As summer approaches, you’ve probably looked out of your window and given serious thought to ways you can improve your garden. Not only will a well-tended garden look more visually appealing but it can actually add significant value to your home – and it doesn’t necessarily require expensive landscaping! We’ve gathered some garden design ideas and advice for garden improvements to accent complement your home.
Lawn
A simple garden improvement such as keeping your lawn well trimmed and edged can have a remarkable impact on the overall look of your outdoor space. Having a neatly defined edge to your lawn ensures that your garden looks tamed, and if you’re looking to sell, this makes the garden seem low maintenance.
Use the edge of a spade to create a clean edge between your lawn and your paving or garden beds. You could also use other methods to create the edge such a stones, timber, or bricks.
Make it lush
If the winter has taken it’s toll on your lawn, and instead of a verdant carpet at your feet you’re looking at a patchwork of brown, dry grass and bare soil, you could spray some additional lawn seeds to get this growing again. Look for grass varieties that are hardy and grow quickly to improve your garden.
Your local garden center should have a variety of seed options to choose from, as well as the benefit of insight into what types will suit the climate and soil in your area.
Another option is to purchase roll out lawn, although this does come at a premium.
Trees
Certain species of tree can do more for your garden value than others. Do some research around what indigenous trees will work in your area, and pay special attention to the space requirements of certain trees – many a homeowner has dealt with the expensive damage caused by spreading roots tearing up the foundations of their home.
Another thing to consider is that while the shade from a tree may be enjoyable in summer, it might lead to a situation where it blocks the light into your home, creating a gloomy interior, or worse, creates so much leaf debris that maintaining your garden (and gutters!) becomes arduous.
Accentuate and mask
When planning your garden design, it’s important to remember that the garden should complement the style of the house. Having a garden that is too out there could have the opposite effect to improving your garden.
If you’re planning on putting your house on the market, going for a garden that is neat and tidy, and has the appearance of being low maintenance will do more to improve the value of your home than having a multitude of high-maintenance bells and whistles.
A good garden design can also help disguise some of your home’s weaker points. For example, if the neighbouring house looks right into your bedroom – no problem! Some nice shrubs and foliage can provide some privacy.
Pools and patios
Which brings us to pools and patios. Having a swimming pool always seems like a great idea in the heat of summer. However, the reality of maintaining a pool throughout the year is another matter altogether. When it comes to garden improvements, having a sparkling and inviting pool takes a lot of work and can become costly in the long run.
Having a patio or deck is high on most people’s list, and investing in outdoor heaters and good lighting will allow you to get more use from yours. A large spacious patio or deck is a great place to entertain and will certainly improve your garden value. In fact, a patio can almost be seen as having an extra room!
Fencing and finishes
Simple garden improvements such as repainting fences or walls, scrubbing mildew and moss off pathways and sprucing up pots and planters can make a big difference to the general look and feel of your garden.
It’s easy to overlook these as they build up gradually over time, and the steady deterioration isn’t immediately apparent. Take a step back and look at your outdoor spaces as though you were a guest – you’ll quickly spot areas that can be improved with minimal fuss and expense.
Lighting
The saying is to make hay while the sun shines, but you can still make use of your garden on those balmy summer evenings by installing some simple, yet effective lighting solutions in your garden.
A splash of colour
When it comes to choosing plants for your outdoor space, aim to use indigenous varieties where possible. Plants of varying height can add visual variety as will annual or perennial flowering varieties.
Pruning back unruly bushes and shrubs is advised to keep things looking neat and trim, but be cautious to not get carried away. You don’t want your garden looking hacked bare!
The addition of planters is a nice way to add colour and interest to your garden design, and can be used to grow commonly used herbs that can be moved indoors when the weather turns.
Weeds
Getting rid of unwelcome weeds is one of the more labour intensive sides to having a garden. Keeping on top of things is crucial – you don’t want to slack off to find that your garden has become overrun.
Not only are weeds unsightly, but they steal the valuable nutrients and water from your soil, to the peril of your other plants. Staying on top of the weeding will ensure that your garden flourishes with (wanted) plants, and it’s good exercise too.
Words of Wisdom
Less is indeed more when it comes to having and maintaining a garden. Getting a professional landscaper in isn’t always necessary, as simple garden design ideas can be very effective in most cases.
Things like hot tubs and Jacuzzi’s and expensive garden furniture can seem like good ideas, especially if you want to increase your garden value, but will in actual fact have the opposite effect.
Keep it simple, and most importantly, aim to create a space that not only complements the house, but reflects your style and meets your needs too.