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planning / planting the perfect garden
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Author: Staff writer

For some people taking the dog for a walk is simply taking the dog for a walk. For others, it's a covert garden-scouting maneuver! Perhaps you've been envying the perfect garden enjoyed by your neighbor 5 houses down. Keep in mind though that "perfection is in the eye of the beholder". The key to this old (slightly altered) adage lies in the person doing the admiring. "Perfection" is reflection of your specific needs.

The flawless lawn, intricate beds of the retired couple with no dogs and no pick-up football games is neither attainable, nor (in all probability) any fun for a young family.

Put even more simply, a garden needs to fit in with your lifestyle!

There are many reasons to have a garden. Some view it as a place to be used - where you barbeque and generally enjoy the fresh air. For others it is simply a space between their walls and the curb. Then there are the avid gardeners. They might view the garden as a sanctuary or show piece. They receive a Zen pleasure in the smallest detail.

All these people are clearly going to want different features in their gardens. Likewise, they are going to want to put differing amounts of effort into the garden. Take a moment to see where you appear on the scale? There are hybrids of course!

This self-analysis is the first step on the road to planning YOUR perfect garden.

Step Two:
Think about your needs. What are your priorities? Here are some keywords to consider. Rank them in order of importance, or use a numeric scale that makes sense to you.

Not all of these needs are going to fit perfectly together. In fact, you will quickly notice that some are diametrically opposed.

However, with careful planning you can include elements that satisfy a couple of the needs above.

For example, including a water garden will

• Attract birds,
• Provide a bit of evaporative cooling and
• Make for a soothing and tranquil environment

Ranking your needs means that you can start to decide how much of your space and budget you wish to allocate to each specific goal. I.E. how much of your garden will be structured to provide for 'outer-taining' - a deck, or paved, or gravel area - and how much left as a grassy, or planted area. Does my need for privacy mean that I should splurge on a trellised gateway and spend less on annuals in my flowerbeds?

Compromising isn't a bad word. For example, if you are in an arid area, you may choose to plant to minimize your water needs. However, you may wish to include a small grass area to satisfy kids and the need for grass between your toes!

Planning helps you identify areas that can satisfy multiple criteria. Thinking ahead helps find solutions that allow for your needs to be best met.

Perfection is a journey, not a destination. Gardens are built and refined over years. By ranking your needs, you can spend your energy and budget on the most important things first. Perfection means having fun and enjoying your garden - what ever form that takes!

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