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For garden designer Tim Pilgrim, the biggest thing standing between you and your dream garden is simple: analysis paralysis.
‘Some people can be so terrified to make the wrong moves that they don’t get started at all,’ he says.
To help you actually make some progress in your backyard, courtyard, or balcony this spring, we asked Tim for his advice on designing your outdoor space, tips for picking the right plants, and more, so you can create an outdoor space that will thrive in the years to come.
Be realistic about what you can achieve
For Tim, every project starts with the client brief. Even if you are designing the garden for yourself, it’s important to consider your goals and be realistic about how you’ll make it happen: ‘We always ask, who is going to look after this garden, and how much time are they willing to put into the care and management of it?’
‘We don’t want to design a composition that needs too much intervention if they can’t maintain it because the garden won’t succeed, but if they are keen gardeners, or willing to hire a good gardener, we can have a bit more fun with the planting,’ Tim says.
Create a clear (and practical) layout
Then, it’s a matter of deciding on the layout, including the key ‘zones’ you want to shape the landscaping around. For example, do you want a fire pit, or an outdoor dining area? Are there any messy, utilitarian spaces like a vegetable garden or a shed you want to screen off?
‘It might be a place with a good view, or where the light is just right in the afternoon or a sunny spot in the morning for a cup of coffee,’ Tim says.
‘Once you have identified these zones, link them together with paths, making sure there is good flow between them, and fill the rest with plants.’
How to select the right plants
Tim suggests starting with the plants you are familiar with, and then any new species you are drawn to. A local nursery will be able to give you personalised guidance on the best Indigenous plants that will work for the climate, which are often also relatively low maintenance.
‘The plants you know will be the safe start you need before pairing them with the pretty plants you see growing in other gardens, or in pots in nurseries. These plants need to suit similar growing conditions to the plant you know,’ Tim says.
‘Contrast in colour, shape and timing will be important here. When in doubt, start with one plant, and if it works for a season, double down and buy or propagate more.’
Going for a walk around your neighbourhood is also a good place to find inspiration: ‘What you see growing in the front gardens of your neighbours will likely work in yours. Make note and take pics of the ones you like and build from there.’
The best varieties for beginners
If you’re just getting into gardening for the first time, perennials and annual varieties are a great place to start.
‘Seed for annuals is cheap, and they grow fast; they can be great placeholders in the gaps in your garden while you wait for other plants to be established,’ he adds.
‘Perennials are good for the impatient gardener who wants to see results fast. A lot of common herbaceous perennials are easy to propagate by root cutting over winter as well if you want more of the same.’
Mistakes to avoid
Whether your garden is big or small, Tim says you want to ensure the planting palette feels cohesive. Don’t overcomplicate your design with 10 different materials and too many different plants with no connection in colour, shape, or species.
Another big mistake is just planning one of everything: ‘It’s much better to repeat plants, working off a rhythm to a planting by using more of the same and pairing back the amount of different species. Once you have this established, a bit of this and that everywhere scattered throughout works, as you have a solid backbone holding it all together.’
Water frequently, then let nature do its thing
When establishing a new garden, regular watering is important for the first 18 months or so to help protect your investment and give plants the best chance of settling in. But, according to Tim, the ultimate goal is to choose plants suited to their location, so they can eventually thrive on rainfall alone.
‘At home, I water each plant by hand for 20 seconds and usually never again! But you don’t have to be that militant: the aim is occasional deep watering. This helps a plant take its roots deep, rather than constant short watering that promotes shallow feeder roots, and therefore weaker plants.’
Don’t be afraid to experiment, fail, and try again
Tim says trial and error is a big part of gardening. Start small by planting in a small patch or even in a few pots where you can experiment before committing to a full garden bed.
‘You can learn an incredible amount over a single season in a small plot that’s easy to observe and manage, and it really takes the pressure off a nervous gardener,’ he adds.
‘Just have a go. The worst thing that can happen is a plant doesn’t make it, and you can always try again next spring!’
