Urban Garden Design

There are a whole range of urban garden types. When buying in urban areas it is not unusual to have a roof garden, courtyard garden, flower garden, vegetable garden, front and back garden in suburban style, a sloping garden a large or small garden.

Common Traits

If urban gardens come in different shapes and sizes then what are their common traits? Urban gardens are strongly affected by the buildings around them. The surrounding construction affects access to sunlight and can block out light and heat or create areas where there is an excess of heat. If the closest buildings have been built more recently the debris from these may have affected the soil making it difficult for plants to root. Design and interest in gardens has increased dramatically recently ensuring that there are many ways to combat the problems of an urban garden and creating gorgeous urban gardens of varying types.

Urban Escapism The design of the urban garden is important because in built up area it is often the only space users might claim as one of tranquillity or as a haven from the city. It is a place where there is the control and the will to manipulate it into becoming quite different to its surroundings. A lot of imagination can go into a garden and the rise of urban escapism has been inevitable. Drawing inspiration from all over the world many urban gardens have themes such as a jungle theme. These themes are usually implemented by professional designers who create gardens using hard landscaping, artistry and plants suited to the available soil and sunlight. These gardens can be built in the heart of urban areas and can be designed to be low maintenance. Gardens that are suited to very little planting, such as courtyard gardens, can also be inspired by other parts of the world.

A European theme such as a Greek or Roman style garden can bring a sense of order and quiet to a garden in contrast to a noisy city. Even roof gardens can easily be designed to be a place of relaxation, although they are usually an extension or another room to the house. Water features, container plantations and colour via soft furnishings and lighting and so on can now be relatively easily lifted and situated on a roof. For almost wherever a person would like to go, even fairyland, designers can bring the ultimate escape fantasy to an urban garden.

Edible Gardens

It may seem that an urban garden may not be able to have as many functions as a country garden, particularly as they are generally smaller and do not have access to the natural garden soil and wildlife. However it is possible to grow edible gardens for the purposes of self-reliance, personal gourmet and sustainability. It is possible to grow cherry blossom and citrus fruits with the aid or artificial lighting and heating. Herbs and other more unusual personal gourmet food might also be grown in urban areas often with the use of containers. Container gardens are easy to establish and the mobility of this type of garden means plants can be moved around gardens, particularly useful in courtyard or roof gardens, to get the best sunlight or to minimise frost damage. Edible gardens are increasing in popularity and can be enjoyed as much in urban or country areas with the use of modern technologies and clever designs of experts who ensure that edible gardens also have appealing scents and visual aestheticism.

Concealing Technologies

Gardens are now often ideally perceived as versatile multi-target spaces. The former division of gardens into different corners or segments has lost its appeal and concealing technologies are replacing this tradition. This is where the same space is used differently at different times. For example, a child's play area during the day might be used as a space for entertaining at night and a family dining area on weekends. This type of multi-usable space is usually created through the use of hard landscaping and contemporary design. For example a roof garden might use large tiles which are suitable flooring for a child to play on and entertaining. Soft (removable) furnishings and outdoors furniture also enable the same space to be used differently. Other space can be utilised in a small back garden, for example, as a work place during the day and an entertainment room in evenings. This is achieved with the use of outdoor lighting, appropriate colour scheme and seating. It is quite possible to fit a variety of uses into the same space.

If all of the above is to be achieved this is a huge undertaking and it is useful to consult experts. Good garden designers will make sure space is used effectively and is made as versatile as possible, that an escapist or other theme is also incorporated and can advise on all plantation for consumption or beauty.

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