The design of the environment does not start from the search for specialists, but from the wishes of the owners themselves. When it comes to making decisions about a vacant lot, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the many options available. Ignorance or mistakes often only become apparent after a while and are costly. Lina Puodžiūtė, landscape architect and course «My garden project” teacher, advises where to start so that the process of creating the environment is on the right track from the beginning.
No plan without a plan
Just don’t start by buying plants! You will get them when you have a clear vision for your garden. Why waste time and money? It is important to have a vision whether you hire a specialist to create a landscaping project or if you try to create the yard design yourself.
Even if the construction of the house has just begun, do not be tempted to plant fruit trees or hedges now, thinking that they will begin to grow as construction progresses, thus saving time. Subsequently it may happen that the fruit trees are planted in the wrong place and that the hedge may represent an obstacle to reduce the height of the land.
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A small garden, a hundred possibilities: here is a concrete exampleJust as building a house requires a plan, a construction site needs a clear plan. For this, keep a copy of the topographic photo of the terrain handy, on which you can draw and write.
1. Environmental design: countries around the world
“First of all, we observe and mark on the plan all four axes of the world: north, east, south and west. Then it will be easier to decide where it is most practical to plan certain functional areas. If in a new house we dream of having breakfast on a terrace flooded with sunlight, then it is obvious that it should be planned on the east side,” advises Lina Puodžiūtė. In short, we need to see all countries in the world to assess needs and make further decisions:
- The north side will be cooler, it will need less sun, so it is better not to design the garden there. This side would still be perfect for setting up an agricultural area, warehouses, car parks, aviaries;
- On the east or south side it is recommended to set up a garden, a greenhouse;
- On the south side, many architects design terraces or an exit to the internal courtyard, so the south side is usually equipped with a living area where most of the free time is spent.
Just consider that the southern side is the hottest, so in summer it will be difficult to survive without sun protection. It can be a canopy, an awning, simply an umbrella or other devices that will help you hide from the heat. Looking to the future, a tree can be planted on the south side of the empty plot that casts a shadow on the terrace and protects it from the scorching rays of the sun. If a tree is planted for this purpose, it is best to plant as large a plant as possible so that shade forms as soon as possible.
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How to transplant an orchid: detailed instructions for beginnersIf the location of the terrace has not yet been planned, we recommend planning it not on the south sideas it is usually offered, and in the evening or morning. So the activity of the sun does not interfere with rest, in the summer the shadow falls from the house and if the sun’s rays come, they are not so active. So a sun canopy is not necessary.
Before you start planning anything, you need to measure your land well. Mark on the plan the water, electricity and other communication routes, wells, trees already growing, if there are any on the land.
2. Evaluate how much you see and how much you are seen
What kind of sights do you see from your land? If a beautiful view with a forest or a flowing river appears, it’s easy to see why you would want to keep enjoying it. That is why it is essential not to fill this area with a hedge or dense bushes, as these will eventually grow and block the lovely view you want to appreciate.
On the flip side, if there are empty houses, bushes, or a loud road in the area, you will likely want to hide those unattractive sights. You don’t really need to surround the whole property with a tall thuja hedge, as this creates a feeling of being closed off and looks dull. But you should plan to hide the parts where you want to block the view with trees, taller bushes, or hedges. In the course «My garden project», led by Lina Puodžiūtė, attendees bring their floor plans and plan where and how high the hedges should be taught during the course.
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3 beautiful flowers that will help you fight parasitesThese classes are also available online (you can decide to study live in a group or one-on-one at a time that works for you), but the idea is that you create on your property by designing it yourself, while the instructor assists you in finding the right answers.
You can even take the initial step – no special abilities or software are needed. Walk around your land and, on a map, note the spots where you can see those unpleasant sights.
Another key question is if others can see us. The biggest issue occurs when your land is in a crowded area, where houses are close to each other. When you can’t feel relaxed on your own property because your neighbors can always see you, you need to find ways to fix this. These issues are usually addressed with different barriers: hedges, taller trees.
So in your outline, you need to mark all those areas that we want to cover, block, and plan to plant them with clusters of taller plants.
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Grave carpet plants – Geltonas Karutis3. List the needs of each family member
A family’s needs can vary not only with the age of the people, but also with the composition of the family unit. The needs of a large family can be radically different from those of a single person creating a plot for himself.
So we need to write what is important to us, what we expect from our future life in the new plot. Think about whether you want a large orchard, whether you will have time to store treats and space to store your harvest over the winter. If you have small children, perhaps you need a larger lawn for ball games, a playground.
If you dream of a cozy and quiet place to read books or a private space for yoga exercises, you need to think about it in advance and designate a place for these activities. You can create a separate small oasis of peace by planting a hedge and thus creating, so to speak, another room in the ground.
Modern landscaping trends speak of the fact that we need to look not only at the plot, but also make full use of itto have lots of activity in the yard. Now outdoor kitchens are becoming popular, beautiful places for barbecues and fireplaces are being created, because outdoor parties with family and friends right in your own garden are becoming more and more fashionable. You can invent a lot and it is really worth using all the advantages of living on your plot.
4. Provide a clear shape of the lawn
When you don’t know where to start, sometimes you want to seed the entire area with lawn. However, it is neither design nor environmental design. The lawn is like a carpet, intended for rest, play and passage. Not a solid carpet, but exactly plant creates character and accents for the plot.
If you want a lawn that also works as a design element, you can provide it clear shape. The outline of the lawn can be straight (if it is square or rectangle) or with pronounced curves (if it is circular, oval, etc.). Give the lawn a clear shape and you will see that the plot image will change dramatically. We have already shown a specific example from a plot in Vilnius, take a look video from that plot or take a look at the article «The lawn as a design element: modifications to the garden without expenses».
In this way you will reduce the surface area of the lawn and at the same time create a scenic environment that requires less maintenance. This design principle should be used when you want to create a cozy and harmonious environment yourself, especially in small standard plots. By choosing the right shape of the lawn you can expand the plot, visually organize a narrow and long or irregularly shaped problematic plot. This is one of the most important steps homesteaders can take when planning their new empty lot.
If you have written down your needs, studied the current situation of the land, the need for privacy, if you try to design a clear shape of the lawn, you will have already taken a big step forward. In the courses «My garden project» we can help you overcome these development phases together. Here you can test your ideas on paper and give them greater clarity and professional justification. This will avoid unnecessary errors. Because it costs much less to crumple the paper and throw it away than to correct the mistakes made out of ignorance after a few years.
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