ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE (2+1)

Principle areas of a home garden

If the garden area is sufficiently large, it can be divided into three areas.
(1) Approach or public area: This is the area from the street side extending to the entrance of the house. The area may be small or quite large depending upon where the building is situated. The aim is to harmonize or blend the surroundings with the house. The approach area should not be overcrowded with large trees. It is better to have doorway or ‘foundation’ plantings with low growing shrubs and evergreens. Floribunda and miniature roses are also suitable for foundation planting provided sufficient sun, at least during the morning hours, is available. It is important to note that planting in front of the house should neither obscure it nor cut off light and air nor block the windows thus obstructing view of the garden from indoors.
Big trees, if space permits, can be grown in the backyard but should not be overcrowded in the front. But a few low-growing trees can be accommodated at the appropriate places as next to entrance if space is available or somewhere in the front lawn. An open spacious lawn with some annuals (zinnias, salvias, and petunias) or herbaceous perennials (Chrysanthemum, Canna, and Impatiens in shade) can be planned in addition to the foundation plantings.

(2) Work or service area: Wherever feasible the service area and the living area should be situated at the back of the house as these need seclusion or privacy. The service area includes the kitchen garden, compost bin, nursery, tool shed, and garage. Some people like to include the child¬ren's swings and the slide in this portion as the children can be kept under surveillance from the kitchen. This area can be separated from public view by planting a thick hedge or a row of bushy shrubs.

(3) Private garden area or living area: This is generally termed as the outdoor living area, where people sit out in the winter to enjoy the sun or rest in the summer under an arbour or shade of tree. This area should be easily approachable and visible from the living (drawing-room) or dining-room, screened from unsightly objects. There should be some shaded sitting spot such as a tree or arbour with garden benches. A wide stretch of lawn with shrub border or few annual beds or a rose garden can also be included in this section.
A tennis court or a play area has to be included here, if there is enough room. But before actual planning, one has to first decide what one wants for the house. The role to be played by the garden has to be chosen. A choice has to be made from the following.



(a) An outdoor living ¬room with a long stretch of lawn and terrace
(b) A fenced playground
(c) A show piece with collection of exotic and rare plants
(d) A yielder of vegetables and fruits or cut flowers for the house


Some may like to add to the list a large tree for shade or trees to attract birds. People fond of vegetables and fruit may like to reserve the major portion of the area for this purpose with possibly a little area left around the house for a pleasure garden. But, if the garden is desired as a place for outdoor living, a vast expanse of lawn with minimum of beds and borders has to be planned. A formal or informal 1i1y pool can fit in with the overall design, with or without a fountain or a rock garden. A statue or sun dial can also be well fitted in some spacious compounds.