Garden Design
Short course
Distance
Description
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Type
Short course
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Methodology
Distance Learning
To enable you to design a garden of any size in a professional manner, in both layout and planting. How will you achieve this? - By developing your ability to analyse the site, including surrounding views and orientation. By understanding what is wanted from the garden and how best to achieve it. By surveying the garden and drawing it up to scale. Using a grid to balance proportions, linking the garden with the house and determining the best possible use of the space. By manipulation of space, creating direction and movement using vertical and horizontal elements.
Reviews
Teachers and trainers (3)
Gill Lotter
Lecturer
Rosemary Alexander
Principal
Simon Pyle
Vice Principal
Course programme
Suitable for gardens no smaller than 50 square metres.
Garden design is a complex art form: it encompasses disciplines ranging from soil science and surveying to plant selection; it deals not only in three dimensions but also with the additional dimension of time. Our classic course unlocks the secrets of effective garden design - why, how, what and when. This is our most comprehensive design course: it teaches the design process in great detail and includes extensive sections on plants and visual presentation.
There are seven projects in Garden Design, with shorter exercises throughout the course. On average the course takes 12 to 18 months to complete, working at the rate of about one evening a week.
The MaterialsYou will find details of necessary materials in the course book.
1 drawing board A2 size, 1 set of ink drawing pens, 3 nib sizes, 1 45 degree set square, A3 and A2 tracing paper, A2 graph paper, HB pencils, eraser shield, eraser, scale rule, compass and extension arm, circle templates, scalpel (for correction on tracing paper), flexicurve, coloured pencils.
Structure of the course
The course consists of an introduction, reading list, list of equipment, plant notebook and five chapters of text with practical exercises:
Chapter 1 Research and Preparation
Chapter 2 Garden layout - transforming your ideas into a garden
Chapter 3 Vertical and overhead planes, materials, lighting and garden accessories
Chapter 4 Designing with plants
Chapter 5 Visuals and garden construction
Introduction, time allocation guide: exercises 1.5 to 2 days; projects 1.5 to 2 days
Client brief, client checklist, practical and aesthetic considerations
Exercise 1: Filling in a checklist of client requirements
The garden and its settingViews, the influence of your garden on its surroundings, boundaries
The site surveyWhat to measure and record, using the equipment, measuring systems
Measuring the house and nearby elements, more distant elements, trees, curves, slopes or changes in level
Exercise 2: Measuring the site
Assessing the soilExercise 3: Soil testing
Recording non-measurable details
Exercise 4: Recording non-measurable details
Photographing the gardenExercise 5: Using a camera to record views and details
Site checklist
Exercise 6: Filling in a checklist of existing site conditions
Drawing up the surveySetting up your drawing board, drawing to scale
Preparing the projectStages in drawing up the survey
Exercise 7: Practising drawing to scale
The site analysis and inventoryThe site appraisal
Preparing a concept diagramPositioning the items
Legal considerationsConservation areas - tree preservation orders, neighbours, boundary ownership, trees, weeds, right to light, protection of existing features
Summary of chapter
Project 1 - site survey, site inventory, analysis and concept diagram
Chapter 2 Garden layout - transforming your ideas into a garden
Introduction, time allocation guide: exercises 2 to 3 days; projects 2 to 2.5 days
Plan presentationHow to lay out your sheet, designing a title block, information panel, border
Exercise 1: Designing your sheet
Graphic symbolsHouse walls, surveys, paving and ground surfaces, free-standing walls, trees and shrubs
Exercise 2: Drawing symbols
Lettering
Exercise 3: Practising lettering
Colour and rendering techniquesWhich paper to use, what colours to choose, different media and how to use them, applying tone or rendering
Experimenting with patternCreating patterns of different character, adding depth, relating patterns of gardens
Exercise 4: Experimenting with pattern
Creating grids for different sitesWhy use a grid?, where to start, dividing up the space, the benefits of a square grid, grid size
Exercise 5: Devising grids for different sites
Moving and turning the grid
Exercise 6: Turning the grids and translating them into areas of hard and soft landscaping
Experimenting with themes, alternate themes, designing with shapesThree dimensional effects - mass and void
Exercise 7: Contemplating the proportions of mass and void for your proposed designs
Space
LightLight quality and intensity, creating special effects
Scale and proportionDesigning steps for exterior use
Exercise 8: Assessing the space needed for typical garden features and functions
Exercise 9: Assessing the difference between interior and exterior dimensions
Using water in the gardenHistorical tradition of water, the qualities of water, still water, colour, moving water, designing with water, formal and informal water features, size, location
Exercise 10: Studying the reflective qualities of water
The disadvantages of water
