Designing gardens means, first of all, designing a green space taking into account the available budget. The first thing to do, however, is to identify the location: not only the size of the available surface (it is clear that the larger the space, the more varied the solutions adopted may be), but also the presence of any trees or buildings in the surroundings, which could provide shade at certain hours or throughout the day (and therefore the presence of plants in that point must be carefully considered), or create a sort of funnel for the winds. Finally, the exposure must be calculated, taking into account that the best is to the south-west or south, as it ensures a sunny garden. In the presence of slightly sloping land, you should not worry (nor must those who plan to design rock gardens, which indeed prefer the differences in height), unless the slope is very accentuated: in this case, it could be useful to create dry stone or brick walls, and possibly create an embankment. The land will be measured adequately, so as to be able to manage the perimeter and the internal space in the best possible way: for example, by confining the plants, in a small garden, to a peripheral area, so as to leave the lawn free in the center and give the feeling of greater amplitude. Those who have to deal with limited spaces, on the other hand, will be called to use many climbing plants: they, developing in a vertical direction upwards, on the one hand help to save space without sacrificing the beauty of flowers and leaves, and from the others help to increase the sensation of depth. With a large garden, on the other hand, it could be useful to resort to borders, that is to say delimitations (for flower beds, streams, paths, etc.) created with vegetation according to different techniques and profiles. Borders, hedges, or simple vases, serve to keep the garden in order, dividing and delimiting, perhaps even juxtaposing different styles together so as to give rise to particularly suggestive effects.

Designing gardens, on the other hand, also means designing green spaces that are able to adapt to the context, fitting into the surrounding environment in a balanced, proportionate and harmonious way, without causing visual shocks. In addition to the plant component, then, it is also important to dedicate oneself to accessories, objects, floors: everything that is not nature but which serves to better enjoy nature. For example, you cannot miss at least one path that leads to the entrance, a path that avoids getting your feet wet when it rains. It will therefore be necessary to choose the construction material: tiles, gravel, pebbles, fine sand, asphalt, it depends on personal needs and tastes. Obviously, it is necessary to take into account both the price (sand will certainly cost less than tiles), but also the people who will have to frequent the garden (sand will be more fun and safe for children than asphalt). After having thought about the placement of trees and plants, also in consideration of their size (let’s not exaggerate with the imagination, in short, if we have to manage a small space: a conifer eight meters high can hardly be used), we can proceed with the sowing of the lawn . The plants can be grown in the ground or in pots, bearing in mind that cultivation in pots allows, of course, to be able to shelter them in case of violent rainfall, but at the same time requires frequent repotting, especially for species that tend to develop. a rather impressive root system. As part of planning, it is also essential to remember more practical aspects: for example, the need for water intakes for the construction of automatic irrigation systems (indispensable for lawns, considering that they must be rigorously wetted in the early hours of morning), and possibly electrical sockets if you intend to also create a lighting system.

Moreover, it is worth remembering that the design of a garden does not necessarily imply the choice of a classic garden, in the sense that lately “variations on the theme” are increasingly widespread. This is the case, for example, of the minimalist garden, which intends to combine greenery (often reduced to a minimum) with the linearity, rigid schemes and geometric shapes of the architectural spaces in which they are inserted; but above all, of the English garden, known since the eighteenth century, which in the wake of the most famous examples (for example the garden of the Royal Palace of Caserta) is also making proselytes in private spaces, including palaces and villas. It is a garden that involves the use of plants and plant species alongside natural elements such as streams, ponds and small waterfalls: solutions, obviously, possible only for sufficiently large spaces, and above all for those who are able to ensure a adequate maintenance, constant over time. On the other hand, the economic aspect should not be underestimated.