1. Introduction to Garden Design
Week 1 – Introduction, Site Appraisal
and User Requirements.
2. Learning objectives
Name four component areas of a
site inventory
State what existing features need to
be identified
Describe five issues that need to be
addressed in identifying user
requirements
State three limitations to design
process and how these can be
identified
3. Housekeeping
5 weeks – last session 7th February
Learner Diaries – for you to record
your progress and any queries or
comments. Hand it in and I will
comment every other week and in
the last week.
Each week I ask you to build on the
session by doing a practical task.
Please try to at least attempt it as it
forms the basis for the start of the
next session.
4. The Plants Come Last!
Initial design stages are primarily
about use not appearance.
Completely opposite to the way
most gardeners think!
Use of space, movement through
the space, sightlines and style are
all selected before plants are
chosen.
5. Site Appraisal
House and setting – approach, views,
location
Soil and climate
Existing features
Services and access
Legal/regulatory issues?
6. Users requirements
What? What is the garden to be
used for?
Why? Any particular needs?
Where? Where should the uses be
located?
When? When will the garden be
used?
Who? Who uses the garden?
regularly or just sometimes?
7. Limitations – ‘you can’t always get what
you want’.
Site-related – fixed features, slopes,
soil type etc
Budget related.
Space available for the ‘brief’– need to
prioritise uses (and plan for change
over time).
8. Starting to think about design
Design styles are shorthand – not
handcuffs!
Start to collect images, items, colour
combinations
Identify strong dislikes – but otherwise
keep an open mind.
‘Mood boards’, ideas boxes, scrapbooks
Not particular plants!! (put them in your
notebook)
Notebook – design is a thinking process
so keep notes or you will forget.
9. Learning outcomes
Name four component areas of a
site inventory
State what existing features need to
be identified
Describe five issues that need to be
addressed in identifying user
requirements
State three limitations to design
process and how these can be
identified