A blank garden can be exciting.
It can also be completely overwhelming.
Where should the lawn go? Which trees should you plant? How do you create privacy? Should irrigation go in before or after planting? What happens if the soil is poor? And how do you make sure the garden you create now still works five or ten years from today?
Whether you’ve moved into a newly built home or you’re completely redesigning an existing garden, good landscaping starts long before the first plant goes into the ground.
The most successful gardens aren’t simply collections of beautiful plants. They’re outdoor spaces that have been planned around the property, the local climate and, most importantly, the people who will actually use them.
If you’re landscaping a garden in Johannesburg or Gauteng, here’s where to start.
1. Don’t start by buying plants
This may sound strange coming from people who love plants, but one of the biggest mistakes you can make when starting a new garden is heading straight to the nursery.
It’s incredibly easy to buy plants because you like how they look and then try to work out where to put them afterwards.
Instead, start with the garden itself.
Before choosing a single plant, understand:
- The size and shape of the property
- Where the sun rises and sets
- Which areas receive full sun or shade
- Where you need privacy
- Existing trees and plants worth retaining
- How water moves through the property
- Where people naturally walk
- Which views you’d like to highlight or hide
- How the garden connects to the house
- What you actually want to do outside
Once you understand the space, plant selection becomes much easier.
2. Decide what you need from your garden
Before thinking about what your garden should look like, think about what it needs to do.
A family with young children may need open lawn, space for outdoor toys and plants that can cope with activity.
Someone who loves entertaining might prioritise a patio, outdoor dining, shade and attractive planting around entertainment areas.
You may need privacy from a neighbouring property, screening from a road, space for dogs, a vegetable garden or simply somewhere peaceful to sit at the end of the day.
Write down your priorities.
For example:
- A lawn for the children
- Privacy around the pool
- Shade over an entertainment area
- A low-maintenance front garden
- More birdlife
- Space for herbs and vegetables
- Screening along a boundary
- Colour throughout the year
- Less watering
- Somewhere to sit beneath a tree
Once you know what the garden needs to achieve, the design can start solving those problems.
3. Understand Johannesburg’s climate
Gardens in Johannesburg need to cope with a particular set of growing conditions.
Gauteng falls within South Africa’s summer-rainfall region. Johannesburg generally experiences its wetter growing period during the warmer months, followed by colder, drier winters, with frost occurring in many areas.
This should influence everything from plant selection to irrigation.
A beautiful tropical-looking plant that thrives in a warm coastal garden may not necessarily appreciate a frosty Highveld winter.
Likewise, a plant suited to dry conditions shouldn’t be placed in a permanently wet section of the garden simply because there’s an empty space there.
Good landscaping works with the climate rather than constantly fighting against it.
4. Watch where the sun actually falls
Sunlight is one of the most important factors in garden design.
And it’s surprisingly easy to get wrong.
A bed that looks sunny at 10am may be shaded for most of the afternoon. A south-facing wall may create a very different microclimate from a warm, sunny north-facing area.
Existing buildings, walls and trees can also create pockets of shade.
Before designing your planting, observe your garden at different times of day.
Then remember that sunlight changes throughout the year as the angle of the sun changes.
Once you understand where you have full sun, partial shade and deeper shade, you can select plants that are far more likely to thrive.
5. Deal with drainage before planting
If water pools in parts of your garden after a Johannesburg thunderstorm, don’t simply cover the problem with plants.
Drainage issues should be addressed early in the landscaping process.
Look at:
- The slope of the property
- Areas where water collects
- Downpipes and roof runoff
- Paving
- Retaining walls
- Soil compaction
- Existing drainage systems
Heavy rainfall over a short period can put considerable pressure on poorly drained areas.
Getting drainage right before planting can save you from damaged beds, struggling plants and expensive changes later.
6. Find out what you’re planting into
Beautiful plants won’t solve poor soil.
Before investing heavily in a new garden, take time to understand what lies beneath it.
Newly built properties can be particularly challenging because soil may have been compacted by construction activity or disturbed during building.
Different areas of the same garden can also contain surprisingly different soil.
Where appropriate, soil can be improved with compost and organic matter before planting.
The goal is to give new plants the best possible environment for establishing healthy root systems rather than relying on constant feeding and watering to compensate later.
7. Plan the structure of the garden first
Think of the garden in layers.
The largest and most permanent elements should usually be considered first.
That might include:
Trees
Where will you eventually need shade, height or a focal point?
Screening
Where do you need privacy from neighbours or the street?
Lawn
Where will lawn actually be used?
Paths and access
How will people move between the house, driveway, entertainment areas and garden?