Refining your ideasPerspective distortion, horizontal elements, vertical and overhead elements, boundaries
Selecting materialsInspiration, points to consider
SurfacingLoose surfacing, fluid and rigid paving materials, timber decking, grass, edging
Exercise 11: Analysing surfaces and structures in your locality
Exercise 12: Collecting brochures and samples of surfacing materials
Summary of chapter
Project 2: Core plant list
Chapter 3 Vertical and Overhead Planes, Materials, Lighting and Garden AccessoriesIntroduction, time allocation guide: exercises 2 days; projects 2 days
The role of the vertical planeEnclosing spaces, directing and screening views, controlling exposure to sun and wind, directing circulation, unifying the house, garden and surroundings, aesthetic contribution
Vertical featuresExisting house walls, garden boundaries, entrances and gateways, garden walls, fences, trelliswork (treillage), ha-has, plant barriers or enclosures
Exercise 1: Studying structures and materials suitable for boundaries
The role of the overhead planeControlling light, controlling scale, architectural extension of the house
Overhead FeaturesPergolas, arbours, garden buildings
Exercise 2: Examining examples of overhead features
Trees
Exercise 3: Studying the character of different trees
Drawing sections through the garden
Materials
- Walling, fencing, steps
- Lighting
- Function, techniques, security or access lighting, aesthetic effect
- Garden accessories
- Ornaments, furniture, children's play equipment
Exercise 4: Sourcing structural material and accessories
Practical considerations
Site access, site clearance, topsoil, drainage, soakaways, French drains and tile drainage systems, water points and irrigation, choosing a watering system, electricity, soil preparation, septic tanks
Summary of chapter
Project 3: Preparing the garden layout plan
Examples of students' work
Chapter 4 Designing With Plants
Introduction, time allocation guide: projects 2 days
What planting can provide
Structure and enclosure, enhancement of hard landscaping features, an affinity with the surroundings
Changing pictures
Inspiring compositions
Principles of planting design
Scale, proportion, shape and form, texture, colour, seasonal compositions
Practical considerations
Creating your planting plan, what the plan should show, the stages involved, style of planting, following your theme, structural planting
Points to consider when choosing a tree, key planting
Decorative planting, roses, herbaceous planting
Summary of chapter
Project 4 - Planting plan
Examples of students' work
Chapter 5 Visuals and Garden Construction
Introduction, time allocation guide: exercises 1 day; projects 2 to 3 days
Drawing sections through the garden
Exercise One: Drawing sections through the garden
Visuals
How to convey your ideas
Photographic overlays - what they are, why they are useful
Exercise 2: Creating photographic overlays
Axonometric projections, how to construct them
Exercise 3: How to draw a brick in axonometric
Exercise 4: How to draw a shrub or small tree in axonometric
Having your garden constructed
Doing the work yourself, using contractors, maintenance and future development
Summary of chapter
Project 5 - Drawing an axonometric projection
Conclusion of course
Examples of students' work
Glossary of hard landscaping terms
- Core Plant List
- Templates
- List of equipment
- Drawing equipment
- Drawing board - A1 or A2 size, with T-square or parallel motion
- Set square
- Circle template
- Pair of compasses with beam attachment
- A2 graph paper
- A2 tracing paper
- Pencils, pens and erasers
- Scale rule to include scales 1:50, 1:100, 1:20, 1:10
- Masking tape
- Coloured pens or pencils
- Surveying equipment
- A2 and A4 graph paper
- Metric/imperial measuring tape (30m, 100ft)
- Metal skewer (to fix to the measuring tape with wire)
- Rigid spring tape (2m, 6ft)
- Clipboard
- Notebook
- Simple soil test kit
- Trowel, plastic bags and labels for taking soil samples
- A2 tracing paper
- Pens, pencils and eraser
- Torch
- Photographic equipment
- Camera
- Film
- Tripod (optional)
- Spare batteries
Detailed information
A1/A2 drawing board
This can be as basic or sophisticated as you like. The most basic is simply a flat, inexpensive piece of board. The more advanced is a table-mounted laminated board with supporting adjustable legs and a parallel motion (sliding horizontal ruler). The basic board is perfectly suitable for the beginner and is the board used at The English Gardening School.
It is important with all types of drawing boards that the faces and edges are flat and smooth, and that they will not twist or buckle with normal use. Edges should be at right-angles to one another. Do not stick drawing pins into your board or use it as a cutting surface.
It is easiest to draw accurately on an angled surface, so if you buy a basic board, use a block of wood or a pile of books to raise the edge furthest away from you, thus angling the board towards you. You may need to try several different heights before you find the most comfortable angle.
T-square or parallel motion
So-named due to its shape, a T-square is required for the basic board as an alternative to the more professional parallel motion. Both of these are used for drawing all horizontal lines, the head of the T-square being held against the left-hand side of the drawing board, or if you are left-handed, the right-hand side. Do not use your T-square as a cutting edge as this may damage it.
