Gardens are wonderful additions to any home that can uplift your property. There’s nothing quite like being able to relax on a deck chair, reading a book while you bask in the radiant sun. There’s also no replacement for the joy and fun you get from hosting a barbecue for friends and family in a luxurious garden with the latest outdoor furniture, a brand new grill and some good food.
However, getting the garden of your dreams can be a long and stressful task especially if you’re unsure where to start. The logical point to begin is often looking for inspiration, but you might quickly feel demoralized due to the incredible amount of work that some gardens require in order to look good.
You must also protect your garden to ensure your efforts are sustained, and that is why deer fencing is so important to keep the wildlife from trampling or digesting your growth.
If you take a look out into your boring run-down yard and realize that you’ve been neglecting your garden, then it’s time to take a stand and change it. Here are a couple of unique ways to help you design your garden and completely change the way it feels and looks. We’ll be walking through some simple steps to help you through the process, and we’ll also be discussing a couple of the most common garden design ideas.
Step 1: Examine your garden and imagine what it could become
Even if you don’t have a fantastic imagination, it’s important to take a look at your garden as a whole and try to plan out where you want to put things. Walk around your yard, take measurements (this is crucial!) and try to think about what you can get rid of or replace. The idea here is to conceptualize your garden ideas.
For some inspiration, we would recommend taking a look at ideas online or in books and magazines, but only for a while. You’ll soon come to realize that many of the garden ideas you see on the internet are completely outrageous and not viable at all unless you have heaps of time and money to spend on your project. Be more realistic with your expectations. Consider visiting friends and family members who have beautiful gardens and take pictures to record some ideas. In addition, you could also connect online with different gardening communities to look for ideas and photographs that other people have posted. These tend to be more down-to-earth and realistic goals to achieve and are great places to look for inspiration.
Step 2: Fix up your garden and start clearing it up
Now it’s time to start repairing your garden. This is where you’ll be sweeping up dead leaves and plants that you’ve neglected to clear, it’s where you’ll powerwash your tiles and floors, and it’s also where you’ll be identifying any damage you can find on existing things in your garden. For instance, if you’ve located shed roof damage and you want to keep your shed, then you’ll need to think about fixing it, potentially repainting your shed or even replacing it outright. If there are loads of chips and cracks in your tiles, then you’ll also want to consider replacing those.
Once you’ve cleared out your garden, you could remeasure it to ensure that all of your measurements are correct. You should have a fairly clean and flat lawn now with all the debris and garbage cleared up, and you should also have a clean and clear patio that is ready to be furnished. Of course, if you want to plant a new lawn or replace your patio tiles, or even install some decking to your home, then this would be a good time to draw up some plans and get in touch with contractors (or plan your own DIY project!).
Step 3: Creating a focal point
All good gardens need a focal point. This is typically a single spot in the garden (usually the centre) that is taken up by something special or unique. For example, it could be a water fountain surrounded by a stone path that leads to other parts of your garden. It could also be a huge mature tree that is surrounded by beautiful flowers. These are the types of centrepieces that are excellent if you want a stylish and tranquil garden.
However, there’s nothing wrong with leaving your lawn as it is and only having a few decorations here and there. The focal point of your garden could even be the flat and clear lawn that is used by your kids to frolic in. Another good focal point idea would be your patio or decking. This is typically the area that you’ll furnish with outdoor chairs, tables and a grill. It’s typically used as a focal point during parties and barbeques, and it’s a great way to transform your garden into a social area instead of just being pretty to look at.
Step 4: Budgeting and carrying out the plan
Lastly, you’ll need to budget. Plan what you’ll be buying, think about how much you can afford, and consider hiring a contractor if you don’t have time to carry out your own DIY projects. Renovating a garden is expensive and there’s not much you can do to reduce the costs. You could always use budget furniture options or decide to grow your own plants from scratch for a reduced cost, but it could be more expensive and ultimately take more time.
The last thing you want is to be disappointed with a half-finished garden, so plan ahead and make sure you give yourself plenty of space with your budget. Whether you decide to do it yourself or hire a contractor will drastically change your options. Contractors can usually help you design your garden as well, making it a complete turnkey solution that will take most of the effort out of the project. However, there’s nothing quite like getting your own hands dirty and seeing a project through from start to finish.
