There is a great propensity for Joe Public to have their garden designed in its totality or simply designed by adding plantings randomly thereafter. The resulting layout does not always create the desired effect. Overplanting is invariably what happens and, when combined with poor maintenance practices, the layout becomes a by-product of the mow and blow and hack and chop syndromes so widely seen.

A good design should take into consideration the needs of the property in tandem with the “wants” of the owner after all facets of the wants have been explored as being the correct approach for the land and owner. Mistakes formulated at the initial stages of a project are often costly if not rectified once identified. Remember, the garden is not a static entity, what you create you have to continuously maintain. The following is a list of points which should reduce the impact of making mistakes in the initial stages of the project/design process:

• Design dictates maintenance. Aim for a low maintenance landscape by following the points discussed below. Also consider the simple approach that maintenance should be carried out on an as and when required basis. It is not economical or in my opinion wise, to have a structured programme, eg every other Wednesday in the summer and once a month in the winter.

• Pruning is a part of maintenance but should be discussed as a separate exercise simply because of its importance. I am a firm believer in pruning at most, three times per year, approximately late March to early April after winter winds abate. If we have a wet summer, consider pruning in August to thin out growth in readiness for hurricanes, and finally September/early October to thin out for protection from the winter gales.

• If preparation and installation isn’t done correctly, it will come back to haunt you in the form of growth not reaching its potential, or even stunted growth, if planting holes are too small and root activity is impacted.

• Flower beds and grassed areas are a major constituent of the garden with the latter more than likely taking over a major footage of the landscaped area. It is therefore important to consider the following aspects when developing the plan:

• Lawn types should fit the need of the intended usage as well as the location, ie sunny or shade. Lawns should be well maintained to control weed growth as well as “foreign” grasses being introduced as this can cause problems with weed control and height of cut.

• Hard landscaping plays a major function in Bermuda’s landscape. It creates the opportunity to use areas perhaps more heavily than in “green gardens”, whilst extending the usage into functional areas such as BBQ areas, patios, etc. It also allows a reduction of the wear and tear found when carrying the same activity on a lawn area, for example.

• Footpaths and parking are an important part of a workable design. They should be functional with aesthetics in mind. Footpaths, by their design, should be directional. By this I mean the front entrance should be defined by a wide enough path that accommodates two people walking aside each other with a minimum width of five feet. Secondary and tertiary paths should be less wide as, for example, the trash only needs to be wide enough for one person so two feet should suffice.

Labour, be it your own or hired, comes at a cost. Good planning with design can help control the cost as unfortunately nurseries do not stock money trees!