The parallel motion should be pushed up and down evenly. It is used in the same way as a T-square.
Set square
This is a triangle of clear plastic used for vertical and diagonal line drawing when rested on the edge of the T-square or parallel motion. Set square sizes vary enormously - do not buy the smallest size or you will have trouble drawing long vertical lines. The length of the longest side should be around 250-300mm (10 -12 inches). If you intend to do your final drawing in ink, make sure you buy your set squares with angled edges that eliminate smudging. You will need either a 45º angle set square or an adjustable set square.
Circle template
Used for drawing circles, a circle template has 20 or 30 circles graded in size. Make sure the largest circle is about 50mm (2 inches) in diameter. If you intend to draw your plans in ink, it is best to buy a template with 'ink bumps' that, when used on the underside, hold the template slightly away from the paper, thereby avoiding smudging.
Pair of compasses
A medium-sized pair of compasses will be needed for drawing up your survey and for larger circles and curves. Purchase one that has a beam attachment for drawing large circles.
Graph paper
You can buy this as you go along, but in the first instance you will need one or two sheets of A1 or A2 graph paper, metric or imperial, depending on the measurements you will be working in. You will not draw on your graph paper, but it will be the first sheet of paper to be stuck down on your board and will serve as your backing sheet.
Tracing paper
It is useful to have this in a number of sizes, although if you buy large sizes you can always cut them down. They can be bought in rolls, pads, or in single sheets and in various weights, ie 60gsm, 90gsm and 120gsm. You will use a lot of tracing paper while you are working up a design, so it is advisable to use the lightest (60gsm) until your design is finalised (the lighter the weight, the cheaper the paper). You can then do your final drawing on a slightly heavier weight. Until you know which size you are most likely to use (A1 is unlikely to be used unless you are doing a design for a large garden) buy the paper in sheets of A2 (half the size of A1). You can buy a pad of A4 for small sketches.
Pencils and pens
It is useful to have a selection of pencils with leads varying in degrees of hardness and softness. The cost of the pencil will be proportionate to its usefulness. Cheap pencils have gritty and crumbly leads that lead to smudging. HB is the most useful general drawing pencil. An alternative to the ordinary pencil is the 'clutch' pencil which does not require sharpening.
It is entirely up to you whether or not you complete your drawings in ink. Technical drawing pens are required for use on tracing paper, but must not be used on ordinary paper as the nibs will be spoilt. The pens are expensive to buy and require practice to achieve even lines. The nibs come in a variety of sizes that correspond to the thickness of line - 0.35mm, 0.5mm and 0.7mm are the most useful. An alternative to the technical pen are the disposal drawing pens now available.
We strongly advise that you begin your drawings using pencil, and only purchase pens if and when you feel suitably confident.
Scale rule
A scale rule (or scale) is a narrow strip of plastic the length of a normal ruler and either flat or triangular in shape. It has varying numbers of divisions along each edge on both sides. The divisions are in proportion to actual distances and dimensions and are used for making plans drawn to scale. The scales you will most often use are 1:20, 1:50, 1:100, 1:200, but you will probably find that most scale rules go up to at least 1:1250. If you wish to work in imperial scale the equivalent is half an inch to one sixteenth of an inch.
Masking tape
This is required for taping your paper to your board, for overlays, and many other uses.
Camera
When designing someone else's garden it is particularly useful to take photographs to act as a reminder when you are drawing up your design. It is also useful to have photographs of gardens or features that you particularly like for future reference.
Sundry items
You will also need coloured felt tip pens, notebook, folder, trowel and plastic bags, and a simple soil test kit for taking soil samples.
Please note
The above list may seem long and intimidating, but if you take it with you to a good artists'/graphic supply shop you should be able to obtain everything you need. Those items you are unfamiliar with are less complicated in reality than they are in description.
Aim of the course:- To enable you to design a garden of any size in a professional manner, in both layout and planting.
- How will you achieve this?
- By developing your ability to analyse the site, including surrounding views and orientation.
- By understanding what is wanted from the garden and how best to achieve it.
- By surveying the garden and drawing it up to scale. Using a grid to balance proportions, linking the garden with the house and determining the best possible use of the space.
- By manipulation of space, creating direction and movement using vertical and horizontal elements.
- By choosing appropriate hard landscaping materials and integrating your proposals with the existing framework.
- By enhancing the design with planting. Considering structural, accent and decorative plants, including climbers, wall shrubs, roses, grasses and ferns.
- By using bulbs and annuals for seasonal interest.
- By using graphics and visuals to communicate your ideas.
Additional information
Garden Design