Throughout time, gardens have been a place of refuge, a place to exhale with functional use. Gardens can be started in the smallest spaces. From a table top, balconies, small yards to acreage.
The prospect of starting a garden is an exciting one. As it should be. You have a clear vision of what you want to see. Big trees, showy foliage, fragrant flowers, soft grass maybe even some fruits. Plants have a healing effect on people. It relaxes, reduces stress and uplifts one’s mood. The garden is an extension of your house and should complement the architecture of your house to create harmony.
Though some people go straight to purchasing plant, it is important to make a plan to avoid getting lost in all the choices that exist. This plan will be your north star in the starry night.
If you have a budget, we'll advise on how to stretch it and make the most of it. Additionally, if you want to implement the garden slowly we'll advise on how to go about it and have a cohesive space in the end that looks inviting and intentional.
Whether it's a whole new garden or just changing a few things in the existing one, knowing where to begin can intimidating. Here’s a breakdown to get you started.
1. Study the site
To create a successful garden, you need to take in consideration the type of soil, climate, and neighborhood, existing structures and vegetation. This will inform placement of vegetation and organizing the space as well as being aware of the site limitations. Objectively walk around the garden carefully evaluating what you lie and what you don’t.
2. Identify your needs
In order to create a cohesive and functional garden it is necessary to list everything you want the site to do for you. Do you need space for kids to play, somewhere to host guests, an outdoor cooking area, do you want open lawns or display your flowers or a hidden meditation space? Dream big. List down everything.
3. Vision: themes and styles
What experience do you desire in your garden? If you have a specific styles and themes in mind note them down. Do you have an indoor style you would like to carry through to the outside? You can find inspiration online too. It can be as simple as having a fun curvilinear garden or as complex as creating a tropical jungle. Choose styles that inspire you from our website, from colour gardens to tropical gardens and everything in between.
4. Plan the space
After identifying your needs and styles, it's time to get sketching. Allocating space for different functions in the landscape, how the spaces relate to each other. Creating and linking outdoor rooms. Think about water efficient plants. Take into account the temporal aspect, gardens mature and change over time. This may sound like an uphill task for someone who hasn't done it before. Our team at Plantitude will help you figure out plants, styles, materials and quantities to achieve your vision. From choice of materials for walkways, landscape lighting, choice plants and allocation of spaces in regards to the site constraints. Explore our trees, shrubs, groundcovers, herbaceous perennials collections to find what interests you. You can also get some help from our plant nerds to create a planting design worthy of your space.
5. Prepare the site
Now that you've identified the plants and hardscapes together with the quantities, it's time for the rubber to meet the tarmac, or in this case the tools to meet the ground. Start by clearing the site to remove unwanted shrubs, stubs and stones. Grade and rake the land if necessary.
6. Install the hardscapes
Lay down the walkways, patio, retaining walls and any other thing that need to be built as indicated in the plan.
7. Plant the greenery
Start by adding manure and mixing it properly with the soil. Rake and grade as necessary. Then arrange the plants delivered by Plantitude. See how they fit and when you're pleased, get to planting. Our energetic team can help with speedy installation giving your landscape the needed facelift in no time. Water the plants immediately to prevent shock.
8. Maintenance
Water the plants once daily for the first week, preferably in the evening after sunset, giving the plants enough time to soak in the water before the sun comes up. For the second and third week, reduce the watering to every second day before gradually moving to watering just once a week. This allows the plants enough time to acclimatize and adapt to the site and climate while taking root. Watering in the morning or evening reduces water wastage. If planting is done during rainy season, watering will not be necessary.
Weeding is necessary while the plants are young to avoid competition for resources.
9. Add mulch
Mulching is covering the ground around plants with dry leaves, grass and compost. It helps retain moisture in the soil by preventing evaporation. Mulching also limits the growth of weeds and enriches the soil as the mulch decomposes.
10. Sit back and grow
Gardens grow and change with the passing of time. So relax and watch your plants grow and flower, bloom, yield fruit and become everything you hoped for. Don't forget to document and share with us. At Plantitude we love to see how your garden changes with time.
Connect with us to show us you projects on our handles in IG @ThisIsPlantitude and FB @ThisIsPlantitude
Contact us to start your garden today