Entertainment areas
Where will people sit, eat or gather?
Service areas
Where are bins, washing lines, water tanks, garden equipment or other practical elements?
Once these larger decisions have been made, smaller planting can fill in the picture.
8. Think very carefully about trees
Trees can completely transform a property.
They provide height, shade, structure, habitat and a sense of permanence that smaller plants simply can’t replicate.
But they’re also one of the most important landscaping decisions to get right.
Before planting a tree, consider its eventual:
- Height
- Canopy width
- Root system
- Position relative to buildings
- Distance from walls
- Relationship with paving
- Proximity to pools
- Position beneath overhead cables
- Amount of shade
- Leaf or fruit drop
- Water requirements
The little tree you’re planting today may become one of the largest features on the property.
Choose its position accordingly.
9. Plan for privacy from the beginning
Privacy is often treated as something to fix after a garden has been planted.
It’s much easier to incorporate it into the original design.
Look at where neighbouring windows, balconies, roads or other properties overlook your garden.
Then decide where screening is actually necessary.
That doesn’t always mean planting a solid hedge along every boundary.
Trees, shrubs and layered planting can create privacy while still allowing the garden to feel open and natural.
The goal is often to interrupt particular sightlines rather than create a green wall around the entire property.
10. Put lawn where it has a purpose
Lawn can be fantastic.
For many Johannesburg families, it’s where children play, dogs run and everyone gathers outside.
But lawn also requires mowing, edging, feeding and water.
Rather than automatically laying lawn across every open area, decide where you actually need it.
An awkward strip beside the house, a steep bank or a tiny patch nobody ever uses may be better suited to planting, groundcover, gravel or paving.
A smaller lawn in the right place can often be more useful than a large lawn covering the wrong places.
11. Plan irrigation before the garden is finished
Irrigation is much easier to install before beds are full of established plants and hard landscaping is complete.
Think about water requirements as part of the design.
Plants with similar water needs can be grouped together, allowing different areas to be irrigated more efficiently.
This approach, often called hydrozoning, can help prevent situations where drought-tolerant plants are receiving the same amount of water as thirstier planting.
Also think about where irrigation pipes, sprinkler heads and drip lines need to run before pathways and other permanent elements are installed.
12. Choose the right plants for the right places
Once the structure of the garden is established, it’s finally time for one of the fun parts: choosing plants.
But resist the temptation to choose them purely on appearance.
For every plant, ask:
- Does it need sun or shade?
- How much water does it require?
- Can it tolerate Johannesburg winters?
- Is it frost hardy?
- How large will it eventually become?
- Is it evergreen or deciduous?
- Does it need frequent pruning?
- What type of soil does it prefer?
- What will it add to the garden?
The goal is to choose plants that naturally want to grow in the conditions you’re giving them.
13. Consider indigenous planting
Indigenous plants can play an important role in a Johannesburg garden.
Appropriately selected indigenous trees, shrubs, grasses, perennials and groundcovers can contribute to biodiversity and provide food or habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife.
But remember that indigenous doesn’t automatically mean suited to Gauteng.
South Africa has many different climatic regions.
Choose species suited to the Highveld and the particular conditions in your garden rather than simply selecting a plant because it’s South African.
14. Design for all four seasons
It’s easy to design a garden around what looks beautiful in spring.
Then winter arrives.
A strong garden should have structure and interest throughout the year.
Consider a mixture of:
- Evergreen foliage
- Trees and shrubs with interesting shapes
- Ornamental grasses
- Seasonal flowers
- Textured foliage
- Groundcovers
- Structural landscaping elements
Not everything needs to flower at the same time.
In fact, a garden that changes gradually throughout the year can be far more interesting.
15. Don’t forget what you’ll see from inside the house
One of the most overlooked aspects of landscaping is the view into the garden.
Stand at your kitchen sink.
Sit on your sofa.
Look out of your bedroom window.
What do you see?
A beautiful feature tree or layered bed positioned outside a frequently used window can be enjoyed every day, even when nobody is outside.
Likewise, bins, utility areas or unattractive walls can sometimes be screened from important views.
Your garden is part of your home whether you’re standing in it or looking at it through a window.
16. Think about maintenance before you commit
Every garden requires some maintenance.
The question is how much you’re willing to do.
If you love spending weekends gardening, you may happily choose plants that require regular pruning, feeding and attention.
If you’d rather spend Saturday morning enjoying your garden than working in it, design accordingly.
Consider:
- How much lawn needs mowing
- How many hedges need trimming
- Whether plants require frequent pruning
- How much seasonal planting you’re introducing
- How much watering will be required
- How quickly plants grow
- Whether trees will drop leaves or fruit around pools and patios
There’s no correct level of maintenance.
