5 Ways To Get More Out Of Your Garden

Posted by Bridgman on May 29, 2012

Britain has long had a love affair with its gardens, and many people enjoy nothing more than spending time outside in their own oasis. However, gardens can take a lot of time and effort to keep under control and looking great, and they can quickly become areas which are not as inviting as they should be. If you’re looking for some ideas to get more out of your garden, here are five easy tips to consider.  

1. Keep on top of maintenance

It’s easy enough to say, but keeping on top of garden maintenance is essential if you want to be able to enjoy getting outside whenever you want. Whilst you don’t necessarily need to weed every day, mowing the law at least fortnightly, chopping back shrubs as they start to overhang paths, and watering and deadheading container plants consistently will mean that your garden is always inviting.  

2. Customise your space

The best way to ensure that your garden is used a lot is to create an outdoor space which is suited to you and your family’s needs. If you like to entertain, then creating a deck or patio area with seating and barbeques will offer a place to host parties. Creating a play area for children will help your family maximise your garden use, whilst if you enjoy organic vegetables, creating a veggie patch is ideal.  

3. Install lighting

Gardens need not only be used in the daylight, and by using lighting you can create a fantastic area to enjoy after dark. Solar power has made bringing lights to your garden easier than ever before, and you can use string, path and table lights to create a magical atmosphere outside so that you can enjoy being outside after dusk. Check out 7 of the best ways to illuminate your garden for more tips.  

4. Use annuals to plug gaps

Growing a garden can take many years, especially if you’re planting flowerbeds from scratch. In the first few years, when plants haven’t yet reached their full size and maturity, you can plug gaps in beds and borders with annuals. Whether you like traditional plants, such as geraniums and fuschia’s, or are looking for something different like nicotiana and scabious, annuals can bring some important colour for the spring, summer and early autumn months.  

5. Replace tired furniture

If there’s one way to dramatically refresh your garden, it’s to replace old furniture. Cheap tables and chairs need a lot of care and maintenance to keep them looking their best. By investing in some quality pieces you will be able to enjoy dining suites, benches and relaxing chairs throughout the year without having to worry about repainting or repairing old items which are in dire need of a facelift.     Image credit: image 1