That is the question..
When designing a garden with purpose, it's important to understand exactly how the space will be used. A purpose-driven design ensures the garden isn't just beautiful but also functional and tailored to the client’s specific needs and lifestyle.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the questions to ask and the key considerations for each type of garden design purpose:
1. How Will You Use the Garden?
This is the foundational question that guides everything. To dive deeper, ask:
Do you see yourself entertaining guests here? (If yes, focus on areas for seating, dining, or even outdoor kitchens.)
Will the garden be a place for relaxation and solitude? (If so, think about private, tranquil spaces—maybe a reading nook or a small patio.)
Do you have children or pets who will use the garden? (This helps you create safe, open play areas or pathways.)
Is gardening a hobby or passion for you? (This might lead to designing raised beds, a greenhouse, or a working compost area.)
Do you want to grow your own vegetables or herbs? (This would suggest the need for a sunny, productive kitchen garden, potentially with easy access from the house.)
Do you need to create a sense of privacy or security? (Consider fencing, hedging, or natural barriers for screening.)
Considerations: Each answer shapes how the space is allocated. For example, a garden focused on entertaining might need a larger patio and outdoor furniture, while a relaxation-focused garden might feature water elements or secluded seating areas.
2. What’s Your Style or Aesthetic Preference?
This question helps align the design with the client’s tastes:
Do you prefer a formal or informal garden style? (Formal gardens involve structured layouts, symmetry, and clipped hedges, while informal gardens are more relaxed and naturalistic, like a cottage garden.)
Are you drawn to modern, minimalist designs or more traditional, classic English garden styles?
Do you have any favourite plants, colours, or themes you’d like to incorporate? (Some clients love the idea of roses and lavender, while others might prefer a more tropical or minimalist look.)
Do you want a seasonal garden that changes throughout the year? (This could lead to a design that includes spring bulbs, summer perennials, autumn foliage, and evergreen plants for winter interest.)
Considerations: Aesthetic preferences guide plant choices, material selection for hardscaping, and the overall mood of the garden. For example, a contemporary design might use sleek stone, grasses, and simple geometric layouts, while a traditional English garden might use gravel paths, roses, and herbaceous borders.
3. How Much Maintenance Are You Comfortable With?
Maintenance is a huge factor in purpose-driven design:
Do you enjoy spending time maintaining the garden, or would you prefer it to be low-maintenance?
Would you consider hiring a gardener for regular upkeep?
Are you open to using automatic irrigation systems? (If so, the garden can incorporate plants that need more care, otherwise, drought-tolerant plants might be a better option.)
How do you feel about using fast-growing plants versus slower-growing species? (Fast-growing plants require more pruning but fill in the space quickly, while slower growers need less attention but take longer to establish.)
Considerations: If the client wants low maintenance, I might steer them toward hardy perennials, evergreens, and slower-growing shrubs, along with mulched beds to suppress weeds. Conversely, if they’re passionate about gardening, we can design something that changes with the seasons, requiring more attention.
4. What’s the Climate and Site Like?
This is about understanding the physical environment of the garden:
What is the orientation of the garden? (North-facing gardens will get less sunlight, while south-facing gardens get more.)
Is the garden exposed to wind, or are there sheltered areas?
Do you have areas that are prone to waterlogging or dry out quickly?
What type of soil do you have? (Knowing if the soil is sandy, loamy, or clay will help inform plant choices.)
Are there any existing trees or features you’d like to keep?
Considerations: These environmental factors determine plant selection, positioning, and design. For example, a wind-exposed garden may need shelterbelts or windbreaks, while a shaded garden might require shade-loving plants like ferns or hostas. Water management also comes into play with issues like drainage and irrigation.
5. Do You Want the Garden to Be Sustainable or Eco-Friendly?
Many clients are now looking for sustainable garden solutions, so it's worth asking:
Are you interested in using native plants? (Native plants require less water and maintenance because they’re adapted to the local environment.)
Would you like to include features that support wildlife? (Bird feeders, pollinator-friendly plants, and wildlife ponds can attract biodiversity.)
Would you prefer organic gardening practices? (This might mean avoiding synthetic chemicals and focusing on companion planting and natural pest control.)
Would you be open to water-saving solutions, such as rainwater harvesting or drought-tolerant plants?
Considerations: A sustainable garden might feature drought-resistant plants, permeable paving, composting areas, or wildlife habitats. Sustainability can also influence the materials used for hardscaping, opting for locally sourced or reclaimed materials.
6. What’s Your Budget and Timeline?
Understanding practical constraints is essential for delivering a project that meets expectations:
What’s your budget range? (This helps prioritize features—maybe focusing on one part of the garden first if budget is limited.)
Do you need the garden completed by a specific time? (This helps in planning, especially for events like weddings or gatherings.)
Are there any long-term plans for expansion or changes? (Knowing if this is a phased project allows for future planning, ensuring flexibility for future additions.)
Considerations: Budget affects material choices (natural stone versus concrete pavers), plant sizes (larger, more established plants cost more), and the scope of features (such as water features or outdoor lighting). It’s essential to design within the financial framework, so no compromises affect the garden's core functionality or aesthetic.
7. Are There Any Special Needs or Accessibility Concerns?
Gardens should be enjoyable and functional for everyone. It’s crucial to ask:
Do you have any mobility or accessibility needs to consider? (If yes, I’ll design wide, smooth paths that are easy to navigate, raised beds for easier gardening, or seating areas at convenient intervals.)
Will elderly family members or individuals with disabilities regularly use the garden?
Do you need level surfaces for wheelchairs or pushchairs?
Considerations: Accessibility considerations can dictate pathway width, material choice (e.g., smooth paving), and the placement of seating or resting spots. Raised beds or sensory gardens can also be great for elderly users or people with disabilities.
Purpose-Driven Design in Action
Once all these questions are answered, the design becomes a targeted reflection of the client’s needs. Here’s how I tie everything together:
Functional Zones: The garden is broken into zones based on the client’s answers—entertainment areas, play zones for children, vegetable gardens, and so on.
Flow and Circulation: Paths and transitions are designed to ensure that movement between these zones is smooth and logical.
Planting: The plant choices will reflect the level of maintenance the client wants, the style they prefer, and the climate conditions of the site.
Materials: Hardscaping materials (stone, wood, metal) and garden structures (pergolas, trellises) are selected with the client’s aesthetic, budget, and eco-friendly preferences in mind.
By asking the right questions and considering the practical aspects alongside aesthetic preferences, a purpose-driven garden design ensures that the space is not only beautiful but perfectly suited to the client’s lifestyle, making it a joy to use for years to come.