Now that the weather is getting warmer, these tips will help you turn your garden into a relaxing space for Spring and Summer.
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The days are growing warmer and the evenings are getting lighter. As we turn the corner into Spring and Summer, many of us are looking forward to sunny days ahead.
Travel is back on the agenda for many people, but our gardens are still going to play an important role in our leisure time this year. And with a little work you can easily turn your garden into a space that’s perfect for relaxing and entertaining in.
Picking the right design and plants are key to creating a garden getaway, but so are the little touches like adding the right style of furniture or some pretty solar garden lights
So here are a few tips to help you get your garden ready for Spring and Summer:
Update the Design
The design of your garden can really make a big difference to the way it feels. So if you feel like your garden needs a total makeover, this is the best place to start.
There are plenty of different styles to choose from, ranging from Mediterranean to Japanese. You might like to recreate a traditional country cottage garden or maybe go for a tropical or desert style garden. Garden shows like BBC Gardeners World Live can be a really great place to start if you want some inspiration.
Many people in the UK have a small garden, so careful garden design is really important if you want to make your outdoor space seem bigger. There are plenty of tricks you can use, from winding pathways and mirrors to vertical gardening and compact garden furniture.
Do remember to take into account the direction that your garden faces and the type of soil that you have, as well as your own personal taste.
Working out the final design for your garden does take a bit of research, but it’ll be worth it when you can sit back and relax in it.
Select your plants
The plants that you select will have a dramatic impact on how your garden makes you feel.
If you want to create the feeling of being somewhere tropical, pick out palms that can survive our temperamental weather. Add in some easy maintenance grasses and a few unusual looking flowers and you’ll be well on your way to a garden getaway.
If you’re after a more Mediterranean feel, pots of herbs such as lavender and rosemary would work well, along with a few large specimen olive and fig trees in terracotta pots. And for a cottage style garden, some traditional flowering perennials and beautiful English roses will look the part.
Although you’re trying to plant to conjure up a particular style and mood, you’ll need to make sure your plants can thrive in your space. A sunny, south-facing garden won’t be suitable for plants like hostas and heucheras which need shady conditions.
However, with such a wide array of plants and flowers available, you’re sure to be able to find a design and plants that work with your conditions.
Picking the right materials
The materials you use will also affect the look and feel of your garden, whether you go for natural materials like wood and stone, or more urban style metal and brick.
For a hint of the Mediterranean, think of terracotta pots and brightly patterned tiles. A Japanese style garden design will make use of natural bamboo and pools of gravel with stepping stones through them.
Or if you want to create a country cottage style garden, you will probably want to go for wooden picket fencing and a rustic brick pathway.
Painting your garden walls or fences in complementary colours will help as well. You might like to add a picket fence in white or pale green for a country garden, or paint the fence at the bottom of your garden a dark grey or black for a Japanese garden. And a Mediterranean design will look great with vivid colours to bring back memories of the hot summer sun!
Add some extra features
Adding garden features is another good way to make your outside space feel like a luxury retreat. Lighting, water features, ornaments and furniture can all help to tie your design together.
Adding some lighting to your garden is a great way to make it the perfect place for entertaining and relaxing in the long summer evenings. Solar garden lights are eco-friendly and come in a range of stylish designs to suit the garden that you’re creating.
Water is a great addition to your garden and can help to attract local wildlife as well. A relaxing water feature will work well with a Japanese style garden, or you could add a little pond to your English country garden.
Greek style urns for your plants will look great in a Mediterranean style courtyard, and using mirrors can help to make your garden look bigger as well as adding intrigue.
And it’s a good idea to add seating to your garden, to make it a relaxing retreat from the world outside. Choose a chic little bistro set for your Mediterranean garden, swing hammocks for relaxing in, or a rustic wooden bench for your country garden.
Whatever style you’ve chosen for your garden getaway, your features should fit in with your planting and the rest of the materials you’ve used.