The very thought of designing and planning a neatly landscaped garden divides people into two neat classes, one, those who just can’t wait to get started and the second set who frantically start looking up their phone book for the best garden landscape artist in town.

Well, this one’s for the DIY garden enthusiasts who want to get started with their very own landscaping without making a gaping hole in their back pockets. For the second set of people too, we have encapsulated some doable and practical suggestions – tips you can keep in mind when you do decide to green light a professional landscape artist.

LANDSCAPING AND KING LOUIS XIV OF FRANCE, WAIT WHAT?!

Got you for a second there, didn’t we? After all, landscaping and King Louis XIV of France cannot possibly have anything in common. But this is the part where we share a bit of an eye opening newsflash for you – The antiquity of landscape gardening dates back to the 1800’s when lawns and the surrounding property was planned systematically so as to create appealing aesthetic beauty that synchronized with the immediate environment of that region. The Palace of Versailles is a testimony to landscape gardening, executed by André Le Nôtre at Vaux-le-Vicomte for King Louis XIV of France.

The sprawling lawns of the Taj Mahal or The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, constructed by King Nebuchadnezzar II during his reign between 605 and 562 BC besides many other such examples are evidence of structured and planned gardening architecture in bygone eras.

What landscaping really means

In simple layman words, landscaping is a means of changing (or creating) the previous appearance achieved through the addition of stone structures, benches, plants, trees, watering systems, level surfaces and even flooring so as to create an envisioned garden that synchronously blends in with the topography of the area. In other words, making systemic makeovers to ‘land’ i.e. the actual garden space as well as to the ‘flora’ and the solid ornamental/ functional ‘structures’ that are going to help create the overall desired effect.

Planning it for yourself

Lets just assume you’re a beginner, in which case you need to get acquainted with the basics first and then fine tune them as you go along based on your own requirements and specifications. This should give you a basic outline and help you to get started on it pronto.

Don’t go overboard

It’s tempting to browse pictures on the internet and get influenced by what you see. However, we start with this basic rule for one reason and one reason alone – that of avoiding unnecessary time, money and energy wastage. So whatever you do, don’t go overboard.

Check out successfully DIY landscaped gardens and decide which design you’d like to settle on. It could be a mix of what you’ve seen and what you envisioned in your minds eye.

Next up, measure and draw up a blueprint of the basic structure that you’re dealing with- this in itself may require you to get out there with a measuring tape.

Harmonising with the solid fixed structures

By this we mean creating your landscaping in such a way so as to even out, synchronize if you will, the solid elements already present in your garden area. Structures like walls, porticos and fences should be considered and must be re-designed such that they blend in seamlessly while allowing for easy negotiation and maintenance around the said space.

Water and other key elements

If you’re planning to introduce a fountain or a streaming rivulet that gurgles past the seating area ensure that you don’t bring in too many other distracting elements too. Let the stream of water be the hero of your garden. Likewise, if you’re opting to make a grand stone archway in the centre of the garden area, introducing several other striking elements along with it will create a conflicting effect.

Remember, less is more!

Indigenous, edible, or ornamental plants- Which should it be?

This one is really more of a personal choice rather than an architectural/ structural consideration; however, do bear in mind that plants that are already happy growing in your city/ country will continue to grow happily in your garden too. Understandably, as the weather and climatic conditions suit them.

Similarly, edible vegetation thrives well if it is indigenous to where you live; foreign or exotic flora (though attractive) may not always turn out to be a suitable option, more so for beginners. Peace lily, orchids, banana and papaya, palms and bamboo plantations grow well in tropical countries. What’s more, plant beds of perennials and watch them bloom all year round!