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In this blog we discuss the possible drawbacks with recreating your dream garden.

It’s that time of year again.  Once more crowds will flock to The Chelsea Flower Show.  Eager gardeners and avid horticulturalists will soak up the latest trends, and marvel at the giddying array of new gizmos as they seek inspiration for their own gardens.

The Chelsea Flower Show is the showcase for Gardening and the RHS.  With its fabulous show gardens, great ideas and trend setting products.

But if you’ve seen a show garden that takes your breath away – how can you take the concept home and transplant it in your own patch of land?  Let’s look to fashion for the first problem with this.

Picture yourself at London Fashion week as a gorgeous top model takes to the catwalk promoting this year’s ‘hot off the rail’ designs.  You might be thinking “I want that outfit!” But before you get your cheque book out, think. Will that outfit look the same on you?  Because, like it or not – we are all shaped differently.  One design might not look the same on you.

Transfer that to garden design and you can immediately see your first problem here can’t you? To recreate a show garden in all it’s glory needs careful thought.   To achieve show garden perfection can be a challenge.  Few plots start with a perfect rectangle and favourable conditions.

A garden should be a marriage of the visual and the sensory – but you might need to make some compromises if you’re seeking horticultural heaven in suburbia.

When we assess whether that garden feature or those plants are right for your garden, firstly as designers we need to consider a few things:-

Context & Character of your garden

For instance, does your garden have a woodland, urban or country feel?   Does it have historical context, i.e. Victorian, Edwardian etc. What emotional response does it evoke, e.g. is it spiritual in nature?

Consistent style creates unity

Look for hard landscaping materials that complement your house, keep to a limited palette and blend with a unified planting scheme.

Balance and proportion

Think about it does your garden possess the right proportions to squeeze in a Bunny Guinness or Diarmuid Gavin creation?

Most people are attracted to things that are visually balanced.  Paradoxically, with gardens this is often achieved through asymmetrical balance.  Using different forms and textures to create a visually pleasing composition.

Right plant right place

Those plants look gorgeous but will they thrive in the soil and aspect of your garden?  Happy plants live longer, look fabulous and need less attention from you.

Garden limitations

Much like your body – many people bow to nature and accept the odd idiosyncrasy or flaw in their garden.  That could include a very large tree perhaps not best placed.  What if your garden is on a slope, spends most of its day in partial shade or full sun?  A garden designer would need to take these factors into consideration.

A Garden Designer’s role is to fully appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of your garden, and to make the best possible use of the space.  And they will often show you how to manage it once the design is complete.  After all –if you’re the one looking after it, you’d want to ensure that it will stay looking amazing once the designer has packed up and gone home.

How you use your garden > function and mood

A show garden might wow the crowds at Chelsea  but will you really be able to live with it if you’ve got 4 kids and a crazy hound? Is that realistic?  Can you honestly bring that home to Suburbia without some compromises involved?  Will it be functional enough for you in the long run?

So yes do look to Chelsea for inspiration.  If you see your dream garden and want to recreate that back home, consider these factors before you make any major decisions

Zebra Grass will be at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show – some come along and say hello!

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2011

We’ll be at the BALI Stand  – number SR/18 near the Embankment entrance.

On Thursday 26^th and Friday 27th May, between 8am and 8pm