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.