Garden design, garden planning, garden layout, planting plants and planting schemes

Family Friendly Urban Garden Design

Posted on July 16th, 2009

Not so long ago a family garden was little more than an open expanse of lawn with the concrete invariably down the middle and a few bruised and battered shrubs dotted around the perimeter. Fortunately nowadays, Home owners are increasingly more discerning about spatial layouts and more creative in defining the scope and content of the family garden.

Afterall and weather permitting there is no doubt that the family garden is perhaps the most liked, most used and probably most enjoyed area of the family home? 

When it comes to designing and planning the layout of a Family oriented garden, there are some critical elements to be considered. Many might to some be very obvious, for example, a Children’s Play area which ideally demands an open aspect, Plant selection criteria will most likely include some specimen/architectural plant specimens, some screening but otherwise plants which offer year round interest, colourful display, requiring limited attention or low maintenance, reliable performers which are also resilient given the scope and range of activities one would expect in a family garden. In relation to the adult preferences, good interesting and practical layouts are much preferred, ones offering some features in different areas, evening and daytime Patios with natural stone paving, garden lighting and water features are increasingly more popular and lastly a coherent layout which links all the various areas in a pleasing but simple and flexible forms.

Our most recent project completed in Floraville features a good size urban garden in a well established and quiet Dublin suburb. East facing but sheltered, the garden is very typical in terms of scale and requirements of what many young parents expect and wish to have in their family garden.

The photos show a selection of views from the various areas within the garden including Main (Daytime) and Bistro (Evening) Patios, a link pathway takes one around the garden on oneside sweeping easily around the lawn perimeter, access to Garden shed and beyond. Mature bamboos were positioned at key points to provide good and immediate screening backdrops. The Sandstone Raised Bed with its gentle sweeping curve and wall capping to provide an informal seating area, a major feature contains some striking plant groups as well as a Water feature and being within the Main Patio area represents not only a significant and important practical feature but also a striking focal point.     

To provide greater use of the Childrens Swing and Slide, a specially prepared base was constructed and with a synthetic grass covering is an ideal all weather play surface for the younger children. 

Specimen planting featured the beauty of the Olive tree, Nandina Domestica, Phyllostachys Aurea and Pseudosassa Bamboos as well as the beautifully platted and heavenly scented Jasmine climbers (Rhyncospernum) which appear like Mop heads/Standards but are trained on aluminium frameworks. In contrast to the Sandstone paving and Raised Beds, Trellis screening provides ideal backdrop to the timber Raised beds constructed using pressure treated Pine Sleepers.

I believe that this family friendly garden project in Floraville is proof that the design of a family garden in which children can play, adults can entertain, plants that appeal but require little attention, special features to attract and enjoy and a layout that is broadly simple but very practical is always possible. Competent Skillsets, practical professional experience and some creative thinking are essential requirements to achieve better results.