Posted by | Posted in Garden Layout | Posted on 21-08-2011
Tags: garden planting layout
Patio design ideas and layouts - Lazy Susan's latest trends for New Year 2011
We like to think that at Lazy Susan we know a thing or two about patios and garden design, so we thought we'd share our thoughts on what we think we should all be doing trend-wise in our gardens for 2011. The humble patio has become an essential component of any garden, providing you with a place to entertain, dine and relax during the summer months. They often form the transitional area between house and garden, so should be hardwearing, attractive and use materials that blend with their surroundings.
Patio Design & Materials
If you're planning a new patio for 2011, then the three critical elements you must consider when choosing what material to use are, its appearance, whether it will be a practical choice of surface and finally the total cost.The appearance of your finished patio should be your first priority. There are many choices of material available now, including natural stone flags, man made slabs, slate pavers, bricks, crazy paving, concrete pavers and granite sets. And to make your final decision even more difficult, all of these materials are also now available in a wide variety of colours and surface finishes too! Lazy Susan's advice is always choose a material that will complement the style and age of your house and garden. Also, if you want to be on trend for 2011, think about a combination of two materials as this looks fantastic and is very popular right now.
Making sure that your patio is in sync with the style of your home is so important though and Lazy Susan can't stress this point enough. For example, if your home is constructed from red brick, then ideally the surface of your patio should incorporate red brick. Not the entire patio, go for a lighter colour and edge with red break to pull the two elements of house and patio together. On the other hand, if you live in an period Victorian property, then you need to think about giving your patio a Victorian look and there are a variety of materials that lend themselves to this style, such as concrete, marble, brick, flagstone and sandstone.
While having a stylish and fashionable patio is key, the surface must also be a practical choice. That doesn't mean you have to compromise on style, just think about who's using the patio. For example, if the garden is used by young children or the elderly, build your patio with a material that has a textured finish to provide a little extra grip when wet.Uneven edges can be a little hazardous too, so while a professionally built natural stonepatio can look great, it is still likely to be a little uneven. Other than that, our only advice would be to try and ensure that the material you choose is easy to install and clean, especially if your patio has over hanging trees or large shrubs. The patio should be designed in such a way that it matches your home dAcortoo. If you have a modern home with a contemporary interior, then the ideal patio dAcor would be sleek in style, and likewise a classical patio design if your home is more traditionally finished.
Definitely long gone are the days of a slab of concrete with a few plastic chairs and for 2011 Lazy Susan wants to see people replace their tired poured concrete patios with stylish hand laid (by professionals!) stone and brick. And it is not just patio materials that are in need of an upgrade, people need to to be re-thinking about the size of their patio too, with many contemporary designs taking up a significantly greater proportion of your garden. Combining the availability ofbetter materials with a larger patio, more homes are also better equipping their patios for entertaining purposes. Fixed BBQ's, fire pits, stylish planters and other accessories (even the odd hot tub) have turned the humble patio from a place to keep a few chairs to a place for relaxation and entertainment.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
layout for vetable garden?
Im just needing a basic layout idea to plant my vetable garden. im planting corn, cucumbers, melons,green beans, tomatoes,squash green peppers. i know u cant plant squash near melons. if ther is anything else i dont know and need to know please help me.-
ANSWER:
LAYOUT:
Now that you have decided on the location, which crops and how many plants you are going to grow, it's time decide where they best fit in the garden. The tall crops such as peas, beans and corn, should be planted on the north side of the vegetable garden. In this way they will not shade the rest of the vegetable crops.In the center of the vegetable garden area, plant the medium sized crops such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins and other mediums sized crops.
Then at the very southern end of the garden is where the low growing crops like radishes, carrots, beets, lettuce, onions and other low growing ones are planted.
Whenever possible, I think the rows in the vegetable garden should run north and south, for best sun exposure and air circulation. If the rows run east and west the first row tends to shade the second row, the second row the third and so forth...
By taking a little time in planning the layout of your vegetable garden now, before planting, your chances of harvesting a more bountiful yield this summer and fall are greatly increased. .
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QUESTION:
What garden layout works with fruit trees "veggies or other fruit to plant arround it to rotate nutrients"
kinda like a crop rotation?-
ANSWER:
Hey Kuks,You are not going to move the fruit trees, and you should not mix plants into their root structure. Garden plants need 24" of soil, and so do the trees. So, let the area for the fruit tree be just that. Then you can plant your "veggies or other fruit" in any rotation you want.
Tomato plants like to be planted back in the same spot, year after year. Just till the plants under after they die in the fall, if it is in a raised bed, all the better.
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QUESTION:
can i move rose plants now, as I am changing the garden layout.?
some of the roses are old and indeed expensive and i would hate to lose them.-
ANSWER:
If you live in a temperate zone,I would strongly suggest waiting till may.When you do transplant, trim top of plant by one third,and try to keep as much of the plants roots in tact as possible.
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QUESTION:
Buying garden plans?
Has anyone bought garden plans through mail? It's the kind where you order a garden layout and it comes with the plants, planting instructions and a planting diagram. I was wondering if anyone has tried doing this and how well the garden performed. Thanks!-
ANSWER:
dont buy it, go to your local plant nursery and ask them when you are looking at plants, they will be more than happy to help you select a good variety of plants,just have fun. gardens are a place to relax.
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QUESTION:
What plants in a vegetable garden need to planted next to each other in order to thrive? Or does it matter?
I was given a plot layout years ago for a vegetable garden but of course I've missed placed it. I remember being told that you can't plant potatoes and onions together. Now I'm worried that I'm going to fail before I even really begin.-
ANSWER:
just don't plant potatoes and onions together. Otherwise, just try to group plants together that grow similarly. Tomatoes and squash grow about the same, and beans and corn will grow in the same of conditions. As long as you aren't crowding drastically different species together, you'll do just fine. Ideally, melons, squash, beans, should be in the same part of the garden. Greens, lettuce, turnips, brussel sprouts, beets, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower can be close to each other. Potatoes can have their own individual section as can onions.
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