Plans for an Irregular Shaped Garden

Who says every garden space has to be a perfect square? Planning an irregular shaped garden space is about letting the space define its use for you. Get a feel for the garden by sitting in it and looking around. Envision the placement of plantings, flowers, outdoor furniture, and how you will use the space as you plan the design of your irregular shaped garden. Does this Spark an idea?

The Entrance

Leave the entrance to the garden space clear and open. This will make it easy to enter it, and the flow of the garden will start from this point. Add flowers and shrubs near the entrance that will flank the beginning of the garden with a border of color and texture.

Focal Points

Assess the best locations in the garden for focal points to balance the yard's irregularities. Incorporate one main focal point for the entire garden, or place several focal points throughout the garden that pop out as you move through the area.

Plantings to Balance the Space

If one side of the garden feels wider or more substantial than the other side, balance the space with plantings that add weight to the lacking side. Add trees for height on the wider side of the garden to create the a certain feeling in one area of the yard, and balance this tree area with shrubs and flowers on both sides.

Blend in the Lines

Soften the lines of the garden with groundcovers and shrubs along the fence. Making the lines disappear in the foliage will make the garden feel like a seamless outdoor space.

Growing Vegetables and Herbs

Start a vegetable garden in the farthest part of the garden, but make sure the area gets at least six hours of direct sunlight. This will keep your vegetables safe from foot traffic, and its position will maximize the use of the yard.

When it comes to planting herbs in the garden, pick a small patch near the house for a kitchen herb garden where it is easy to pick fresh oregano, thyme, mint, and other herbs for recipes in your kitchen.

The Barbecue

Plan a barbecue area away from the flow of traffic but near the house for easy access to the kitchen and a source of water. The barbecue area can be an extension of a patio, or it can be a stand-alone feature of the irregular shaped garden.

Conversation Areas

Complete the design of the irregular shaped garden by planning conversation areas in more than one place in the garden. The conversation areas near the house can be a bistro table set, lounge chairs, or a picnic table, and in the remote areas of the yard, they can be an outdoor swing or a sitting area under a gazebo.