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The enticement with a clumsily formed garden is either to do as little as feasible to it -- perhaps a grass surrounded with flowerbeds -- or to add too many concealed corners and details, which might work best in a gigantic plot, but will not make the best of an average-sized garden. The best is to come up with a layout that is easy but uses design tricks to fix the form of the garden. Better still, an intelligent layout can make the clumsy shape an advantage, using peculiar corners for concealed storage or raised levels to outline areas of the garden.

We asked to Katrina Wells of Earth Designs to come up with 3 solutions for 3 classic issues: a sloping site, an L-shaped garden and a tapering plot. Our recommendation is to clarify the appearance of the garden, wherever possible, by employing similar shades to unify the different elements like decking, paving and walls.
As for budget, we've advised where you can make savings. Now all you have to do is pick the plan that is best for you.

Designs For A Sloping Garden
take full advantage of a sloping garden by making different levels, each with its own purpose. This design has an area right next to the home for out of doors dining and a bar-b-cue. Then, wide steps lead down (or up, dependent on which way your garden slopes) to an area with inbuilt seats (with lift-up lids for additional storage) and a water feature, or sandpit if you have kids. The last level has a play area and grass, and a shed and rubbish pile. Hardy plants that do not need masses of water, for example osteospermum, are very good for a low-maintenance garden. Will it take much looking after? The grass will need cutting up to once per week in high summer, but if you select raised borders planted with hardy evergreens ,eg hosta and astilbe, they will not need much care or repeated upkeep. Add dollops of color with drought-resistant osteospermum and gazania. How am I able to cut costs? Shifting earth and shoring up the patios can be rather expensive. In a carefully sloping garden, save cash by just decking over the pinnacle of the old surface, and swap raised planters for pots ( which you might always add later when you have saved up ).

Designs For An L Formed Garden
The difficulty with L-shaped gardens is that the slimmest part of the ?L' is frequently wasted space. Try and use it to slip away things you do not wish to see from the terrace, eg the bins and shed or a play area.
Keep the remainder of the garden easy and split up the straight lines with a curving terrace, borders and grass to maximize the space and give it a cool feel.
Will it take much looking after? The turf will need cutting in summer, but if you use bark chippings the children' play area will be maintenance-free. For borders, select long-flowering, care-free evergreens, eg yarrow, bleeding heart and black-eyed Susan. How am I able to cut costs? This garden should not be dear to form or maintain, so long as you keep the borders quite narrow. You can make them appear deeper, though, by planting evergreen climbers ,eg Clematis armandii.

Design for A Tapering Garden
The best design for a tapering garden uses robust diagonals to fool the eye.
The key border comes into the middle of garden, while the turf dilates as the garden narrows, balancing the tapered shape. The shed hides behind water feature at the far end, making the narrowest part of the garden a helpful spot.