create ideal conditions for the native flora and fauna and ensure that birds and other animal species urgently need a habitat. Ideally, such a garden should have a wooded area, a wildflower meadow and a pond. Make the most of the conditions prevailing in your garden. Poor soil, for example, is ideal for a wildflower meadow, while many woodland plants thrive in a moist and shady area. Other good habitats include a pond and a dry stone wall or pile of logs. They can be stocked with plants that provide pollen, nectar, berries, and seeds.

    digression

    Roof gardens - Green house roofs and design with plants

    More and more people are interested in roof gardens, as they give city dwellers a feeling of closeness to nature. In addition, planted or green roofs have very practical effects on the regional climate, which is why many cities or municipalities support their facility. When planning, however, bear in mind that the load-bearing capacity of most roofs is limited. You will either need to have the structure reinforced or cultivate pots and plants on the perimeter, near the walls of the house that support the roof.

    Planning a garden - you have to pay attention to this

    Once all the questions discussed above have been answered, you can now start planning your garden. Don't forget to think about your roommates in addition to the primary use of the garden: children, for example, need space to play, and poisonous plants should also be taboo in a family garden. The same applies if you have pets such as cats or dogs.

    How to draw a garden plan

    The best way to plan a garden is to put your ideas down on paper and make a concrete sketch. For this you need:

    • Graph paper or squared paper with small boxes
    • freshly sharpened pencils
    • such colored pencils or fiber pens
    • a circle
    • Possibly stencils (e.g. circle stencils)

    Place the materials on the table in front of you and first draw the garden area on the paper to scale. It continues as follows:

    • First draw in the large, fixed elements.
    • This includes, for example, the house as well as walls, fences and the gazebo.
    • Determine the places for the greenhouse, for the compost and for the garbage cans.
    • Now add existing plantings (e.g. trees and bushes).
    • Mark paths and planned beds.
    • What are the lighting conditions or soil conditions like on the beds?
    • Draw the planting.

    At first, only draw with a pencil so that you can make corrections if necessary. If you like, you can also use special planning software instead of paper and pen.

    digression

    What do I have to pay attention to if I want to create a family garden or a garden for children?

    It has already been mentioned that poisonous plants have no place in a garden that is also used by children. This applies in particular to potentially fatally poisonous plants such as yew, monkshood, lily of the valley, daphne or Christmas rose. Instead, plant fruit trees so that the little ones can nibble directly from the bush without worrying. Water areas in the family garden must be secured or not created at all: every year small children drown in garden ponds. Playground equipment should be TÜV-tested and secured with fall protection surfaces. Bark mulch, wood chips or sand, for example, are suitable for this.

    Creating a garden - step by step

    The garden is prepared in autumn for next year

    “First, Almighty God laid out a garden.” (Francis Bacon)

    You've finally made it: the time-consuming planning phase is finally over. The future garden already looks very promising on paper and you are looking forward to finally working in the beds? Then you can now get to work, beginning with the rough work and gradually working your way up to the finer work. In fact, planting the garden is one of the last steps - before that, your manual skills are required.

    digression

    Which is better, do it yourself or hire a specialist company to create the garden?

    The answer to this question depends very much on what work is actually planned in the new garden, how you are set up yourself, whether you have expert help and how comprehensive the existing budget is. The use of experts has several advantages: Landscape gardeners not only provide the required expertise, but also the required machines, tools and plants. If something goes wrong, the company is responsible within the framework of the statutory warranty obligation. On the other hand, if you want to do it yourself, you will have to identify and procure the plants and other materials you need yourself. Any machines that may be necessary, such as a mini excavator, can also be rented from hardware stores or specialized rental services.

