Decking Ideas For Large Gardens

Dan shares some decking ideas to help you get the most from your garden.

Designing large gardens is arguably more difficult than planning a smaller garden makeover. But fear not, with our decking ideas for large gardens, you can easily transform an empty plot into an attractive and practical outdoor space.

Designing Large Gardens

The joy of designing a large garden is that there is plenty of space to incorporate ideas for decking, paving, water features, lighting and more. The trick is to combine those features into a cohesive and logical layout.

My favourite method – and it’s one that you’ll see used in many stately homes – is to divide the garden into smaller sections. The sections can be linked with paths, gates and steps to create a choice of journeys around the space.

Decking can fit beautifully into one or more garden rooms and can be styled to suit the mood and the aesthetic of the space.

Designing a garden with a series of rooms also allows for it to be built in phases – thus making it easier to manage landscaping costs.

Decking has many uses in a garden. I love how the decked pathway in this design co-ordinates with the seating. Note how the direction of the deck boards invites garden visitors to follow the path and explore more.

Using Decking In Large Gardens

It is perfectly possible to create an enormous decked area. However, in my opinion, large areas of decking can be quite monotonous. I would rather create smaller, more intimate features that can be personalised with carvings and other artwork.

Here are some ideas

Decking paths, or boardwalks afford just one way to travel around the garden. These could open out onto jetties, view points or seating areas.

How about a floating deck which allows you to sit on the ‘dock’ and dip your toes into a pond or rill beneath it?

A timber clad sunken garden can be an absolute delight. Especially when it is coupled with aromatic planting. Being able to sit in a cosy nook with plants at nose level can provide a huge boost to wellbeing.

Awaiting planting – but this timber-led design immerses garden users in nature.

Decking ideas for large gardens include building raised timber structures to give a different perspective on the space. Lookout spots can be placed to offer views across the surrounding countryside. Alternatively a raised deck could lift garden visitors closer to the tree canopy. Please double-check whether planning permission will be required. Particularly if your deck could be perceived as an invasion of neighbours’ privacy.

A intimate timber built pergola and deck provides space for reading, relaxation, reflection or conversation. Why not combine it with an inbuilt sound-system or a water feature for an enhanced sensory experience?

Decking makes a wonderful extension to an outdoor office, garden room, a cabin or swimming pool changing rooms.  Would I use decking as a swimming pool surround? Possibly – but considering all the splashing and sploshing, I’d want to be sure that the underlying support system was reasonably rot resistant.

Hot tubs – a raised deck around a hot tub area is not only stylish, it’s a practical way of getting in and out of the water with ease.

Combine your deck with glass balustrades for a contemporary look and feel. Or use interesting finds such as driftwood for rustic charm.

Imaginative use of planting and materials around a deck can strongly influence the look and feel of a garden. For me, rope balustrades will never go out of fashion, but steel, glass, carved timber and other products are equally attractive. If your decking is raised, it’s essential to ensure that balustrading complies with  building regs.

Decking Materials

Today’s garden owner is lucky to have plenty of choices when it comes to choosing decking materials. Natural timber is, and always will be a favourite of mine. However, timber will need care and maintenance to prolong the lifespan of the deck.

Composite decking is well worth considering when looking at decking ideas for large gardens. It is available in some beautiful colours and textures. More importantly, it requires far less maintenance than natural wood. So no nasty chemical applications, fewer repairs and more scope for wet areas in the garden.

The support structure beneath the decking may not affect the aesthetic but it is just as crucial as the visible part of the deck. Joist spacing will help to dictate the loading capacity of your decking. It’s also important to protect the substructure against damp, wood-eating wildlife and weed ingress. In other words – choose your garden designer and landscaper wisely because when it comes to decking, construction techniques matter.

Decking Inspiration

If you’re considering installing decking and you need ideas, inspiration or help with the installation, SilverBirch Gardens can come to your aid. Call or email us to discuss your ideas and from there we can arrange a design consultation and a survey to get things started.

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