Green With Envy: How To Design An Epic Garden In Malaysia

Nothing's more envy-inducing than a functional, stylish garden greeting visitors as they enter your home. Not sure how to start creating your dream green space? Here are some basic landscaping tips to know when designing an epic-looking garden perfect for Malaysia's climate.

1. Start With a Plan

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This will help focus your landscaping tasks and keep you from buying unnecessary items for your garden. Novice landscapers would benefit from setting a comfortable budget, then drafting a list of ‘to-dos’.

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Include a basic sketch of your garden with its yard size as well as the types of plants and features you’d like to add. It doesn’t have to be a precise set of details; in fact, keeping it simple may be easier to follow for beginners.

2. Choose the Right Grass

The type of grass you decide on is a long-term decision. It's not just about initial costs; you also have to think about maintenance work and expenses down the line. The right grass is the one that you can afford and take care of with minimal effort.

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In Malaysia, some suitable choices include these: cow grass, pearl grass, Philippine carpet grass and Japanese carpet grass. Cow and pearl grass are cheaper to maintain and are much more resilient, however, its rough blades make for a coarser texture. On the other hand, the carpet grass options are pricier and will require more upkeep but are also softer and visually luxurious.

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Bonus Tip: Think about constructing a pebble or perennial flower pathway amidst the grass to add texture and structure to your garden.

3. Decide On Plant Additions

Your choices for garden plants can seem limitless to a point that it becomes an overwhelming. What you can do is take your garden sketches to a nursery professional and get advice on which plants would make sense for your garden in terms of size, exposure to the elements, upkeep and style preferences.

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Flowering plants typically involve a little more work (with pruning and watering) but it’s a fantastic way to add a splash of colour to overly green areas. If you have a little more space, consider planting a tree. Thin-barked trees like the Tamalan Tree grow well in the Malaysian climate, granting shady reprieve to heavily sunned homes. The Tecoma Tree is also great for local climates and is an attractive addition with its Sakura-like blossoms.

Bonus Tip: When choosing trees, make sure you enquire about the eventual size of your plant, both vertically and horizontally. You don’t want it to overwhelm your garden and grow to be a monstrous eyesore!

4. Include A Lounge Space

Don’t forget to carve out a space for garden furniture with seating arrangements from which you can admire your garden. Benches, Adirondack chairs, swings, cushioned gliders and even chaise lounges are excellent options for a relaxing garden but you’ll need to take note of space concerns.

Smaller spaces benefit from slimmer metal (antirust-coated) chairs, modest round tables and convertible benches. With larger spaces however, you’ll definitely have the freedom to choose more hefty pieces.
Modern options include synthetic rattan sets, corner sofas and Winchester-styled chairs. Whichever furniture you choose, do remember to ask for all-weather versions to maintain its lifespan.

5. Mixing It Up

Your garden should be the space that lets you savour a chunk of nature that is often lost in concrete jungles. Still, that doesn’t mean your garden should be a stiff, green piece of land.

Bring energy to the space with a healthy mix of nature and technology. Yes, solar lighting, water fountains and modern design features can invent perfect balance in your garden.

Bonus Tip: Contemporary gardens can still be designed for functional uses such as growing vegetables and herbs. With the right soil, Malaysian gardens can cultivate a variety of veg including cabbages, water spinach (kangkung), tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce. Prepare to work those green thumbs though!

While the prospect of landscaping can be an exciting DIY mission, grander garden plans may require expert assistance! Let us help you get your garden in glorious shape, just send us a quote request and we’ll match you the right interior designers for your project!

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