Creating your dream garden for your new home
You’ve just moved into your new home or are planning to move into your new home soon, and you’re keen to turn your outside space into the garden you’ve always dreamed of.
Having a blank canvas to work off may seem daunting, but it provides you with a fantastic opportunity to create your own garden oasis. Here is some guidance and tips for turning your dream into a reality.
1. Type of garden
Think about what type of garden you would like. If you are green fingered, you are likely to want plenty of space for plants, fruits and vegetables. If you have children and pets, you will probably want a functional garden with lots of lawn for the children to play on and the pets to roam. Perhaps you are just after a sanctuary to relax in with friends or a good book. It is key that you think about how functional you need the garden to be, before you start planning how it will look.
2. Plan
Get your paper and pencils and map out what you would like your garden to look like. Make sure you have the dimensions for the space and sketch a rough outline of what you would like and where. If you are able to colour it in, this will really bring it to life and help you to see the end result.
3. Your garden’s environment
Gardens up and down the country have different types of environments – different soil types, different amounts of sunlight and precipitation. Find out what soil type you have, what way the garden faces the sun and the average rainfall in your area. Find out what parts of your garden are shaded and at what times of the day, and which parts are in the sunlight for longer.
4. Maintenance
All aspects of your garden will need maintaining throughout the year – whether it is a brick pathway, wooden decking, plant beds or hanging pots. Think about how much maintenance you are happy to do and your ability to carry out the maintenance.
5. The 12-month garden
If you would like your garden to look its best all year round, think about including a variety of plants that perform best at different times of the year. Plant pots, troughs and hanging baskets full of flowers, fruit and veg are great for the summer, whilst hardy shrubs, trees and vegetable and fruit plots can work best all year round.
6. Grouping plants
Look to divide your garden up into sections to help you design it – the fruit and veg patch section, the grass area, the decking and paving, the flower beds and borders. Inject different coloured plants, different heights and textures to really add vibrancy and character to your garden. Taller trees and shrubs can help to shield noise from your neighbours and provide privacy.
You can find out much more about creating your dream garden, and using templates of great designs on the Royal Horticultural Society website: https://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/Design/Garden-themes