The course will initially show how the advantage of planning
a garden layout and how to achieve this. The first half of the course will
explain garden design theory and analysing your individual needs to apply to
your site.
Following on from the above will be lessons on general
gardening topics including understanding soil and how a plant grows, selecting
and planting plants and how to create a planting plan.
To finish I will cover such topics as herb and vegetable
garden layouts, composting, water gardens and garden plumbing and electric
work.
Week One
Showing various garden designs and the advantages of
creating a layout for your own site.
Week Two
Transcribing your garden to scale
on paper using basic drawing techniques ( this is neither compulsory nor
integral to the course as the purpose of the lessons are to accommodate
everyone’s individual needs of the
course.)
Week Three
Illustrating the various garden
styles from simple cottage garden to Japanese Zen creations
Week Four
Shaping and expanding space using
perspective techniques and understanding the use of line shape, and form in
establishing your chosen design.
Week Five
How to adapt various designs to
your individual sites using simple techniques from the above lessons with
projected finished projects. Creating a room outside.
Week Six
Science lesson: what is soil and
how important it is. How a plant grows and how to plant properly. Why mulches
and fabrics don’t work and there is no such thing as ‘maintenance free
gardening’. Weed control
Week Seven
The different types of plant and
how to create a planting plan.
Week Eight
Plants for places. How to select
and group plants for individual areas. Creating the perfect lawn.
Week Nine
Designing a herb and vegetable
garden. How to create a compost area.
Week Ten
Creating water features and simple
garden electrics.
Questions and answers.
Starting Wed 25/01/2012 10 weeks 19.00 – 21.30 €120
