The following steps are used to design your garden using the SimpliSTICK Garden Planner

Step 1: Using all your ideas and sketches from your collection of inspiration, measure up your existing garden area and draw an outline of the space at 1:100 scale on the tear out A3 graph pages supplied. Mark approximate North and any existing structures or planting that need to be worked around.

Step 2: Start to use the supplied stickers in layers, beginning with the lower level items like paths, garden beds and grassed areas. Position any fundamental and immovable features.


 

Step 3: Continue to overlay the basic structure of your design, filling in more detail as you progress.

Step 4: Finish placing the major structural elements. Concentrate on any items that will have a direct bearing on plantings.
 

Step 5: Begin adding the finer details of underplanting and items above floor level.

Step 6: Finally add all the remaining items needed to bring the design together. Add labels to show key elements.


 

Here's a few examples of the what to expect from the Simplistick Garden Planner!

"Don’t underestimate the therapeutic value of gardening. It’s the one area where we can all use our nascent creative talents to make

a truly satisfying work of art. Every individual, with thought, patience and a large portion of help from nature, has it in them to create their own private paradise: truly a thing of beauty and a joy for ever."

Geoff Hamilton,

Paradise Gardens

Good design Basics ( Part 2 ) Using the Simplistick Garden Planner

Rhythm   This is visual flow; the eye wanders throughout the entire garden design, but comes back to the focal point. It can be achieved with repetition and contrast.

 

Balance   Try to achieve a good balance in your design. Don’t crowd plantings in one area and leave blank spots in others. Create unity by planting in colours, textures and groupings. Plants and structures should appear to be connected or in harmony with one another.

 

Colour    This is another major thinking concept; colour has an amazing impact on our emotions and as such becomes one of the best tools for creating moods and effects in the garden. Don’t just be limited to colour of flowers and blooms, consider foliage as well. If in doubt use a colour wheel to assist in creating the scheme you desire.

 

Texture Most plants are green, but they are not all smooth and shiny. Pay attention to the foliage of individual plants. Are they broad and flat, small and fluffy, spiky or thin and wispy? A combination of textures gives fullness to a garden, creating interest and structure.

Sustainability   

In many regions, the current level of demand on water resources is unsustainable. An average household can use approximately 112 000 litres of water per year on their garden alone.

Reducing household water demand with efficient landscaping and garden designs can make significant contributions towards a more sustainable future. A sustainable landscape is a healthy and resilient landscape that will endure over the long term without the need for a large amount of scarce resources such as water. Ideally, its own natural functions and processes will be able to maintain the environment into the future. Sustainable landscaping is about being accountable for the environment when designing, constructing and maintaining landscapes and gardens.

A large range of desirable landscapes can be achieved whilst also considering the environmental impact and supporting natural environments. With a little research and planning, effective alternatives can be found to traditional unsustainable garden practices and plant selections.

Be mindful of the following when designing your garden:


• Try to use appropriate plant species for your geographic location.
Research flora which is indigenous to your region.
• Where possible, try to encourage the creation of habitats and food sources for local fauna.
• In choosing appropriate landscape materials, try to use alternatives to materials taken from ‘natural landscapes’ (moss rocks, river stones etc). There are many man-made and recycled options available. Be sure to sort and recycle the waste materials that you use.
• Design your landscape to minimise water usage and incorporate effective use
of mulch and sub surface water efficient irrigation.
• Consider installing rain water tanks and/or grey water systems.
• Use drought tolerant plants and lawn varieties that better suit local
environmental conditions. Minimise lawn areas where possible.
• Reduce the use of garden chemicals and use best practice application techniques to avoid contamination of air, soil and water. Consider, "companion planting" and organic pesticides.

 

Most homeowners may only get to design or redesign a garden two or three times in a lifetime. Either way there can be a learning period when errors of judgements or less than perfect choices are made. A good tip is not to rush the process. Think of and record several layouts, taking into account your personal requirements, blending your needs with all that you know about design principles and style.

