The garden generally incorporates natural, as well as man-made materials. In its most common form, known as a residential garden, it is found adjacent to or near to a residence, and it functions as an outdoor "room". In the same manner as an indoor space can function in many different ways, depending on a variety of factors, so too can a garden have many purposes; among these are aesthetic, functional and recreative purposes. The purpose of a garden will greatly affect its usage and design.
These general characteristics of the garden can be compared to other spaces as follows:
A landscape is an outdoor natural space of a larger scale often considered from a distance.
A park is a planned outdoor space, usually of a larger size, intended for public or semi-public use.
An arboretum is a planned outdoor space, usually of a larger size, intended for the display and study of trees.
A farm or orchard is intended for the production of food stuff.
The garden is designed at "human scale", as it is most often intended for private, semiprivate or limited use. These characteristics are not hard and fast. For example, the garden of a castle or of a large estate may be larger than a public park in a village, and may well produce foodstuff. A publicly accessible garden will be open to the public, and may be highly trafficked.
Gardening is the activity of growing and maintaining the garden's vegetation. This work may be done by a professional gardener. A gardener might work in a non-garden setting, such as a park, a roadside embankment, or another public space, and might also perform other activities, unrelated to the garden's vegetation.
Garden planning and design may be undertaken by a professional. A landscape architect is a trained, certified and registered professional who can plan and actualize a wide variety of outdoor spaces. A garden designer is usually trained to plan and actualize residential gardens.
Regardless if planned and designed by a professional or a non-professional, including the owner of the property, consideration must be given to many factors. Among these are:
