Gardens can add that relaxing and quiet feeling in your life as they are the green area of your house where you can chill after a hard day at work and have tons of fun. They can be a safe place where your children can play outdoors unsupervised, or somewhere to escape from the rest of the world and enjoy a glass of wine on your own. It’s no wonder so many of us Brits love our gardens and do all we can transform even the most humble of backyards. So, it’s time to stop imagining and start designing the garden of your dreams.
Our gardens can be considered as an outdoor extension of the home, so you should always strive to make it as attractive and maintenance-free as possible. It doesn’t have to look picture-perfect but you don’t want to create a garden that adds to your workload and stress levels. That said, it doesn’t matter if you’re looking to build a small or a long and narrow plot, a courtyard, or cottage garden, you should always make it with proper care and love.
When thinking about how you want to build your garden, be curious, and go for a walk around your neighbourhood to browse for ideas. Stay observant and take notice of things you like in other people’s backyards and gardens. Pinterest is a great source of inspiration for gardening ideas too, as are the glossy lifestyle magazines.
Even if you’re a complete beginner, all you need are some key pointers so here are four tips that might come in handy in your journey towards creating the garden of your dreams.
Make A Detailed Plan For Your Garden Beforehand
Building a garden from scratch is a pretty tough endeavour. You need to pay close attention to a variety of aesthetic elements, while also making sure the garden is practically designed and simple to maintain. That’s why it’s way more challenging to do it as you go along.
The best approach is to create a detailed plan beforehand so you can gauge how much work is involved and also put together a budget. Visit your local garden centre to get an idea of typical prices for plants, trees, paving, ornaments and sheds or a garden office. You might be surprised how costly some of these can be so deciding how much you want to invest is essential.
Start with a planting schedule. What type of soil will you need for the different plants and trees you want to add to your green zone? Some plants thrive in gravel, while others require loose soil or to be planted in sun or shade so think about the kind of plants you want to be surrounded by and prepare the terrain accordingly.
And what about trees? Trees are considered as an asset in every garden, adding structure and height, movement, and wildlife value. If you already have trees in your garden, particularly if they are dead or dying or they have invasive root growth which might affect landscaping or even your home’s foundations, it may be best to altogether remove them before replacing them with brand new trees of your choice. With the tree felling price being so low recently, there is no point in doing your job yourself as tree felling is a dangerous activity with many risk factors, including working with chainsaws and working at height.
Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay
No matter how big your new garden will be, there are adequate trees for every shape and size of gardens. From small Acers that can be grown in a pot, to a gorgeous huge charry in the middle – the options are endless and are all up to your preferences.
Other than the plants and trees, think about how you and your family plan to use your garden. Do you have the space to add a patio and perhaps a trampoline for your kids? Put everything on paper and plan everything thoroughly to ensure that you’ll have everything figured out well before you start the actual work.
Create A Path To Walk Through The Garden
You certainly don’t want to walk over your beautiful plants and veggies while enjoying your afternoon garden stroll, so create a dedicated walking path to enjoy this everyday activity. Depending on your garden’s size, you can create a single path that branches out and allows you to maintain and examine every part of your garden without obstruction. Another option is a path that goes around the garden with a few twists and turns.
A walking path is a must, so you would be able to get a scenic route, not sacrificing convenience while watering and fertilizing your plants. Make sure to plan where your plants will be concerning the path and vice versa.
Speaking of materials for the path, there are tons of available materials to choose from. From classic concrete to gravel, resin, and decorative paving slabs. Whatever you select, make sure that the path material will make your regular garden walks as comfortable as possible.
Create A Comfy Garden Porch
While closeup views are great, there’s no reason you can’t and shouldn’t enjoy your garden from a distance. A vital component of the charm of owning a pretty garden is being able to gaze upon it and see the natural splendour in its full glory. For the most part, you will do so from the comfort of your garden porch with a glass of wine in your hand.
Since you’ll want others to enjoy the full benefits of your marvellous garden, introduce some permanent furniture that provides people with extra comfort while spending time in the garden. In case you expect a lot of rainy days in the season, you can place a couple of lawn chairs instead.
Add Some Extra Features
Besides trees and plants, you can also include a couple of other attractive details that will complete the relaxing and serene atmosphere. As numerous gardens have prominent water features to provide a soothing visual and auditory element, there’s absolutely no reason your garden can’t adopt this feature as well. If you are interested in installing a fountain, you won’t need much other than a water source and a basic water pump.
And what about ponds? Ponds are another exceptional highlight that can add character and charm to your garden. There are even more accessible to install than fountains, plus they attract birds and other tiny critters, which will enrich your garden’s ecosystem.
Garden Lights
Don’t ever underestimate and forget the importance of the right garden lighting for your needs, as it certainly helps in creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for you, your family, and your guests.
There’s a wide variety of lights that you can choose from, from table lamps and standing lights to draped bulb strings and candle lanterns. The lighting will ensure that you can continue enjoying your garden even when the sun sets for the day or if the weather isn’t really what you hoped for. Pick appropriate garden lighting to bring some exquisite ambience, character, and atmosphere to your new garden.
Bottom Line
Creating the garden of your dreams is a time-consuming activity, and it takes quite a bit of dedication. People say that patience is a virtue, and this is nowhere more apparent than in gardening. Take the time, to work on a masterplan for your garden, making sure to incorporate a walking path through it. Make your garden porch as comfy as possible to enjoy it all year round and add some extra features to add some decorative flair. Find adequate lighting for your garden and enjoy the green zone of your house. You’ll be doing your bit for the planet too!