Experiment with as many design options as possible, 20m2  of paving stickers is much easier to relocate on a plan than 20m2 of real paving in the wrong location. Have fun with your plans and remember it’s your garden and your design so it should reflect your personality, needs and lifestyle requirements. 

"Because a garden means constantly making choices,

it offers almost limitless possibilities for surprise and satisfaction."

Jane Garmey,

The Writer in the Garden.

Scale Guide

 Most of the items in this Simplistick Garden Planner are based on a scale of 1:100, but can be easily translated into imperial measurements also. Some items like pot plants and actual paver size is representative. These items may be oversized for illustrative purposes, but are still intended for use.

A scale drawing is a representation of the actual size, measured as a ratio, such as one to one hundred, which is written as 1:100. So a drawing at 1:100 scale is exactly one hundredth of the real size. You don’t need to buy a scale ruler – a standard metric ruler will work just as well. At 1:100 scale, 1 centimetre equals 1 metre.

A scale drawing is very helpful when planning a new garden or outdoor area. Take your completed, to-scale garden plan to your local gardening or landscaping service – you can discuss your project while looking at your actual plan, rather than having to describe it verbally or trying to ‘translate’ your notepad doodles to a professional. Trees, for instance, can then be marked on the plan, taking into account how big they will grow.

A thorough initial planning stage is essential in any project and by using the scaled graph paper and the other items included with the Simplistick Garden Planner, you will save considerable expense and end up with a clear and precise plan.

Part 3 of this blog will run through the 6 easy steps it takes to use the Simplistick Garden Planner to create A3 images of your garden dreams.

http://www.simplistickconcepts.com.au/

The Simplistick Garden Planner ( Part 1)


Good Design Basics


An understanding of simple design procedures is all you need to develop a plan for a unique and interesting garden, in any location.

 

With a minimum of fuss, the Simplistick Garden Planner can supply you with the necessary tools to produce a professional looking garden design which is only limited by your imagination and the size of your yard.

Good design is the cornerstone of any individual and beautiful landscape; you do not need to be a professional to realise your garden dreams.

Research is the key. Use as many sources as possible, take walks around your neighbourhood, take photos, visit your local nursery or botanical gardens, purchase or borrow gardening magazines, join a gardening club or go online and see what you can find.

An understanding of simple design procedures is all you need to develop a plan for a unique and interesting garden in any location, taking into consideration how you will ultimately use your garden space. Once you have all your photos, notes and clippings, you can begin thinking about sunny spots, shady regions, entertainment spaces and the utility area of your new garden.

"Making the simple complex is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that’s creativity."

Charles Mingus.


Now you’re ready to design. Sketch out your ideas on paper beforehand, keeping the following in mind as you go:

Planning Measure up your garden area, starting with the boundary and position of the house in relation to the garden. Sketch the outline on the graph paper, draw in any existing features that will be kept, existing structures, sheds or substantial trees etc. Make sure your dimensions are correct and that the scale drawing is 1:100 scale and looks ‘right’ on paper.

 

Aspect Locate north and mark it on your plan. Being aware of your location and how your garden is affected by the sun at different times of the year is very important for its future survival and the functionality of your garden in the long run. Note any sunny, partial sun or shady areas and design to best suit these conditions. Remember that as the seasons change these areas will also change slightly.

 

Function Make a list of your functional requirements. Do you need a play area, vegetable garden, utility area, barbecue or entertaining patio? Do you have pets? Will your family’s needs change over time? Remember to be flexible with your expectations. Life and circumstances change, but good basic planning can make the difference when adapting or changing your garden in the future, should the need arise.

 Access Where will the points of entry and exit be? Are you aiming for a slow leisurely walk or quick paths from one part of the garden to another? Is there a thoroughfare or a winding uncomfortable path to negotiate? Remember any specific access requirements. Do you need to have ramps and wide paths for wheelchairs or prams?

Proportion The size and relationships of the areas of the garden should be balanced with each other and the garden as a whole. No one area should be more dominant than another.

