Then do the Site Survey with Photograghs , before

Topic Case Studies Companion Planting Garden Construction Garden Design* Garden Maintenance Glossary Home Library Offbeat Glossary Plants Soil Tool Shed Useful Data Topic - Plant Photo Galleries Aquatic Bamboo Bedding Bulb Climber Colour Wheel Conifer Deciduous Shrub Deciduous Tree Evergreen Perennial Evergreen Shrub Evergreen Tree Fern Grass Hedging Herbaceous Perennial Herb Odds and Sods Rhododendron Rose Soft Fruit Top Fruit Vegetable Wild Flower Topic - Wildlife on Plant Photo Gallery Butterfly Ivydene Horticultural Services	Ivydene Gardens Garden Design: Site Survey	Garden Design Pages Introduction Site Map Before You Start Designing for a Purpose Questionnaire Site Survey* The Design Itself Broad Design Low Maintenance Style Cottage Garden Style Wildlife Garden Style Japanese Garden Style Hard and Soft Landscaping Detailed Design The Soil Changing the Microclimate Plant Selection The Colour Wheel Plant Quantities Companion Planting Bibliography Glossary for Page Shrub A woody-stemmed plant, usually branched from or near the base lacking a single trunk. Perennial Strictly, any plant living for at least three seasons; commonly applied to herbaceous plants and woody perennials (i.e. trees and shrubs). (See also Annual, Biennial.) pH A measure of alkalinity or acidity, used horticulturally to refer to soils. The scale measures from 1 to 14; pH 7 is neutral, above 7 is alkaline, and below 7 acid (see also Acid, Alkaline and Neutral).
	Site Survey This isn’t as technical as it sounds but a long tape measure is essential, and it is easier with two people. Start by sketching the site, and then add measurements to it. In particular, find out the position of:— Location of utilities (water, gas, sewage, telephone, electricity) Mark in existing hard landscape (patios, paths, boundaries, buildings, ponds) Prevailing wind direction Existing soft landscaping to remain in place (trees and shrubs can be retained to preserve mature appearance for screening an ugly view or framing a good view outside the garden, or as structural planting either around the perimeter or within the garden as a form of division, or as specimens of old established trees, or as good weed-free clumps of perennials) Existing soft landscaping to move — shrubs Location of problem areas Location of good areas Location of items to keep North position Soil type, pH and dryness Garden surroundings Existing irrigation system/outside water taps Location of house with the width of its most prominent feature Site Photographs Taking photographs from the house showing the existing garden and its surroundings - together with views of the house from the garden - will provide the existing relationship between your garden and its surroundings, together with the extent of the surrounding good or bad views.
	We can now begin to look at the design itself but do take note of this story:- An old man, a boy and a female donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the donkey and the old man walked.  As they went along they passed some people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy was riding.The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions. Then, later, they passed some people who remarked,  'What a shame, he makes that little boy walk.' So they then decided they'd both walk! Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride.  So, they both rode the donkey.
Site design and content copyright ©2005 Chris Garnons-Williams. DISCLAIMER: Links to external sites are provided as a courtesy to visitors. Ivydene Horticultural Services are not responsible for the content and/or quality of external web sites linked from this site.		Saxifraga burseriana

Now they passed some people who shamed them by saying how awful to put such a load on a poor donkey. The boy and man figured they were probably right,  so they decided to carry the donkey. As they crossed a bridge, they lost their grip on the animal and he fell into the river and drowned. The moral of the story? If you try to please everyone, you might as well... Kiss your ass goodbye as you look at this low impact woodland house from Wales!

Site Survey

Site Photographs