Garden design has the power to transform any garden into a beautiful and tranquil haven.
In the UK, ‘an estimated 27 million people enjoy gardening as a hobby’, emphasising just how many people are getting stuck into making the most of their outdoor space.
However, in their haste to improve their garden, many people often make mistakes that can easily be avoided.
In this guide, we’ll cover some common garden design mistakes to avoid to help guide you and ensure you’re getting the most from your garden.
Let’s get started.
Common Garden Mistakes
Common garden design mistakes include, but are not limited to:
- Not having an overall plan for your outdoor space
- Not prioritising consistency
- Neglecting empty space
- Not hiring a garden designer
- Careless planting
- Prioritising style over functionality
1. Not Having An Overall Plan For Your Outdoor Space
When it comes to refreshing your garden design, it can be tempting to dive straight in.
However, to begin without an overall plan for your outdoor space is a common mistake you should avoid.
Spend time getting to know your garden, as this will help you to learn what sunlight and shade it gets and where certain plants will thrive.
Carefully consider your needs and the garden you’d ideally like to create, ensuring you collect images from websites such as Pinterest for inspiration.
Functional aspects of your garden design are just as important as the creative parts of the design, which is why having an overarching plan is so important.
Without an overall plan of how you need the space to perform and how you want it to look, you likely won’t be able to create a cohesive garden design that works for you.
2. Not Prioritising Consistency
The next garden design mistake to avoid is not prioritising consistency.
When you consider the endless types of plants, colours, and sizes paired with the variety of landscaping materials, it can be easy to get carried away when planning your garden.
However, failing to consider consistency can result in a mismatch of styles, textures, and colours that simply don’t work or complement each other.
To avoid making your garden look too busy, it’s better to choose a few plants and materials and keep them consistent throughout your garden.
Alternatively, if you’d like a variety of plants, you might decide to group colours together into consistent zones.
3. Neglecting Empty Space
Neglecting empty space is another mistake you should avoid when designing your garden.
A garden feels right when you strike the right balance between trees, trellises, pergolas, and other vertical garden elements and the lawn (and other empty spaces).
Remember to keep in mind each season when choosing what you plant and where. If a garden focuses too heavily on flowery perennials, for instance, without paying enough attention to evergreen plants and built elements, then it will naturally look bare during winter.
To maintain year-round interest, then, it’s key to think about adding these elements early on in the process.
4. Not Hiring A Garden Designer
A common mistake is to not hire a garden designer.
If you’re already green-fingered, you might not see the benefits of hiring a professional garden designer.
However, a professional garden designer can help to create your dream garden whilst making the most of the space that you have.
Reasons To Hire A Garden Designer
- Attention to detail – A garden designer will create a concept that meets your needs and works within the size and shape of your garden.
- Conceptual design – A garden designer will create concept plans to allow you to visualise your new garden before it’s built. If something isn’t right, you can easily pivot.
- Budget management – With DIY garden designs, you can quickly lose track of what you’re spending. A garden designer has the experience to work within your budget, sourcing materials and plants that are suitable for your project.
At Raine Garden Design, our expert team will work closely with you during every step of the garden design process to ensure your garden not only looks great but also suits your lifestyle.
Get in touch with our team today to get started.
5. Careless Planting
It should be no secret that a garden is a long-term project that evolves over time. However, you’ll need to watch out for careless planting.
Failure to consider planting evergreen shrubs that offer foliage year-round can result in your garden looking sparse throughout the winter months.
Mapping out your planting on a calendar can help you to identify where and when you’re likely to have gaps.
Once you’ve found a plant that works, you can replant it repeatedly for not just stunning but also cohesive flower beds.
6. Prioritising Style Over Functionality
Lastly, a common garden design mistake is prioritising style over functionality.
For instance, you might have dreamed of long summers on a large manicured lawn, but is this practical for your lifestyle?
When you consider that ‘22% of UK gardeners are reducing their lawn sizes, opting instead for paved areas, decking, or additional planting beds’, the growing demand for functional landscaping is evident.
That said, when planning your garden design, it’s key to consider what you’re going to be using your garden for.
Whether it’s hosting, a place for the kids to burn off their energy, or a relaxing space to take the day off, be sure the design you opt for is functional to you.
How We Can Help
If you’re interested in transforming your garden space, look no further than Raine Garden Design.
Our award winning designer, Raine, has over 23 years of experience and is on hand to help you design the perfect outdoor space.
To learn more about our garden design services, get in touch at studio@rainegardendesign.co.uk or on 07702 042559.
Written by Jemima Thomas for Raine Garden Design.
