Summer is just around the corner, and for most people that have a garden, that means shirking off the gloom of last year’s cold winter and making the space into your own oasis.
However, this is no small task, especially if you are new to gardening!
It has been stated by many interior designers that you can deduce a lot about a person’s character from their kitchen. Whereas, actually, you can likely tell a lot about a person from their garden too!
Planning a garden makeover can be an exciting and rewarding process. Whether you’re looking to create a calming, peaceful retreat where bees, butterflies, and frogs are abundant and provide a background orchestra, or you are looking for a vibrant outdoor space for entertaining, there are a few steps that you can follow to ensure your garden vision becomes a reality.
So, where do you begin? Read on to find out!
Budget
The first step in planning any garden makeover is to determine your budget. This will help you to prioritize your plans and make sure that you’re able to achieve your goals without overspending. Consider the elements that are the most important to you, such as new garden beds, a water feature, or outdoor lighting, and allocate your budget accordingly. Once you have a fixed budget in mind, it’s time to start planning your garden layout. Consider the size and natural shape of your garden, as well as any existing features that you want to incorporate into your design. Sketch out a base plan of your garden, including the location of any garden beds, paths, and other features you want to include, like trees or an exterior wall.
Of course, if you have an enormous garden that is overgrown with weeds or needs a bit of TLC, you will likely need to hire some tools to help you. These can be found online at websites like arbourlandscapesolutions.co.uk, and, in most cases, you can contact the hiring team to ask for the best solution to a particular problem.
That way, you will be able to rent the tools without spending a fortune, and once you are done, they will go back, all for a lower cost than buying them.
Style Needs To Be Looked At
Remember earlier when it was stated that you could tell a lot about someone by their garden?
As part of a makeover, you need to consider the style of your garden. Do you want a formal garden with structured hedges and symmetrical paths or a more informal garden with naturalistic planting and winding paths? Think about the colors and textures you want in your garden and how you want to create a sense of flow and harmony between different elements.
Many people who have more space look to dedicate a small part of their garden to supporting pollinators like bees, butterflies, and beetles (yes, some beetles are pollinators!). So, it may be worth looking into planting wildflowers and other options that will help them thrive, like woodpiles, leaf litter areas, and water. While many people associate wilderness areas with being chaotic, if they are maintained, they can be a beautiful addition to even the most formal garden.
Plants!
When it comes to plant selection, consider your garden’s climate and growing conditions. Choose plants that are suited to your local climate and your garden’s soil type, as well as plants that are easy to care for and maintain. Soil types are generally chalky, clay-based, or sand-based; if a plant is not in the right kind, it will not thrive. Consider the average height and spread of each plant, as well as its flowering time and color, to ensure that you create a visually appealing garden throughout the year.
Elements
In addition to plants, consider adding other elements to your garden, such as garden furniture, sculptures, water features, or outdoor lighting. These elements can help to create a sense of atmosphere and add interest to your garden design. They can also create an intriguing look and flow to the space. If you have an area dedicated to relaxation that has a structure in the middle of it and is surrounded by water, this will create a sense of harmony, much more than having multiple water features spaced around the garden.
Maintenance
Finally, it’s important to consider maintenance when planning your garden makeover. The garden looks great when everything is put into place, but if it is not maintained, it will quickly descend into chaos! Choose plants and features that are easy to care for and maintain, and consider how much time and effort you’re willing to invest in your garden on an ongoing basis. If you are retired, work from home, or have housemates who are eager to help, then having a higher-maintenance garden will not be an issue. However, if you want a space to relax when you get back from the office after a long day with minimal fuss, then easy-care plants like lavender, rosemary, and ferns will likely be your best option.
