| Tricks
of the trade (Page 2)
Nuts
and bolts
To ensure success, you'll
need to adhere to a few basic principles. Always work from the inside
out - don't start at the perimeter and work inwards. For example,
instead of just thinking about building a screen all the way around
the edge of an area, consider dividing the space into different
areas without fully blocking them off. Rather than a screen, you
could use pleached trees that have no foliage from the ground to
about 1m up. Or you may want to group a planting of maples, to give
you shelter from the summer sun. In this case, the planting should
allow you to walk through it to a more solid planting at the back
- this will give the illusion of a much larger space.
Don't listen to those
experts who say you should never have a straight line in a garden.
Every garden is different, and straight lines may be the perfect
solution for your courtyard. Plants can be used to soften the lines
- don't make the beds too shallow; bring them right out to the edge
of your paving.
Avoid 45-degree angles that cut across an area, as they throw you
off visually. Instead, try to round off any corners with bends or
90-degree angles, or you could even try amoeboid shapes.
“If you wish to use your space for outdoor eating, make it
a designated eating area,” advises Rick. The table and chairs
should be the focal point, but keep the furniture away from the
access points. “There is nothing worse than having a crowded
access point.” If there is a wall, use it to build on –
either an overhead shade sail or a cantilevered pergola will give
the area perspective.
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