7 Garden Designs
Seven designs are based on a garden size of 15 metres x 9 metres and have been designed for different aspects (e.g. north-, south-, east- and west-facing gardens) and include garden plans illustrating a variety of features, such as patios and seating areas. While the designs highlight where to situate these features in order to make the most of the available sun in your garden, you don’t have to invest in hard landscaping projects to create your own dream garden. The planting plans will help you develop your existing space to create a similar look and feel to your favourite garden design.
The Shared Spaces Family Garden
Designer: Nicola Haines
This west-facing garden is designed for a family with teenagers and young adults but can be tailored to suit any household. The garden is designed in a series of layers with planting in the foreground, mid-ground and background - with three distinct spaces that can be reformatted and customised as your lifestyle changes.
- Three distinct spaces
- Feature pergola
- Family friendly
The Entertainer’s Garden
Designer: Linda McKeown
This east-facing garden provides flexible spaces for easy entertaining. This plan guides you on how to advantage of a garden’s easterly aspect by including a patio space where owners can enjoy early morning sun, a sunken patio with dining table that offers an enclosed space for entertaining throughout the day, and a raised platform at the back of the garden that provides a casual space to relax long into the evening.
- A casual space to relax
- Naturalistic planting
The Plant Lovers Garden
Designer: Patricia Tyrrell
This south-east facing garden features an abundant display of flowers and will suit any location that enjoys good sunshine. The design of this garden is quite natural,’ says garden designer, Patricia Tyrrell. ‘It has been inspired by meadows with lots of flowers and grasses. I like to feel like I am enclosed in the plants in my garden so here I have brought the planting quite close to the house.’
- South East facing
- Natural design
- Low maintenence
The Nature Enthusiast’s Garden
Designer: Jane McCorkell
Nature enthusiasts of all ages will love this south-west facing garden that is a haven for wildlife. The garden is planted in Jane’s signature natural, organic style, with a wildflower grass area and pollinator-friendly flowers. The shrubs and flowers have been selected to encourage birds, bees and other insects making this space a haven for nature lovers.
- South West facing
- Haven for wildlife
- Suits all ages
The Easy Care Garden
Designer: Oliver Schurmann
Though formal in structure, this north-facing natural garden is relatively easy to build and maintain. While many intricate and complex hard landscaping projects are best left to the professionals, some of the hard elements of this formal garden designed by Oliver Schurmann could be tackled by skilled DIY enthusiasts.
- North facing
- Easy to build and maintain
- Shade tolerant plants
The Coastal Garden
Designer: James Purdy
This east-facing garden is inspired by the Irish coast but will suit any location. This garden is designed to be robust and will tolerate arid and windy conditions that are typical in coastal locations but it will work just as well inland and lends itself to a good family space, with the ability to withstand the elements.
- East Facing
- Low maintenance
- Inspired by the Irish coastline
The Family Friendly Garden
Designer: Maeve O'Neill
This south-facing garden is designed to grow with your children. There are many practical things to consider when planning a garden for a family with small children. The space has to work for the parents as well as the kids and it needs to adapt as the children grow up and this garden ticks all of those boxes.
- South facing
- Encourages pollinators and wildlife
- Family friendly