 Scale Not to be confused with the scale or size of the plan, this is the size relationship of the individual components and plants to the garden as a whole. For example; a tree, which grows to 5m, may not be suitable for a courtyard garden. A large garden may look unbalanced if only small plantings are used. Consider and research the size that plantings will reach over time.

Style Here is one of the major areas for consideration in planning. This is the stage where you need to make decisions about the type of garden you require, whether it is formal, cottage, contemporary, low maintenance, native, or based on another culture or area. Style does not only need to be classed into these categories, but can also be described with emotional words; restful, elegant, colourful, romantic, symbolic and friendly. Another style of garden worthy of consideration is sensory. Choose plants that stimulate all five senses, visual, fragrant, textural, taste (a herb or vegetable garden) and sound, by using wind chimes and water features. The style of garden should reflect your needs, compliment your home and any existing structures.

 

 

Focal Point Your focal point is an area that draws the eye. This could be a water feature, your prized flowers or a specimen or architectural plant.

 

www.simplistickconcepts.com.au

 

Introduction to the Simplistick Garden Planner

Paradise is a garden.’ – Traditional Persian saying.

Good design is the basis of any individual and beautiful garden setting.
An understanding of simple design procedures is all you need to develop a plan for a unique and interesting garden in any location and environments.
The Simplistick Garden Planner will show you the basic principles and elements used to plan either a small or large garden.
Whether you want to create a new garden or improve on an existing one, the Simplistick Garden Planner will guide you in creating a personalized garden, in keeping with your aspirations and the character of your home.
The Simplistick Garden Planner equips you with a selection of die-cut landscape symbols and background stickers to help turn your ideas into a reality. The end result will be a professional looking garden design which will help you to visualize your future dream landscape.
Whether you decide to do the work yourself or engage a professional contractor, the Simplistick Garden Planner, is the perfect way to make sure you get exactly what you desire.
　

　

http://www.simplistickconcepts.com.au

Don't underestimate the therapeutic value of gardening. It's the
one area where we can all use our nascent creative talents to make
a truly satisfying work of art. Every individual, with thought, patience
and a large portion of help from nature, has it in them to create their
own private paradise: truly a thing of beauty and a joy for ever.
-　　 Geoff Hamilton, Paradise Gardens
　

A GARDEN PLAN WORTH STICKING TO

Friday 11th November 2011 marked the release of a creative new garden design book, the Simplistick Garden Planner.  The book was launched at The Mawson Centre, South Australia, in conjunction with the Mawson Lakes Garden Competition and The Mawson Lakes Garden Expo.

The Simplistick Garden Planner is a hands-on tool to assist the home gardener to visualise, design and implement their own unique slice of the great outdoors.

The Simplistick Garden Planner provides a complete range of repositional landscape stickers, symbols and backgrounds that combine to create a professional looking garden design. Consisting of over 1000 stickers of large trees, small trees, shrubs, potted plants, pavers, decks, water features, and more - practically anything you need to create a landscaped garden. The stickers can be positioned or repositioned on the planning sheets provided in the book to create a layered garden design.

Creator Mark Benham has over 20 years experience in the home building, design and landscaping industry. Mark saw the need for this tool after talking to many homeowners who wanted to create their own garden design but they didn’t know where to start.

‘The concept of the book is to provide a unique garden design and landscaping tool that is comprehensive, straightforward and easy to use. The Simplistick Garden Planner is structured to enable the user to be able to create a professional looking landscape design from simple, rough sketches, without the aid of a computer program or any landscaping knowledge.’

‘The book is in essence a tool for developing a working garden plan, it’s intention is not to compete with the already abundant supply of quality garden design books, but to be used in conjunction with. It is after all, a sticker book, but with an open mind and a small amount of effort, I challenge anyone not to be pleased with the outcome, based on available choices to produce the same result.’ - Mark Benham, Director, Simplistick Concepts.

The Simplistick Garden Planner will help anyone to experience the enjoyment and satisfaction that comes from creating their own garden design.

The book is available now for $35 online from www.simplistickconcepts.com.au.