With spring just around the corner, it’ll soon be time to switch those woollen mittens for gardening gloves. This prospect is even more exciting when you have a new space to unleash your very own garden project ideas, so here are some of our top tips in making the most of your outdoor space.
Get to know your garden
Knowing the aspect of your garden is crucial in determining its long term success. Is it south-facing, or north-facing? Which parts of the garden does the sun reach? What’s currently growing? Understanding some of these key elements will help you in determining key pieces of information such as soil type.
If the soil is acidic, camellias, magnolias and pieris will likely be in abundance and will grow well if desired. There are many soil test kits available that will help you determine your soil type, and set you on your way to understanding what will enable your garden to flourish.
If you have no idea what plants you’re dealing with, then there are some great apps available that can help you quickly identify your flowers and shrubs. Some will also tell you what conditions the plants need to do well, so you’ll know exactly what kind of plants to go for in the future.
Ideal plants for a north-facing garden, for example, are those which enjoy being shaded for the majority of the day. Rhododendrons prefer acidic solid and provide evergreen colour alongside colourful, scented blooms that last throughout spring. There are a variety of ferns that will complement these colourful flowers, whilst providing your garden with plenty of green foliage to create a fuller more complete look.
Understanding the key elements and features of your garden will help you determine the facts around what will work and what won’t. If you’re looking for some form of instant impact, starting with some brightly coloured annuals will help give your garden some character during the early days, which when accompanied by pots will provide a vision to be built upon.
Planning your garden
Once you have an understanding of what will grow where, and you already perhaps have the beginning of a garden in place, you can begin to plan for the more permanent features of your outdoor space, be it a full- on landscape project or a simple reorganisation.
Planning a garden starts with good research and inspiration taken from a number of different sources. Visit your local garden centers, public gardens and attend the annual garden shows to understand what your tastes are. Although you may be restricted to what you can grow based on aspect and soil type, there will still be a variety of flowers, shrubbery and greenery that you can choose from to accomplish your ideal look.
Whilst you’re building your inspiration, there may be larger-scale projects to tackle first, such as levelling the lawn, cutting back established hedges and general weeding. A neglected garden can be hard work at first, and when faced with an overgrown border, it’s often tempting to class everything as a weed and start from scratch. But you might actually find some beautiful, mature plants hidden away which are thriving and have the potential to make your garden look spectacular.
The next stage in the planning process is to determine what it is that you’re trying to achieve. Are you looking to make a statement with the large and spectacular? Or do you want to plant for privacy and seclusion? Environmentally friendly gardens are becoming increasingly popular, and planning your garden from scratch is the perfect opportunity to create a sustainable oasis that is bursting with visual texture and colour.
Make it feel like home
Moving into a new property is always an exciting time. Possessions create a sense of familiarity and can often help us settle into our new surroundings by making your house feel like a home. Although usually a longer process, the same can be achieved in the garden by taking cuttings of your favourite flowers and plants. Spring is the perfect time to do this, and it’s the easiest and cheapest way to start off a new garden.
Splitting flowers is common practise in gardening, but it’s worthwhile undertaking some research before taking a shovel to the root ball of your beloved rose bush. Potting a stem that has been cut from your favourite plant after the lower leaves have been removed can be just as successful and less damaging than splitting a plant from the root. It also leaves your previous garden intact and ready for its new owners – it’ll set them on their way to achieving the garden of their dreams, and they’ll undoubtedly be thankful for it.
Most importantly…
Have fun! Gardens constantly evolve, so don’t be afraid to experiment and just have a try.
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