plants and implementation

1. Introduction to Garden
Planning and Design
Week 5 – ‘Bringing it all together’
Planting plans and implementation of
a design

2. Learning objectives
 Discuss learners design choices/ layout plan.
 1. At last - plants!
 State three ways of establishing contrast in planting
 State how to select plants for seasonal interest
 Describe how to use plant groups as units in design
 Calculate the number of plants required to plant a stated
area
 Describe how to draw a planting design
 2. Time and money: budgeting, planning and
construction
 Finalising budget items - state the importance of identifying
budget items during the design process
 Describe how construction and execution can be planned
and co-ordinated.
 State the advantages and disadvantages of construction
choices (DIY or professional).

3. Plants in design
 Provide part of the design – adding
colour, form, texture, volume. Can be
used to create rhythm, symmetry and
balance.
 Thousands of ornamental plants –
choose the effect required and then
find the plants.
 The effect changes with the seasons
and the plants must suit the soil,
aspect etc in the garden.

4. Planting effects and styles
 Plants in design are not considered
individually.
 Various planting styles – Mixed Border;
Prairie; Drift or ‘River’; formal bedding;
Cottage Garden.
 Different groups of plants used in each
style.
 Some styles lend themselves more easily
to formality some to informality.
 Selecting combinations of plants that can
be repeated simplifies planting and can
add to the unity of the design

5. Combination planting

6. Drift Planting

7. Drawing a planting plan – mixed border
 Draw planting areas to scale – larger scale
than the master plan.
 Select and draw anchor and structure plants
to scale.
 Add seasonal layers of interest – do this on
tracing paper so you can overlay the
seasons and check for overcrowding. Once
happy draw a planting plan – as you did for
the over all master plan
 Draw all plant ‘icons’ to scale – create a
numbered key.
 Draw a scaled elevation to check heights
and lay out – use your photos and draw
over them or simply draw scaled triangles
and fill in with suitable colour, texture etc.

8. Budget
 No such thing as a cheap makeover
 Can control costs if they are identified
as you move through the design
process.
 Research material costs and record
 Three quotes/tenders for all works
that are contracted out.
 If budget issues are identified then
either phase works or change the
design (substitute materials, replace
hard landscaping with soft etc).

9. Implementation
 Double check legal and planning
requirements.
 Prepare detailed specification –
quantity and quality.
 Tendering process – if using
professionals. Use the specification
and master plan, invite bids.
 Project management – timescales,
timings of work, order of works.
 Future maintenance

10. Learning outcomes
 Discuss learners design choices/ layout plan.
 1. At last - plants!
 State three ways of establishing contrast in planting
 State how to select plants for seasonal interest
 Describe how to use plant groups as units in design
 Calculate the number of plants required to plant a stated
area
 Describe how to draw a planting design
 2. Time and money: budgeting, planning and
construction
 Finalising budget items - state the importance of identifying
budget items during the design process
 Describe how construction and execution can be planned
and co-ordinated.
 State the advantages and disadvantages of construction
choices (DIY or professional).