Fresh Garden Ideas

Garden Ideas- For garden novices

IDEAS Get used to your garden before you start anything. Approach it in a logical way, thinking about how and when you want to use the it, the size of the plot and position of the sun. It’s really no different to designing any room in your house, and you should ask yourself the same questions regarding what colour or furniture you want to use. TV programmes and magazines are also good for sparking off ideas.

1. TIME Make decisions in advance and plan your garden thoroughly as this will save you time in the long run. Go for low-maintenance plants such as medium-sized evergreen shrubs or ground-cover shrubs. Choose plants that will give year-round colour so your garden will look good whatever the time of year. And instead of having a lawn, go for gravel and mix with a selection of plants that will spread easily, such as grasses or herbs.
2. CASH Use salvaged materials for your hard landscaping as this will be much cheaper. Another way to save money is to buy all your plants directly from local nurseries instead of purchasing them from big garden centres. If you’re starting your garden from scratch, seed catalogues are an inexpensive way to achieve a colourful garden. You’ll need a little bit of plant knowledge but you can get all the information you’ll need from the catalogues.
3. SPACE Don’t design anything too fussy. Stick to an uncomplicated idea and use simple lines and shapes. Hard landscaping is a good option but try to stick to one material. If you want to add a patio, go for a circular or oval one as these shapes suit smaller spaces. Keep your planting simple and, for added interest, try a small, self-contained water feature.
4. LIGHT It’s important to get your planting choice right. In shady or dark gardens you should go for anything you would naturally find in woodlands as these kinds of plants won’t require lots of light.

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