The right garden is simply one that matches your lifestyle.
17. Set a realistic landscaping budget
A landscaping budget shouldn’t only account for plants.
Depending on the project, costs can also include:
- Soil preparation
- Compost
- Irrigation
- Lawn
- Trees
- Paving
- Pathways
- Retaining structures
- Drainage
- Edging
- Labour
- Transport
- Mulch
- Lighting
- Garden features
If the budget doesn’t allow for everything immediately, a good landscape plan can often be implemented in phases.
The important thing is having the overall plan before you begin.
That way, the work you do today doesn’t need to be undone when you tackle the next stage.
What should be done first when landscaping a new garden?
As a general principle, deal with the big structural and practical elements before detailed planting.
That usually means understanding the site, establishing the layout, resolving drainage, planning irrigation and hard landscaping, positioning trees and defining major beds before filling those beds with smaller plants.
The exact order will depend on the property and project.
But installing things in the right sequence can prevent unnecessary disruption and expense.
How long does a newly landscaped garden take to look established?
There isn’t one answer because it depends on the plants chosen, their initial sizes, growing conditions and the season.
It’s important not to overcrowd a new garden simply because you want it to look full immediately.
Allow plants sufficient room to reach their mature size.
A professionally planned new garden may initially have visible gaps between younger plants. As those plants establish and mature, the landscape begins filling the space it was designed to occupy.
A garden is a living landscape.
Part of good garden design is planning for what it will become.
Do I need a landscaper or can I design my garden myself?
Many homeowners successfully tackle smaller garden projects themselves.
If you’re refreshing a bed, introducing a few new plants or making minor changes, visiting a good nursery and getting advice may be all you need.
Professional landscaping becomes particularly useful when you’re dealing with a complete garden, drainage, irrigation, significant level changes, hard landscaping, large-scale planting or several different outdoor areas that need to work together.
A landscape plan can also help prevent expensive mistakes, particularly when you’re starting with a blank property.
Landscaping a garden in Johannesburg?
Before buying hundreds of plants, create a plan.
Think about how you want to use the space, understand the conditions you’re working with and make the big decisions first.
At Nature’s Way, we can help at every stage.
Visit Nature’s Way Nursery for advice on selecting plants suited to your garden and Johannesburg’s growing conditions.
For larger transformations, our landscaping team can help plan and create an outdoor space around your property, lifestyle and needs.
And once your garden is established, Nature’s Way Garden Maintenance can help you keep it looking its best throughout the year.
The best gardens don’t happen because every plant was perfect on day one.
They happen because there was a plan for how everything would eventually work together.
Frequently asked questions about landscaping in Johannesburg
Where should I start when landscaping a new garden?
Start by understanding the property rather than buying plants. Look at sunlight, drainage, soil, access, privacy, existing vegetation and how you’d like to use the outdoor space. Then plan larger structural elements before selecting the detailed planting.
What should be installed first when landscaping?
The exact sequence depends on the project, but drainage, earthworks, irrigation infrastructure and major hard landscaping generally need to be considered before detailed planting. Planning these elements early can prevent established beds from needing to be disturbed later.
What plants are best for landscaping in Johannesburg?
The best plants depend on the conditions in each part of the garden. Consider sunlight, soil, water availability, frost exposure and available space. Indigenous plants suited to Highveld conditions can be excellent choices, but plant selection should always be site-specific.
When is the best time to landscape a garden in Johannesburg?
Landscaping can involve much more than planting, so planning, soil preparation, drainage and hard landscaping can often be undertaken at different times of year. The ideal planting time will depend on the species being used and the weather conditions. Johannesburg’s warmer, summer-rainfall growing season is suitable for establishing many plants when adequate water is available.
How do I landscape a garden for children and pets?
Start with how the space will be used. Allow enough open space for play, create durable pathways along high-traffic routes and choose planting appropriate to the household. For homes with children or pets, check the safety and toxicity of individual plant species before planting them in accessible areas.
Can an existing Johannesburg garden be redesigned?
Absolutely. Garden landscaping doesn’t have to begin with an empty property. An existing garden can be assessed to determine which trees, plants and structural elements should remain and where changes could improve functionality, maintenance, privacy, planting or the overall design.
Does Nature’s Way offer landscaping in Johannesburg?
Yes. Nature’s Way offers landscaping services and can assist with creating or transforming gardens around Johannesburg. Nature’s Way Nursery can also help with plant selection, while the garden maintenance team can assist with the ongoing care of established gardens.
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