Creating a garden that works for you
Make 2025 the year that your garden goes from wasted space to a haven you can enjoy in any season.
Assess your garden’s purpose
Making your garden work for you starts with defining its purpose. Only then can you ensure it is a haven with all the elements you need and feels like a natural extension of your home.
Consider how you like to spend your time outdoors, or how you would want to use the garden in the future. Perhaps you enjoy entertaining guests outside on warm summer nights, or you want to create a safe play area for your children – or those yet to be born! Whatever it is, let this aim drive your decision-making.
Plan functional zones
You don’t have to limit your outdoor space to one use: plan functional zones so your household can do various activities simultaneously without interrupting one another. This could include plant cultivation spaces such as wildflower meadows, herbal gardens and vegetable patches, seating, and play areas like treehouses.
Connect the separate spaces with clever zoning techniques such as planting floral borders, laying a trail of stone slabs and incorporating planters on fences and walls. Leaving some land open while enclosing other sections creates cosy corners without making the garden feel claustrophobic.
Include an area for relaxation
Having a dedicated space for relaxation will help draw you outside more often and give your garden greater appeal – for your family, visitors and future buyers should you ever sell. Using just a few components, you can create a tranquil zone for year-round use where you can play easy mobile games like bingo, do puzzles like the daily crossword and curl up to dive into the worlds of fantasy books.
Plant tall trees or construct a thin wooden wall at a 90-degree angle to a corner of your garden boundary. This will portion off a small square with natural shelter from the elements without overtaking your overall garden design. Stretch a hammock between the walls and trees or place a bench and small table at its heart. Incorporate other features to suit your needs such as a mini cupboard which can be used as a drinks cabinet, bookshelf, or to store craft items like knitting.
Select appropriate plants
Everyone’s garden is unique in size, light exposure, average temperature and soil quality, so be sure to analyse your space and select appropriate plants with a good chance of flourishing there. After all, gardening is hard work, and you don’t want to see your efforts wasted!You should also consider how much time you’d like to spend in the garden. Some plants require constant care and attention while others flourish best when left to their own devices. For a garden that requires minimal upkeep but will look wonderful throughout the seasons, opt for low-maintenance flowers and incorporate natural materials like wood and stone to limit weeding needs and ensure a harmonious design even in the winter.
