Before attempting to design a garden, or redesign part of one, you need to establish its possibilities and decide what you personally require. Also, consider its existing features. Even the small, flat rectangular garden of a newly built estate house will have features that cannot be ignored and that dictate the nature of the design.

The first question to ask is ‘Who will be using the garden?’ Its design revolves around the answer. Here are three examples of how the owners’ requirements affect garden design.

FOR THE YOUNG WORKING COUPLE

Due to lack of time for spending in the garden and for working in it, they will probably want a low-maintenance garden. Shrubs and groundcover plants will be chosen rather than herbaceous material, and a simple layout omitting work-intensive features such as rockeries or pools. Entertaining in the garden area near the house and detailed planting around this area will be required.

Seasonal variety must be provided by the shrub and groundcover planting rather than bulbs, annuals and herbaceous perennials. Garden lighting may also be of particular interest.

FOR A FAMILY

There is inevitably a conflict between keeping the garden beautiful and the active habits – or destructive moods – of most children at some stages. There has to be some compromising. However by planning for children’s needs and accepting that the whole family should enjoy and use the garden, much can be achieved.

A good-sized lawn area for play near, but not too close to the house will be desirable and this should be away from vulnerable planting. An area for a climbing frame and sand pit may be allocated, preferably within sight of the kitchen or workroom. In a large garden, any out-of-sight, neglected and overgrown area will be of great interest: young children love to have their own private areas where hideouts can be constructed and demolished at will. Encouraging this type of activity will help keep them out of your own special-interest areas.

As children grow up and the family changes, so must the garden. Think ahead for the time when the sand pit and the hideout making era has gone. The sand pit might become an ornamental pool, the neglected area could be tidied and developed as part of the ornamental garden, or else extended and managed as a wild garden area, encouraging native flora and fauna.

FOR AN ELDERLY COUPLE

Time available for appreciation of the garden may be greater after retiring from working life, but physical strength and agility will inevitably limit the type of garden that can be maintained. A low-maintenance garden similar to that required by a young couple with restricted time would again be suitable, although the aesthetic requirements may be different. There will also be a difference in the type of maintenance that can be tackled. For the elderly, garden work should be easy to do though not necessarily quick. Shrub borders should not be too wide, making some plants difficult or impossible to reach.

Lawn mowing and the handling of garden machinery generally becomes more of an effort, so they should consider whether to have a very small lawn or alternatively devote a large part of the garden to grass so that the entire area can be cut by a ‘ride-on’ mower.

Paved sitting areas will be important and the provision of permanent seating and low walls will be much appreciated. Obtaining a sun tan may be lower on the list of essentials, whereas having some shade on a hot day is more important. Incorporating trees and shrubs that flower throughout the year and possibly winter-flowering varieties visible from the house will be of enormous value.

After looking at a mere three categories of garden user, without even considering the enthusiastic gardener with special interests, the significance can be seen of considering carefully just what is important to you, the garden owner. These are the general guiding requirements which form the type of garden.