    Earthworks and major construction projects

    First of all, do the necessary earthworks, which include these activities:

    • Filling up the future garden (e.g. with topsoil)
    • Fortification of slopes and embankments
    • Creation of terraces (level planting areas in sloping gardens)
    • Installation of underground water pipes and drainage
    • Creation of a garden pond

    Also, now is the time to build larger garden structures such as a shed, arbor, or greenhouse. This becomes difficult at a later point in time, since they then always have to take existing plantings and beds into consideration. Also consider that you first drive the construction machinery and then fill the bed areas with topsoil so that this valuable layer is not unnecessarily compacted.

    create hard surfaces

    In a second step, create hard floor surfaces such as driveways or terraces. They are not only an eye-catching visual feature, but also an important practical element in the garden. Which material you choose for a path or driveway essentially depends on its main function. Also keep in mind that many of these areas require a stable substructure. If this is missing, the terrace or the much-used flagstone path will quickly sink into the soft ground. The choice of material also depends very much on the function of the hard surface, as the following table shows:

    material use benefits disadvantage
    brick House bricks are not suitable for paving, lay attractive patterns Cheap porous, not very durable, do not withstand the load for a long time
    cobblestones special bricks for paving surfaces easy to install, durable often available in low quality, especially with second-hand material
    clinker weather-resistant well suited for paving denser and more waterproof than brick are slippery when wet, so pay attention to weather resistance
    natural stone (slabs) very attractive, many possible uses very durable, natural material expensive
    concrete block Versatile in both cast and sheet form inexpensive alternative to natural stone, sometimes modeled on it, very durable can quickly become dull and boring
    cobblestones Can be laid loose, poured into concrete or embedded in mortar goes well with old houses and for ornamental applications not very suitable for areas that are used a lot, as walking on them is uncomfortable due to the rounded surface
    wood and bark sawn off wooden discs soaked with preservative result in a robust pavement, fill gaps with bark chips or sand organic and robust must be renewed every few years
    gravel Can be used for many purposes, the bottom layer made of coarse gravel makes sense cheap and affordable, for large and small areas none

    Create paved paths

    There is a wide range of materials to choose from for garden paths

    Garden paths are always exposed to heavy use. Not only do they have to withstand pedestrians, but also wheelbarrows, bicycles or prams. It is also important that the planned path is wide enough for the purpose it is intended to fulfil. Two people should be able to walk side by side on main paths without feeling restricted. Byways can of course be narrower. When it comes to material, you choose materials that suit your environment and meet the technical requirements. We present some of the most popular materials for main and side paths in the garden in the following sections.

    gravel paths

    Washed gravel is an attractive yet inexpensive surfacing material. The perfect stone size is around two centimeters in diameter, as with this size there is little risk of stones being brought into the house under the shoes. And this is how you build a gravel path:

    1. Prepare the terrain for the gravel path carefully.
    2. A ledge that keeps the gravel on the path makes sense. Bricks set on edge in concrete are very popular as edging material.
    3. Now roll the packing layer thoroughly for the path.
    4. Then cover them with a layer of coarse gravel about five centimeters thick.
    5. Then put a layer of clayey gravel sand over it (clay binder).
    6. Spread it to fill in all the gaps.
    7. Roll him down.
    8. Finally, top with a 1-1/4 inch layer of washed gravel.
    9. Roll these down too.

    This video clearly shows how to build a solid gravel path with slabs in your garden:

    youtube

    brick paths

    Brick paths are especially attractive if you choose bricks that match the house. In this way you create a strong and at the same time unobtrusive connection between house and garden. Bricks can be laid in a variety of patterns, such as straight or herringbone, wicker or runner. Be sure to use designated paving bricks or not house bricks. How to lay a brick path:

    1. Brick paths need a stable substructure.
    2. Lay it on a 7.5 centimeter thick and compact packing layer.
    3. This should be covered with a five centimeter thick layer of sand.
    4. Support the bricks with a permanent edge, such as a row of bricks set deep into the concrete.
    5. Lay the bricks well with fine sand and water.
    6. Make sure the sand settles firmly between the bricks.
    7. Fill all the joints in this way.

    concrete walkways

    Concrete has long been a popular option for paving paths. It is quite cheap and at the same time very durable. Concrete is wear-resistant only when used correctly. Careful planning is therefore required before preparing the path. The best way to lay concrete slabs is as follows:

    1. Create a firm, level pack layer covered with sand.
    2. A slight incline is also useful to allow water to drain off the surface.
    3. Place the panels carefully and correctly on the packing layer.
    4. Tamp them down well.
    5. After a few days, paint the slabs with mortar.

