Entering a garden is always been a wonderful experience, but often the garden entrance can leave little to be desired. In many cases, the entrance to the garden can be understated or completely unrecognizable. Sometimes, you don\’t need an entrance to your garden but we often expect to see some delineation between what is and what\’s not in the garden. So why do we need a garden entrance? The reasons are simple, so that the gardens would not be so cluttered, easy to maintain and it keeps the costs down for landscaping the garden. However, it doesn\’t offer a lot of intrigue to the garden or any privacy. Building a garden entrance is not as hard as you think. So, here\’s how you can build your own garden entrance.
Steps:
- The first step is to identify how people will approach your yard. For example, we start with a very open garden. A large part of the landscape was a driveway that seems to be the logical starting point. People who arrive in cars would park on the driveway and then access the garden. Visitors who come by foot would then have to bypass the cars and access the garden through another point. Apart from the driveway, the remaining front garden is hedged with some westringea and a rose arbour.
- The next step is to create a garden starting point, how visitors are going to traverse your landscape. The most important is what you want them to see and experience. If your aim is convenience then the most direct route is the key factor. If you like to engage with your visitors with the garden then direct them through garden beds, annual plantings and landscaped features is part of the journey.
- Final step is to choose what design would make an appropriate entrance for your garden. Should it be secretive? Further exploration? Or more to minimalist?
Here are some ideas on what types of garden entrance you might want to use:
- Simple fence and gate
This is the simplest garden entarance with a gate to break the barrier.
- Stone pillars
Stone pillars are formal structure that can be easily direct traffic to a centering focal point and inform your guests as to where your garden starts. To make your garden look ancient, use materials such as stone or local rock.
- Arbour and Pergola
This is covered in a creeping rose or some climber entrance that can offer you and your visitors a touch of romance and mystery into your garden. This is the most welcoming gateway for your yard.
- Archway
An archway is fairly two-dimensional, so it is not to be confused with an arbour or pergola. It draws garden entrance together by keeping some continuation and also adds the dimension of height and use of curves to delineate the starting point.
Additional Reading:
http://www.gardeningtipsnideas.com/2009/04/creating_a_garden_entrance.html
Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gentiane/2752047862/
