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Andrew Mangwarara
ALL greening efforts need some planning for the projects to be a success.
Planning creates order and brings out true beauty as was evident at a home I visited in Belvedere recently.
Everything is in its place and the plants are carefully manicured to create a unique space.
When planning a garden, it is all about mastering the different aspects such as space, scale, texture, harmony, colour, structure and history.
Over time, as you persist, you can experiment with plants and even re-plan as you go.
So, consider at first how you are going to use the garden and where you are going to be sitting — and, of course, it should be near the house.
Also work out where the sun sets and plant accordingly so that the light of the evening sun catches on the plants.
As you design your garden, consider symmetry and balance to come up with a formal or informal garden.
Choose a shape and keep repeating it throughout the garden — in flower beds, paths and water features.
A garden usually comprises areas such as a patio, vegetable garden, fruit garden, storage shed, pathways and open spaces, thus, you need to think seriously and position them accordingly.
Do not be afraid of dreaming big.
You can always execute your plan in stages as resources become available.
When you look at your garden, start by taking an inventory of your assets; that is, those things which you will keep, whilst considering removing the ones which are a liability.
Try to put everything on paper or, better still, use a computer programme so that you can visualise your garden before it comes to life.
While planning your garden, try to visit it at different times of the day so as to get a feel of the space, then adjust as needed.
The garden climate, if hostile, can be transformed through correct selection of plants to create a different microclimate.
You can even screen off noise from the garden.
Planning a garden also involves the final furnishing with plants.
Plants are the final step; therefore, careful planning is very important as they will determine the colour, texture and height of the garden — in other words, the glamour of the landscape.
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