Whatever the layout or planting scheme, many gardens seem to be missing a certain something. Often it's only when you add the right element that the garden suddenly appears complete. But what is the right element?

It could be a focal point, an interesting feature or two, or a structure that adds height to the overall scene, lifting your gaze from the horizontal.

The most economical, and often the most effective, way of doing this is to choose a single feature that makes use of the existing garden layout and provides height, interest and a focal point. This avoids going too much the other way by filling your garden with attention-grabbing features that create a Victorian parlour effect - cluttered, awkward to walk around and restless on the eye and mind.