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Your Garden - Start With The Basics

By Michael Russell 

What started out of a basic need, many ages ago, developed into what was possibly the first recreational activity known to man, gardening. Today it has many forms, such as a hobby in the form of recreational gardening; science, in the form of botany and horticulture; and the commercial enterprises of farming. These various forms have in turn resulted in the many industries necessary to maintain the 'garden'. Industries such as factories to manufacture everything from the most basic garden trowel, to the mammoth harvesting and processing machines used in commercial farming. So, although this article could try and cover all of those aspects, I will limit it to the most generally recognized aspect of gardening as a hobby. Here too, I will only cover the basic introductory aspects and in later articles, broaden out into more specific areas.

Probably, the most common goal of the hobbyist gardener is to create something of beauty that will bring pleasure to themselves and to others. Although it is not absolutely necessary to be an expert, some basic knowledge must be acquired to produce a good end result. You will for instance need to know what plants are suitable for your particular climatic conditions, as well as the type of soil and the terrain that is found in your garden area. You will need to know as well which plants are suitable for shady areas, partially shaded, or full sun areas. This knowledge is easily found in the many books and magazines that are available today from your local bookstores or library. The Internet too is a valuable source of knowledge for the home gardener.

Although it might seem like a lot of extra work, it is always best to prepare a basic plan before actually commencing planting. The objective in drawing up your plan is to have an end result that is both attractive and functional. The functionality will determine how easy it is to maintain your garden once it is completed. It's necessary too, in your planning to try and visualize the end result. Will the chosen colors blend? Will the eventual size of a particular variety overshadow the neighbouring plants? Will the eventual size be a problem to buildings, power lines or telephone lines? If you are planting trees or large shrubs, you will need to take into account the spread of the root system, so as not to cause problems with water and sewerage pipes and building foundations.

Some other things to be taken into consideration when planning your garden is the position of the plants and trees which are already on the land, as well as paths, driveways, a swimming pool, walls or fences. Consider also the direction of prevailing winds. Will they have adverse effects on particular varieties of plant? If you live in a built up area, you should also consider the neighbouring properties, to see if your plans will blend with them.

The planning of a garden is obviously affected by one's personal taste. Some may prefer a more formal style of garden, using plants that are not indigenous to the area, as well as elaborate features such as statues, fountains, seats etc. These gardens are usually 'geometric' in their design, with obvious straight lines, regular curves and symmetrical balance. Others may prefer a more natural look and feel for their garden, using a lot more indigenous plants and materials such as the rocks and stone naturally found in the area. Depending on the size of your property, you could even combine the two styles. This could be achieved by incorporating the formal style close to the house and gradually transitioning to the informal style further away. It all boils down to personal taste. Just remember though, that 'nature' had the first say. The famous English poet from the 18th century, Alexander Pope, who at one time studied horticulture and landscape gardening, penned the following words in his poem 'On Garden Design'. "To swell the terrace, or to sink the grot; In all, let nature never be forgot".

Well then, get out your graph paper and pencil and start drawing up your basic plan. In later articles we can look more at the specific aspects to incorporate into your garden.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Gardening

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