A Holiday Home Garden in Zánka

The garden design for this holiday home in Zánka was shaped by its exposed position, shallow, stony soil and the client’s wish for a low-maintenance garden. We looked for places for richly flowering perennials and shade trees, working with the local climate and soil conditions.

Designing a Garden for the Balaton Uplands

The plot sits on an elevated plateau in northern Zánka. A pine forest borders it to the north, with a street and residential properties on the other sides. The land slopes lengthways towards the east, with a shallow layer of topsoil over stony subsoil.

Alongside flowering and shade, a key consideration in selecting plants was how they would cope with these conditions. The garden is not watered, so observing the plants and making adjustments based on experience play a particularly important part in its development.

Keeping Rainwater on Site

The planned rainwater storage cistern was not built, so we had to find another way to manage rainwater within the plot. We directed the water into a system of open infiltration swales with a capacity of 50 m³, incorporating it into the garden plans that had already been completed.

This change also affected the garden’s layout: space had to be made for rainwater to soak into the ground on site.

Learning from the Plants

Without irrigation, the garden’s appearance changes with the seasons and the weather. The owner follows the plants’ development with care, accepting that the garden does not always offer the appearance associated with regularly watered ornamental gardens.

These observations also guide later adjustments. Over time, it becomes clear which plants are happy in their positions and where changes are needed. The garden continues to take shape year by year, informed by what is learned on site.