Planning a garden may sound counter-intuitive because nature rarely operates according to what we want. But a guiding hand can help the natural world to be its best and give you a backyard oasis of colour, calm and contentment.
Thinking long-term
When it comes to your dream garden, “Planning is key to getting to the goal,” says landscape and interior designer Chantale Charette, owner of Ottawa-based Studio 853 Design. That’s especially so when doing a project in phases according to Charette. Working in stages over a couple of years or more means you can break the project down into affordable chunks.
However, warns Charette, family, friends and others are going to be offering advice in the process, whether you want it or not. “These ideas may be great ones although they may not correspond to your exact needs and may not all mesh well together. The plan is a tool that will help strategize and get to a finished product that you know will work and have the results that you wanted.”
Having a firm plan also means that all contractors are on the same page when giving you quotes, making it easier for you to choose which one to go with. Just as importantly, a plan can help rein in impulse buying. That’s important because while there’s always room in a garden for an unexpected purchase, you don’t want to wind up with a mere hotchpotch in the back forty.
Year-round good neighbours
“Remember to add four-season interest to your Ottawa gardens,” counsels Candace Mallette of Candace Mallette Landscape & Garden Design in Orléans. “Plant dwarf evergreens to add winter colour to the landscape. Some of our favourite winter interest plants for pops of colour are ‘Globosa’ blue spruce, Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Mop’ and red twig dogwood.”
Remember, too, that not all plants flower at the same time or have similar leaves. “Look at texture, shape and colour when you are choosing a plant neighbour,” says Mallette. ”For example Green Velvet boxwoods and Concorde berberis look fabulous together because they have a similar shape and texture. Plants don’t have to have all three things in common but the more that they do, the better look they will give.”
Minimizing the workload
Unless you opt for a backyard full of weeds, you can pretty much count on logging time maintaining your garden. Not everyone enjoys that sort of thing, but give it a chance – letting your mind float free while you occupy yourself with non-thinking tasks is a rejuvenating experience.
You can reduce the level of maintenance by opting for vigorous, low-care flowering plants like purple cone flowers, which thrive in full sun and everyday garden soil, and ornamental grasses, which add the lovely rhythm of movement when a breeze blows through your garden. There are plenty of other low-maintenance plants that do well in the Ottawa climate.
Hiring a pro
Should you bring in a pro to help with your backyard plan?
“An experienced set of eyes can help you make sense of the space,” says Mallette. “We view the outdoor space similar to the way we would view the inside of the home by breaking it into useful ‘rooms.’” Those spaces could include an outdoor cooking and entertainment area or a quiet spot to sit with a glass of wine and contemplate your garden.
Based on the consultation, homeowners can decide how much of the work they want to tackle themselves and how much they want to contract out.
Mallette’s company charges $150-$190 for a consultation, which runs an hour to an hour and a half. The service includes plant lists, quantities, options and pricing including a PDF file of suggested plantings. Depending on your property, rough sketches and other assistance may be part of the consultation.
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