Garden Design Elements

Garden Design Elements for your garden

Smart and sustainable garden design doesn’t have to sacrifice looks or functionality. The key to good garden design is making all elements function harmoniously. With minimal effort and a little planning we can build a garden that will be easy to look after and can look great all year round. Take control of your outdoor space.

Sometimes raw materials used can have a large environmental footprint. Materials can provide lasting functionality with little or no maintenance. Understanding product life cycle is important when planning sustainable gardens. Some products may seem very inefficient, though may be able to be recycled or reused in clever ways.

Affinity Gardens uses a philosophy of effectively working with garden products to reduce maintenance. Using a garden design which allows small amounts of resources to keep lasting visual impact is every gardeners dream. Often we see very large and small gardens created cheaply or missing out on the key ingredients required to be a success. Sometimes people seeking short term, quick gratification can pay dearly in the long run. Poor garden design or planning will continue to drag on your budget or can require greater ongoing effort.

Garden Design – An Evolving Process

Traditionally, garden design has gone through many stages. Once upon a time when labour was cheap and resources were plentiful, gardens were often used to create status. In past it often seemed like land was conquered or dominated. Showing grandios and wealth, has always been attached to gardening and landscaping. Our gardens and garden design has taken on many functions and roles in our lives. Sometimes gardens are used to complimenting the residence, provide food, or just create leisure and entertainment areas. In more recent times gardens have become an extension of our homes and the way we live. Our homes have begun to integrate more closely with our garden areas.

Garden Design using edibles

Creating an edible garden that harmoniously connects to our house is a great choice.What can be better than entertaining for family and friends and stepping out into the garden for your edible produce? Healthy chemical free produce can be assured when you do it yourself in your own backyard. Why not eat what you grow and grow what you can eat. Integrating edible plants into your outdoor space provides many rewards.

Many of us are starting to return to our fundamental roots of self sufficiency, environmental awareness and sustainability. The more resources we consume, the more pollution we create the less opportunity we hand to the next generation. Our landscape will play a much more important role in peoples lives for decades to come. Garden design can utilize these key issues as our beliefs strengthen and our resourcefulness within our communities grows.

Do you think our future generations deserve to enjoy what we love? Green spaces are not just a fashion statement or a lifestyle choice. Gardens and greenery help create more sustainable, livable communities.

Garden Design – Efficiency is the key

Can you create a garden or space to use less resources? Could you garden operate using less water or using less fertilizer? Can we achieve what we want in ways that use less energy and require less maintenance? All of these elements can make a big difference in how our garden functions for the longer term.

Having less negative impact on the environment around you makes complete sense. Reducing your environmental footprint does make a difference. Why not make your landscape beneficial to your local wildlife, yourself and your natural surroundings. Our footprint on this earth is a concept many of us tend to take for granted. Take time to carefully plan your selection of plants, hard landscape areas, mulch and ground covers. Catching your own water and harnessing natures energy is a great way to reduce your required resources.

Garden Sustainability

Your garden space could be taking advantage of some very simple sustainability principles. Therefore impacting your neighborhood and community in a positive, productive way. Using native plants that will attract birds and wildlife creates a sustainable eco system. Well placed and well designed water features can provide a desired cooling effect. Can you use ideas that let sunlight into your home where it can warm specific areas? Planting trees and using structures to provide beneficial shade will improve thermal efficiency. Using sustainable concepts and resources can help you save money and reduce ongoing costs. Basic garden design ideas can play a huge role in reducing your environmental impact.

Providing people with tools and knowledge helps people make informed choices. Creating greater awareness can impact our daily lives and make a difference. Little changes in the way we do things can create a ripple affect that can benefit our community. Most of all, why not choose to utilize solution based gardening, rather than being part of the problem?

We work to provide products, resources and information that will benefit people. Our approach is to share what we are know not force change. We can all choose to live our lives how we want to.

Better Homes and Gardens has a nice article discussing these topics.

They discuss various garden design elements in greater depth. Better Homes and Gardens can sometimes provide very helpful garden and plant ideas. Embrace your landscape with the care and respect it deserves.

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