Principles of Garden Design

1. Introduction to Garden
Planning and Design
Session 3 – Garden Planning.
Principles of Design

2. Aims of garden
design
The main aim is to achieve unity (harmony)
in the design.
The garden should look like it ‘belongs’ with
the house and the wider environment.
It should be an enjoyable space to be in –
whether designed for excitement or calm
contemplation.
It should look as though each element was
‘meant’ to be where it is.
The simpler the design the more effective it is
likely to be.

3. Design principles
Scale/proportion
Balance
Rhythm
Line and shape
Colour
Texture
Simplicity
Styles?

4. Is your garden well
balanced?
• “'Balance' in a design refers to the
arrangement of volumes (plants, objects,
etc) and voids (open spaces and paths,
lawns etc) in a way that is satisfying and
creates a feeling of journey, enclosure or
safety."
• Balance can be achieved through symmetry
– repeating the same feature on either side
of a dividing line. This is used in formal
gardens
• Or through balancing volumes or shapes on
opposing sides of the garden or of a sight
line (but with less attention to the strict
centre line of a space). This is used in
informal gardens

5. Scale and proportion
• It is important to keep the features
in the garden to a human scale and
in proportion to each other. Paths
need to be wide enough and spaces
large enough for people to move
about and use freely.
• For example very tall planting in a
small garden could make the space
feel very claustrophobic.
• A tall tree with only short planting in
the rest of the garden may look out
of place.

6. Has your design got rhythm?
• Rhythm refers to the effect of repeating
design features or effects regularly to give
the whole a unified feel.
• Use of long lines punctuated with uprights
or green colours punctuated with bright
colours can give rhythm to a design.
• Formal gardens may use the same feature
repeated to give rhythm; informal gardens
perhaps the same shape but in a different
material or colour.

7. Colour in design
• ‘Hot’ colours advance –
they seem closer than
they are
• ‘Cool’ colours recede –
they seem further away.
• Harmonious colours
create a peaceful, calm
feeling.
• Contrasting colours create
more excitement.

8. The colour
wheel
• Complementary or
contrasting colours
are opposite each
other on the wheel
• Harmonious colours
are next to each
other

9. Texture in garden
design
• Textures refer to the feel of a
surface and how it looks. So a
shiny leaf and a matt leaf may feel
the same but have contrasting
visual ‘textures’.
• Texture can come from hard
landscaping materials, planting,
water (still or flowing), buildings
etc.
• Keeping the number of different
textures in the garden limited
keeps the design simple and
promotes unity

10. Shape and line
• Strong shapes work best – circles, rectangles,
squares or triangles.
• Organise the design around linked strong
shapes (even if they will not be obvious once
the garden is completed). These are the ‘use
spaces’.
• Avoid wiggly, fussy edges – large curves
should be sections of a circle or an ellipse.
• Flowing lines give a sense of movement;
angles in lines make the eye pause.
• Shapes organise the space; lines guide the
eye.

11. Verticals
• Vertical elements in design – walls,
hedges, trees, statues, pergolas – give
structure to the design. Can provide
year round interest.
• They break up sight lines – a garden is
more interesting if you can’t see all of it
at once.
• Encourage exploration by providing
focal points or divide the design into
‘rooms’
• Control movement through the space.
• Practical use – boundaries, shelter etc.

12. Formal and informal gardens
Formal Garden Informal garden
Follows a strict symmetry –
obviously ‘designed’
Not necessarily symmetrical at all
– though balance is still important
Strong shapes in planting and
formal features – topiary and
monumental sculpture
Planting is loose and features are
quirky or casual.
Often public or semi-public
spaces
Private and personal spaces.
Structure of design is clear and
apparent e.g. knot gardens.
It may not, at first glance, look
deliberately ‘designed’ at all.

13. Styles of garden
design
• Design styles are sets of
design features that
create a distinct
‘vocabulary’.
• Design styles reflect
different cultures e.g.
Japanese gardens as
compared with
European gardens like
Mount Edgecumbe.
• Collect design styles –
on mood boards etc – to
consider
• There are many design
styles and the rules are
there to be broken,
once they are
understood.

14. Learning outcomes
1.1 Describe the relevance of garden planning
principles to the production of a garden design that
‘works’, - one that follows accepted ‘rules’ or
‘conventions’, and which is pleasing to the eye
1.2 State the meaning of the following terms:
symmetry; asymmetry; balance; colour; focal points
1.3 Describe how to achieve unity in the overall
layout through rhythm, balance, proportion, scale,
colour, texture and form.
1.4 State the importance of shape and line in garden
design.
1.5 State the importance of vertical elements in a
design
1.6 Describe the difference between formality and
informality in garden design.
1.7 State the importance of garden design ‘styles’ and
identify three main styles in garden design.