Creating Your Dream Garden - Part 3: The Work - Designing Your Garden

🌟 Time to Get Started!

You've dreamed, planned, and prepared. Now comes the best part—actually transforming your garden! In this section, we'll take you step by step through the process.

🎯 What You'll Learn in This Section

• Hardscaping - Creating paths, borders and structures
• Plants - The right technique for every type of plant
• Filling borders - Composition and use of color
• Finishing - The finishing touches that make the difference

🏗️ Step 1: Hardscaping - Laying the Foundation

Always start with the hard elements before planting!

Creating Paths:

Preparation:

1. Mark the path with rope or paint
2. Dig 10-15 cm deep
3. Lay down anti-root cloth (prevents weeds)
4. Apply a layer of sand or grit (5 cm)
5. Make the surface level and firm

Different types of paths:

Tiles/Clinker bricks:

• Lay on sand bed
• Use spirit level
• Leave a slight slope for drainage
• Add sand between joints

Gravel path:

• Simplest option
• Use edge separation
• Layer of 5-7 cm gravel
• Needs to be refilled

Stepping stones:

• Place on grass or gravel
• Distance: one normal step (60-70 cm)
• Dig in lightly for stability
• Informal appearance

Borders & Heights:

Creating a Raised Border:

1. Determine dimensions (minimum 40 cm high for good drainage)
2. Place wooden planks or stone edging
3. Place drainage at the bottom (gravel/clay granules)
4. Fill with good garden soil
5. Mix in compost

Benefits of Raised Borders:

• Better drainage
• Easier work (less bending)
• Warmer soil (plant earlier)
• More control over soil type
• Visual interest through height difference

🌱 Step 2: Planting - The Right Technique

General Planting Tips:

Step-by-Step Planting:

For Perennials & Shrubs:

1. Preparation:
   • Soak the plant in water for 30 minutes
   • Dig a hole 2x as wide as the pot
   • Loosen the bottom
   • Mix compost with the excavated soil
2. Plants:
   • Carefully remove plant from pot
   • Loosen roots if they are tangled together
   • Place plant in hole (top of root ball = ground level)
   • Fill hole with soil/compost mixture
   • Press lightly (not too firmly!)
3. Finish:
   • Make a watering edge around the plant
   • Water thoroughly (10-15 liters)
   • Apply mulch (5 cm, not against the trunk)
   • Water regularly for the first 2 weeks

For Trees:

• Dig a hole 3x as wide as the root ball
• Place support stake BEFORE planting
• Do not plant too deep (root collar visible)
• Tie tree loosely (room for growth)
• Water extra good first year

For Bulbs:

• Planting depth = 3x height of the bulb
• Point to the top
• Plant in groups for effect
• Spring bulbs: plant in autumn
• Summer bulbs: plant in spring

🎨 Step 3: Filling Borders - Composition

Layer principle:

Create depth by planting in layers:

Background (back of border):

• Height: 100-200 cm
• Examples: Tall grasses, Delphinium, Sunflowers
• Function: Height and background

Midfield:

• Height: 50-100 cm
• Examples: Roses, Hydrangeas, Lavender
• Function: Main planting, most color

Foreground:

• Height: 20-50 cm
• Examples: Geranium, Alchemilla, Nepeta
• Function: Soft transition, edge finishing

Ground covers:

• Height: 5-20 cm
• Examples: Sedum, Ajuga, Vinca
• Function: Weed suppression, filling

Color schemes:

Monochrome (one color):

• Quiet and elegant
• Play with shades and textures
• Example: White garden (white/green)

Analog (neighboring colors):

• Harmonious and natural
• Example: Blue-purple-pink
• Or: Yellow-orange-red

Complementary (opposite colors):

• Lively and striking
• Example: Purple-yellow
• Or: Blue-orange

Pastel (soft shades):

• Romantic and relaxing
• Pink, lilac, light blue, soft yellow
• Perfect for cottage garden

Plant numbers:

For a full effect:

• Large plants (shrubs): 1-3 per m²
• Medium-sized perennials: 3-5 per m²
• Small perennials: 5-9 per m²
• Ground covers: 9-15 per m²

Tip: Plant in odd numbers (3, 5, 7) for a natural effect!

🌿 Step 4: Specific Planting Tips

Climbing plants:

Planting distance to wall/fence:

• Plant 30-40 cm from the wall
• Train young shoots to a climbing support
• Tie with soft straps
• Give extra water (dry near walls)

Popular Climbing Plants:

• Clematis: Richly flowering, lots of variety, head in sun/foot in shade
• Honeysuckle: Fragrant, attracts butterflies, fast grower
• Climbing rose: Romantic, fragrant, needs support
• Wisteria: Spectacular, strong, needs strong support

Shrubs & Bushes:

Pruning Plants:

• Remove dead or damaged branches
• Cut back spring flowering shrubs AFTER flowering
• Cut back summer flowering shrubs in spring
• Don't shape too much in the first year

Grasses:

Ornamental Grass Plants:

• Plant in spring (not autumn)
• Provide ample room for growth
• Pruning in March (for new growth)
• Combine with perennials

✨ Step 5: Finishing - Details Make the Difference

Mulching:

Why Mulch?

• Retains moisture
• Suppresses weeds
• Regulates soil temperature
• Adds organic matter
• Looks neat

Mulch Options:

• Compost: Nourishes soil, must be replenished annually
• Wood chips: Slowly digestible, natural
• Bark: Decorative, long lasting
• Gravel: Permanent, good for Mediterranean plants
• Straw: Cheap, ideal for vegetable gardens

How to Mulch:

1. First, remove all weeds
2. Water the soil well
3. Apply 5-7 cm of mulch
4. Leave 5 cm free around plant stems
5. Top up annually

Finishing Edges:

Lawn edge:

• Cut sharp edge with half-moon spade
• Keep the border 2-3 cm lower than the lawn
• Maintenance 2-3 times a year

Border edge:

• Use edge sleepers, stones or metal
• Dig halfway in for stability
• Provide straight or flowing lines

Add Lighting:

Functional Lighting:

• Light paths for safety
• Place at stairs and level differences
• Use spotlights at the entrance

Mood lighting:

• Uplight for trees and shrubs
• String lights in trees
• Lanterns on the table
• Solar lights along paths

💧 Step 6: First Care

Watering:

First Weeks:

• Check daily
• Keep soil moist (not soaking wet)
• Better to do it right once than to do it a little often
• Water at the base, not over the leaves

Then:

• Let plants find roots
• Water only during drought
• Early in the morning or late in the evening
• 10-15 liters per m² per week

Fertilize:

First Year:

• Do not fertilize immediately after planting
• Wait 6-8 weeks
• Use organic fertilizer
• Follow dosage on packaging

✅ Checklist Part 3: Are You Ready?

Check that you have:

• ☐ Paths and hardscaping constructed
• ☐ Borders prepared and filled
• ☐ Trees and shrubs planted
• ☐ Perennials planted in layers
• ☐ Climbing plants placed with support
• ☐ Mulch applied
• ☐ Edges neatly finished
• ☐ Lighting installed
• ☐ Everything well poured

🎉 Next Step

Your garden is starting to take shape—great work! In Part 4: Enjoy, you'll learn how to make the most of your new garden and keep it beautiful throughout the seasons.

Part 3 of 4 - Your garden comes to life 🌟