Are you happy with your relationship…with your garden? Really happy or is there room for improvement? A combination of spending more time at home and in your garden may have got you thinking…is it time for a change. If your garden isn’t meeting your needs there are lots of things you can do.
Whilst you may not be able to implement your ideas immediately, now is the time to make plans. If it helps, make a list of pros and cons. Planning such a garden requires a combination of skills and with so much choice out there it can be a bit daunting. Whether you intend to create your own design or use a professional garden designer, it is important to follow a logical design process to ensure the garden meets your needs. Here’s some simple guidance on where to start.
What is important?
It is important to establish how you want to use your outdoor space before jumping to solutions which can result in a jumble of ideas. Make a list of things you and your family need to make your garden work for you, for example;
• An area for dining and entertaining
• Child friendly and fun
• Sanctuary – a calm space to relax in
• Plants galore for scent, colour and to attract wildlife
• A working garden that will provide physical exercise, a garden you can tend to
• A low maintenance space that doesn’t require much effort to keep it looking good – a few specimen plants even in a small garden can completely transform the way a space feels
Things to consider
Decide on the practical elements first; who will use the garden and what for, how many people do you want to seat when entertaining, do you have pets or children to cater for. Consider all the other practical requirements such as storage and bin areas.
Next consider which rooms in the house will be used to access the garden most often. Our outdoor space is an integral part of our home and it is important to soften the transition from one to the other to create a seamless extension of house to garden. Using the same flooring inside and out is an effective way to achieve this visually.
Watching how the sun moves will help you decide the best place for activities such as morning coffee or evening entertaining and whether you’ll need additional screening for privacy.
Finally, consider the style. This is often influenced by the architecture and surrounding landscape. Collecting inspiration from magazines can help at this stage. Would you like a themed garden, for example, eastern influence, a traditional cottage garden or urban chic. Will you have time and energy to maintaining your garden or is a low maintenance space more your thing. If you have no idea where to start or you have some ideas you would like some guidance on then our consultancy service might be just what you need.
How do you achieve the garden of your dreams?
• Create new screening for privacy
• Re-plant an existing border/s in the garden
• Decide what type of trees to plant
• Hedge planting
• Rejuvenate a planting border
• Create new borders
Of course, if you decide there’s just too much choice out there you can always call in our professional design and landscape team to help. We’ll guide you through this thought process and work with you to develop practical and creative ideas that you may never have considered. It doesn’t have to be a full blown design and build project. A few carefully chosen specimen plants and a reshaped bed or lawn can make all the difference.
It is important to spend quality time planning your garden but most importantly to have fun doing so! It really is a worthwhile investment that will add value to your home and provide pleasure for years to come as you watch your garden evolve.
Contact our landscaping team Creative Landscape for more information and to discuss your garden project info@creative-landscape.co.uk