'Civilisation is nothing but the control which man has  exercised over his environment.'

The initial problems that mankind faced with the dawn of civilisation were those of the provision of the bare necessities of life, food and clothing, followed by the need for shelter. Man gradually started conquering his problems along with the adverse forces of nature, in order to guide them, within his limitations, to work for his benefit.

Man and gardens are old  associates since time immemorial; gardens have evolved with human society, though not at the same speed. The contribution of the Muslim World to progress in science and art cannot be ignored so is it true for gardening and landscaping. The Arabs were the first to conduct research on hybridisation in dates, while the Egyptians, Persians and Mughals were pioneers in the designing of colourful and beautiful gardens.

Amateurs, who are ignorant of the basics of gardening, begin their execution without proper planning, which gives rise to many  discouraging situations and disappointing results. Hence planning is of foremost importance before a garden is laid out. It is advisable for a  garden planner to note down the entire steps that comprise the gardening scheme. He should take into consideration his resources, especially his finances and the availability of the plants he desires to establish; this should be followed by an assessment of his requirements regarding the particular flowering plants, hedges, rockeries, children's corner, kitchen garden, ferneries etc., as the need may be. It is desirable at this stage, to consult a landscape expert who could give an accurate opinion in terms of the requirements of the owner and the finances involved for giving the plan a practical shape.

Prior to the preparation of a plan, the designer should inspect the site and take into account the climatic conditions of the place, the soil environment, the water supply position and topography of the land, along with the  finances available.

A design that is simple in conception with a restricted number of trees, plants, flower beds and decorative features, gives a feeling of unity to the entire garden. When diverse features are required in a garden it should be divided into several sections e.g., rose garden, rock garden, kitchen garden, children's corner, play courts, fern house etc.

An individual section should be autonomous in itself, but the overall combination should be that of a single scheme in order to preserve unity among the different sections of the garden. It should be kept in mind that the view from the windows and doors should be pleasant in all seasons. Ugly portions of the garden, if any, should be blocked from the view by means of hedges. Vastness of the lawn should dominate the layout and its beauty should never be spoiled by digging up beds in the centre.

While designing the paths and approaches, sharp curves should be avoided so that they may not cause damage to the plantation. The fundamental qualities inherent in all good designs are unity, harmony and fitness of use.

A dominant focal point or centre of interest along with consistency in style and rhythmic repetition of minor details, would contribute to the unity of composition. There should be harmony in the set up of the garden, in scale and balance, in line  and form, in colour combinations and in matching of  individual elements with their surroundings.

Bright blue should not be combined with pale yellow, orange or pink. The hot colours, red, orange, and yellow are best used in small quantities. Architectural harmony of the building should be maintained and architectural harshness of vertical or horizontal lines is to be smoothened by planting suitable trees. Architectural features in a garden should be in complete harmony with the architecture of the building and its surroundings, fountains,  statues, seats, benches etc.

There should be beauty of proportion, harmony of line and mass, contrast of light and shade, as well as subtle and beautiful combination of colour. All these combine to make a garden a work of art.

Points to consider in planning

1. Inspect the site.

2. Draw on paper the existing features.

3. Make use of existing natural features, e.g. slopes, banks, trees etc.

4. Plan a garden that fits in the budget of the owner.

5. Don't try copying the features of other gardens; they may be out of place and  proportion, inspiration from other works may certainly be taken.

As I started reading this book, I realised the sincere passion it must have been written with. It is the most meticulously researched and minutely detailed piece of work that I have come across in a while. Being a very comprehensive account of gardening and horticulture in Pakistan, it will prove to be the best companion for amateurs and experienced gardeners alike.

The writer is a graduate of Allahabad University, founder of the Horticulture Society of Pakistan, and has held various positions pertaining to gardening and horticulture for the government of Pakistan. Author of six other books on the some topic, it is fascinating to read his credentials and to learn that he has also received the President's Award for Pride of Performance in 1990, in the field of science.

In many ways the book reads like a text book and is carefully organised. It also has an adequate number of pictures which compliment the text. Planting, caring and watering of both indoor and outdoor plants is included. The most interesting section is about how lawns should be maintained. The chapters on Bonsai and Cacti are also engrossing. A detailed gardening calendar towards the end of the book summarises very well when it is best to sow which vegetables and fruits, and how they should be nurtured. Diseases that might affect plants and other 'garden foes' are also described in short but informative chapters.

This book is highly recommended for readers of all ages who want to, or already do take gardening seriously. There is not a question left unanswered and every aspect of gardening is discussed, and the 194 photographs included are very eye-soothing and make one sit up and notice the wonders of nature. — Wajiha Azeem

Excerpted with permission from

The Gardener Horticulture in Pakistan

By A.K. Khan

Oxford University Press, Pakistan.

ISBN 978-0-19-547146-5.

333pp. Rs995

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