Design your own patio and planting

- Draw a simple site plan to scale with site analysis annotations
- Apply at least one design technique to enhance your garden
- Use a mood board as a style guide for your choice of planting and paving
- Create at least one planting combination suitable for your site and brief
- Use skills learned on this course for subsequent projects.
What students have achieved on their Patio design and planting course run in 2014/15:
“Feel confident in researching and choosing appropriate planting.” ML
“Ideas for planning, planting and colours involved in garden design.” JA
“A new garden landscape approach in terms of shape, textures, colours…” CTL

Metric graph paper and tracing paper will be provided. In addition, students should bring an A4 pad for taking notes, a scale ruler showing 1:50 (needed for homework), a Helix metric circles template (for planting plans), and pencils, eraser and pens for drawing and sketching. As the course progresses, Lap-tops, iPads etc. for internet research during the lesson might be useful. Students will need a long tape measure and compass to survey their own garden as part of their homework.

You will be taught using a range of techniques including group and individual work, lectures, hand outs, practical exercises, group discussion, weekly homework - including conducting your own site measurements and analysis of your garden after the first session (which may take a couple of hours), individual research from books and online resources, and individual presentation of ideas in class.