    Draw boundaries and install privacy screens

    A wooden privacy screen looks natural and less solid than stone walls

    Once the rough work is done, you can now provide your property with a border or separate the individual garden areas from each other. Boundaries are an important aspect of garden planning. They not only mark your property boundaries, but also offer the opportunity to filter out noise and unsightly aspects and create more security. Basically, the gardener distinguishes between living and dead borders as shown in the table below.

    type of limitation examples
    dead border wall, fence
    living border Hedges, trees, perennials, dead borders planted with climbing plants

    Neighborhood law in your federal state or municipality often regulates how high a border may be and where it may run. In addition, concrete specifications are laid down in many development plans, also with regard to the type and form of the boundary.

    Create and plant beds

    Only now is the time to create and plant beds. The first thing to do is to choose the right shape.

    • Vegetable beds traditionally have a rectangular or square shape.
    • They should not be wider than 140 centimeters so that you can easily reach all areas.
    • Ornamental beds can also take other forms and thus create interesting aspects in the garden.
    • In English gardens, the beds traditionally run along the garden border.
    • This creates a clearly structured garden area.
    • However, you can also choose other geometric shapes or bring in sweeping lines.
    • So-called island beds, which are usually located in the middle of a lawn or paved area, are also interesting.

    Prepare the soil carefully before planting by adding sand or humus if necessary, digging it up thoroughly and loosening the soil well. The border of the bed can be designed with stones or a low hedge (e.g. made of box or herbs). Plan the choice of plants in such a way that the ornamental bed offers an attractive sight all year round. To do this, choose plants that flower at different times - and not all at the same time. A few ornamental leaf plants or grasses loosen up the overall picture. Depending on the type of plant, plants are usually planted in spring or autumn.

    Sow or lay out the lawn

    Once the rough work is done and the beds are planted, you can lawn the remaining areas. sow. There are different grass mixes for different needs. Some lawns need to be able to withstand bicycles and ball games, some grow well in light shade, and some are beautiful to look at but not particularly resilient. Incidentally, a lawn does not necessarily have to consist of grass: plants such as chamomile or thyme are also very suitable. However, these species aren't as hardy as grass, so you shouldn't tread them too often.

    Install irrigation system

    Irrigation systems are useful to ensure that your plants are supplied with sufficient water during the hot summer months. Various drip systems or sprinkler systems (these are particularly suitable for larger lawn areas) are commercially available for this purpose and are usually laid above ground. Include the irrigation when planning the garden so that you can attach the required water connections and lay pipes underground for the rougher work at the beginning.

    frequently asked Questions

    What do you have to consider if you want to create a garden in a new development area?

    Soils in new development areas are often heavily compacted due to the use of heavy construction machinery and must therefore be thoroughly loosened before any garden is planted. If necessary, a new layer of topsoil must be applied.

    How can you create a particularly low-maintenance garden?

    If you don't feel like pulling weeds, then lay weed protection mats before transplanting the bed. Ground-covering creepers also keep weeds at bay and look attractive even without great care. In general, a lawn planted with various trees and shrubs is very easy to care for.

    What costs should I expect when creating the garden?

    The costs you have to reckon with for a newly created garden cannot be precisely quantified. After all, the question of costs depends on many factors, such as the question of which works and buildings should be created and what type of planting you choose. Furthermore, the costs between do-it-yourself and specialist companies differ greatly. The best thing to do when planning is to work out which materials you will probably need in what quantities and how many they will cost.

    tips

    The type and location of trees and other permanent, larger plants also need to be carefully considered when planning the garden. Such plants get bigger and more sprawling with age, so you should plan enough space right from the start - even if the young mini tree looks a bit lost then,

Category:

Garden design