Hard Landscaping & Built Features

Almost all gardens will have some form of surfaced area to be used for relaxation, eating and entertainment. They are also quite likely to include other built features such as sheds, greenhouses, ponds, walls, fences and paths.

These are quite often one of the first parts of the garden to be designed and built and we have summarized below the main considerations when designing your garden.

For a more detailed look at the various ‘built’ elements of the garden, see the Building in Your Garden section of our site.

Existing Elements

You will need to consider the existing features in your garden that you wish to keep such as paths, patios, fences, walls and outbuildings. Sometimes all they will need is to be repaired or refurbished which will save the cost of complete replacement.

You may wish to relocate an existing item such as a shed or greenhouse so you will need to allow for this in your design.  

If you are happy that a path or a patio is in the right place, you may only need to replace the finished surface but still be able to reuse the sub-base material which will save the cost of excavating and forming a new solid base.

Consideration should also be given to screening existing elements that you wish to keep such as an unattractive outbuilding. Providing a trellis with a climbing plant will be less expensive than rebuilding a large shed.

Choice of Materials

Generally materials look at their best when they are sourced from the nearby locality such as local bricks, stone and wood.

You should aim to complement the materials of the existing house as far as possible – modern materials tend to suit modern houses and older, rustic materials suit older period properties.

Try and keep materials consistent throughout your garden as this will help create an overall coordinated effect. Generally, three or four different surfaces should be the maximum.

Look at the different options before buying – it is worth looking at the types of wood available at the local timber merchant and for bricks and slabs, go to a builders merchant or garden centre. This will give you a much better idea of the quality, texture  and colour of materials you may be considering purchasing.

The Building in your Garden section of our site provides lots of useful information on the various types of materials available to you.

Viewpoint/Privacy

Generally gardens should look at their best when viewed from the house so you should consider how the garden will look from the main house windows and/or doors.

You should also think about how the house will look when viewed from the garden in order to achieve an overall balanced effect.

Be careful of adding tall features such as a pergola too close to the house as this may obscure your view of the rest of the garden. Different areas can be separated with low level walls or paths which will define them without masking the outlook.

If you are creating an area of interest such as a pond, then think about providing a seat so that it can be enjoyed.

If you are forming a private area to relax and enjoy some peace and quiet, think about where this be positioned for best effect. For example, think about the view you will have when seated in your arbour and how near it is to a noisy nearby road.

The use of 3d views from critical locations can be particularly helpful with this part of the garden design.

Harmony

One of the main objectives in your garden is to make it feel unified and this can often be the hardest part to achieve. The more formal the garden, the more paving, walls and structures you are likely to have.

The forms, colours and textures in your design should look happy together – e.g. red brick, stone and wood work well and create a coordinated feel.

In certain situations, contrast can also work well (e.g. light and dark colours and rough and smooth textures) but you should try and avoid having too many differing materials and textures as this can easily result in a feeling of messiness and poor design.

You should also try and achieve an overall harmony within the garden and how you deal with hard landscaping and the built features will play a big part in this.

Paths leading directly from the house should be as wide as possible as narrow paths are less inviting and they should lead somewhere.

The various areas of your garden should feel connected together and the use of arches and pergolas at the intersections can help to achieve this. Try and have entrances and exits to your spaces.

Aim for structures that complement the house in size rather than structures that overwhelm the house.

Water

Water has a magical quality and can bring the garden to life. It will bring liveliness and movement and, combined with effective lighting, can offer beautiful and enchanting features.

Still water such as a pond provides reflective qualities and should be built of materials and a size sympathetic to the house. It can be natural looking or formal, sunken or raised and makes an excellent home for ornamental fish and an attraction for wildlife.

Try and keep the scale of any feature in proportion with the plot – if your garden is long and narrow then a long and narrow pond would probably suit it.

Moving water such as fountains, waterspouts and cascades can add a magical dimension to your garden. There are many pre-formed water features now available from garden centres.

The Building in your Garden section of our site provides lots of useful information on the various types of water features you may wish to consider.

Make sure you keep a record of any water pipes that you install!

Lighting

Garden lighting adds another dimension to your design and should be planned into your scheme from the beginning.

Lighting can often end up as just one or two halogen lights attached to house to provide luminance for the weekend barbecue but so much more than this can be achieved.

From subtle pools of light to dramatic highlights to a tree or statue, a well lit garden will help you enjoy the space throughout the evening. Try and make sure that the lighting design works well when viewed from the house and remember that subtlety is often more effective.

Make sure that all lights are suitable for outdoor use and keep a note of the routes of any cables.