How to Plan a Labyrinth Garden
Planning a labyrinth garden challenges your artistic and gardening skills. A well-thought-out plan takes time and effort, but instead of a bare yard, you can create a relaxing pathway through an intriguing maze of healthy plants. Let's look at a simple rectangular labyrinth plan about 35 feet by 50 feet using native plants in a home garden. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Check with your homeowners association regarding landscaping restrictions. The association may require a scale drawing, which you'll create in Step 2. Call all utility companies to mark underground lines before laying out your plan.
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2
Create a scale drawing showing the restrictions, underground lines and existing plants. Consider where to place the entrance or entrances. For example, if you have a gated fence and a patio, mark both the gate and the patio as logical entrances.
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3
Draw a spiraling perimeter pathway that ends in the center of the garden, leaving a minimum of 4 feet of space for walking between full-grown plants. See the related eHow article "How to Create a Labyrinth."
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4
Select a minimum of three kinds of native plants that will be at least 3 feet high at maturity to provide a sense of enclosure. Save space by using native vines around the perimeter and choosing shrubs or small trees for the interior of the garden. Your local nursery staff will be happy to suggest native plants.
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5
Add the full-grown plants to your scale drawing, taking into account each plant's need for sun and space. Fill up the entire planting area because a labyrinth shouldn't have obvious gaps. Also consider adding a bench, landscaping boulders and statues along the labyrinth.
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6
Submit your scale drawing to your homeowners association if necessary.
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7
Measure the pathway on your scale drawing if you decide to pave the path. Calculate how many stepping stones or how much gravel or mulch you'll need. You can always pave the path later if you aren't sure whether paving is necessary. Count the plants required and place your plant and paving order with the nursery.
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Tips & Warnings
A labyrinth garden may take up the entire back or front yard. If you're interested in vegetable gardening, consider adding herbs and vegetables near the entrances. You won't want to walk the whole labyrinth to pluck a sprig of parsley.
Use annuals to fill in the spaces between immature plants in the first two to three years.
Avoid plants with thorns or poisonous leaves.
