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ATTENTION!!! Please do not steal my content! ALL of the content on this page is property of Tootsie Time is not to be copied and used elsewhere unless with the expressed permission of Tootsie! There have been a lot of my photos found on various websites and none have permission. Removing the watermark is not permitted under any circumstances. My work is MINE to share, and should never be seen with someone else's name attached to it. That is stealing!

:)

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

DESIGNING YOUR SPACE (Tootsie Tip #5)

Welome back to our discussion on making your garden suit you!

The first thing you need to decide, before you plant, is what function your garden will serve.

-Are you planning to use your garden to entertain friends and family?

-If so, will you need a seating area? A table?

-Does your garden provide natural shade, or will you need to make some?

-How much privacy would you like to have?

-Do you have children?

-Pets?

-Will you be planning for play areas?

-Do you have storage?

These are very important questions you need to answer before you begin.

If you are planning to have a seating area reserved for eating and entertaining, you must think about having a level area to place a table and chairs, or patio benches.

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Does your space provide room for a fire pit or cooking pit? (Your local by –laws may have some very specific requirements for open fire pits- this is something you will need to research)

Do you want your entertaining areas to be on a deck or patio---or would you prefer to place this area on the grass in the garden?044

A patio can be made of wood, cement, cobblestone, brick, or other type of stone pavers. Your local gravel yard (or sometimes garden center ) will have many choices to suit your taste and budget. If you are planning to put your seating and entertaining area on the grass in your garden, you must remember that you will need to move the furniture that you are using in the area, in order to mow the lawn underneath it. For many, this is a huge inconvenience. You should also remember that the grass is home to may pests such as mosquitoes, ants and aphids to name a few.

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If you have children, and will need a play area, you may want to consider putting your entertaining area a distance away as the occasional stray ball can cause much destruction to a table filled with beverages and snacks, not to mention the beautiful table-scapes that you could create. Kids can also be very NOISY. This alone can make a conversation difficult.

Once you have answered these questions and have decided what functions your garden will need to serve, you are ready to start planning.

I suggest you make yourself a few lists. The first list is your wish list of all the things you want your garden to provide that it does not already have. The second list is your list of all the things your garden space already provides. These lists will help you organize your thoughts for the plans that you need to make.
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SAMPLE LISTS


WISH LIST
Shade/shelter
Entertaining area
Patio furniture
Swing or cozy seating
Benches
Barbeque or fire pit (or both)
Play area
Sand box
Swing set for kids
Toy storage
Garden swing
Water feature (pond or fountain)
Fences
Borders
Perennials
Trees and shrubs
Storage Shed for garden tools, and seasonal items

ALREADY HAVE LIST

Grass

Sidewalks

Kids swing set

Fence around perimeter of property

Lots of kids toys

A few perennials

Lots of ideas

****Your assignment is to have your lists made for yourself. When next we meet to discuss our garden plans, we will discuss each of the wish list items and will give information and ideas to add to yours. ****

DON'T FORGET......FERTILIZER FRIDAY is just around the corner!!!

Until next time…happy gardening!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

www.tootsietime.com

if you have time….

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17 comments:

artis1111 said...

Ha! I keep thinking today is Saterday!. I am all mixed up on hollidays!!!Heeee.Kathy

Anonymous said...

I love your garden post and this was another great one. Talk to you soon. vickydarnell

Buffie said...

Kathy and I am always confused! haha! I thought it was Saturday too! Anyway have a great weekend with your family!

Rattlebridge Farm said...

This is exactly what I needed to read today. I really need to make those lists. I deadheaded my knockout roses earlier this year, and now they look awful. Do you have a suggestion? (I haven't fed them.)

Anonymous said...

Girl how I wished I would have thought of all these wonderful things 11 years ago when we were starting to do the landscape around here.. Bill was in the fields all the time.. and I was flying literally by the seat of my breeches trying to dig all these holes and get the selected plants in the ground..that being said.. now some of them have had to come out.. didn't plant them where they could truly grow and shine like they are meant to.. some of the bushes need more room.. some just didn't like the ground they were in.. and so on.... I'm sure this post is going to help so many others out there that are just starting their landscape projects... where were you 11 years ago when I needed you sugar...?? I know you live in Canada but from here in the US.. I wish you a joyous, happy, safe 4th of July w/k... hugs ~ lynne ~

mrsben said...

Another excellent article for a Non-Gardner like myself. Thanks Tootsie! Before I logged on I went out and gave my new shrubs 'n flowers a feeding. The ones in the b/yard are doing fantastic and I am seeing more signs of color. (Posted a few on my RMS B/Yard PATIO space. Hopefully the front won't be far behind in maturing.) So far its been pretty easy maintenance and I'm glad I took my cue from Commercial Landscaping as annuals can always be added as fillers for more color. Wishing you a super weekend my friend. -Brenda-

mrsben said...

Tootsie: Wasn't sure where to post this as have two more additions that you (others) might wish to add to their landscaping list. 1) Inground Sprinkler System for grass/vegetation. 2) Accent/Task Lighting (access to Electrical Outlets). Having an inground swimming pool we naturally have a lot of 'task' lighting however I'm disappointed in the Solar lighting which I had hoped to use in the Garden areas. (I chose Solar Spot Lights, but they just don't do a good job.) -Brenda-

Julie said...

This is an area I am always wanting to improve upon, but the MONEY part stops me...especially lighting and the actual planning part, which I would like to pay a designer to do! Wouldn't an outdoor kitchen be devine??? Oh my...

Alberta said...

Here's a question for you...
Could I just "borrow" your yard? I absolutely love what you have created...a piece of heaven on earth!

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady you have a Beautiful garden !!! May flower beds are looking good now with my Roses coming back !!! Thanks so much for your sweet comments on my Tablescapes ~~~xxoo

Boho Farm and Home said...

What a great post! I am a follow too now!
xo Caroline

Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina said...

Hi Tootsie! What an incredibly beautiful blog that you have! I love your garden!!!! Thanks for stopping by and for following my little blog; now your newest follower and I KNOW that I'm going to enjoy your posts! Roz at La Bella Vita

Country Gal said...

Those are great hints! And what gorgeous gardens!

Unknown said...

Hi Tootsie!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Okay, if those pictures from this post are from your yard then you are DEFINITELY my kind of gardener. I love lots of bright color, textures, props (like the wagon wheels in the yard), flowers surrounding everything, pathways, and everything tucked closely in together. That is exactly what I like to do!! Nice to meet you and I will check you out on Fridays.

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Hi Tootsie!

What great tips. Thank you so much for putting all that great information together.

As always, I LOVE seeing your gardens..... They are soooooo spectacular!

Have a wonderful day....

Huggies,
Spencer

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Glenda, I have gotten so many wonderful idea's from you...I can't tell you how grateful I am.
I did the boots...and I love them. I did them exactly as you told me... :)
OH to have a yard like that. We have planted seven tree's in the back yard. I am beginning to be concerned at how much shade this may generate in time...as it may not leave enough sun for my flowers. The yard is fairly large but still. I need to think ..before I plant.

Jami @ An Oregon Cottage said...

Great tips- we are remaking an area of our yard that used to be a huge deck into a number of different areas and I'm asking myself these questions all the time! Love your yard- I bet you want to spend a ton of time there. :-)

So glad you found us at the Tuesday Garden Party!

-Jami
An Oregon Cottage