How To Build Your Garden From Nothing

If you’re a keen gardener, you might be up for taking on a project. Moving house means saying goodbye to the garden we have tended. Instead, we inherit something new, that can often be in a terrible state. This is especially true if you have bought a doer-upper or project house. Taking on a new garden gives you plenty of opportunities to put your own stamp on things. So where do you begin?

With any new property, it is important to establish and secure your boundaries. This is especially true if you have pets or children that will be using the garden. If you have a look at the garden fencing from George Hill Timber, you’ll be able to see the wide choice of styles you can select from. Choose something taller if you want privacy. Just remember that tall fence panels could create shadows and shade in the evening.

Erecting a fence isn’t the easiest of jobs to take on. Many people choose to hire a builder to do this. You need to dig footings for the concrete posts that will secure your panels in an upright position. You might need to hire a cement mixer. Getting the consistency is important to avoid the concrete degrading. Once your posts are set into position, it is quite easy to slot in and secure your fencing panels.

Now you can clearly see the shape and size of your garden you might want to draw up a plan of where everything will be going. If you haven’t already done so, it can be a good idea to clear the land and start again. Freshly laid lawn looks immaculate and is weed free, giving you an instant garden. Before you are ready to roll the turf, you might want to design the garden to see where it will go.

Flickr image by: Fiberon

Your garden design might include a patio or decking area. This allows you to entertain and dine outdoors. Some decks are covered with a gazebo or form part of an outdoor room. You may also need some lighting and a barbecue burner set. A good quality dining table and chairs should fit comfortably in the space. Rattan furniture is very popular. Cushion sets are often kept in a plastic container shed.

Your garden may also need to be used to store your household waste items. Wheelie bins and recycling buckets are quite unsightly. Some people build housing to disguise them until collection. You might prefer to keep yours in a shed or garage. If you don’t already have a shed in the garden, you might want to use a builder to provide a concrete base for the structure. It usually requires at least two people to build the shed itself.

Garden sheds are very handy for storing all your garden tools and your lawn mower. You might keep your household tool set in there too. Some people have a workbench for DIY projects. Others like to do their potting inside. If this is the case for you, consider a greenhouse to as this will protect seedlings and provide a winter home for your other plants too.

Part of your garden may become a vegetable patch. If this garden is new to you, it might be worth building raised beds. If you don’t know what was in the soil before you bought the house, this could be the safest thing to do. Potatoes, carrots, lettuces and strawberry plants will all grow well in a raised bed. Buying in a good quality organic soil to fill your raised beds will ensure your plants get the best start.

If you have children, you may be keen to have an enclosed play area where they can be safe from the hazards commonly found in a garden. Play bark is quite cheap at the moment, but there are other surfaces you could try too. A large flat area is ideal for a trampoline or play house. Provide some hard standing area for riding scooters and bikes too. Your lawn may have to double up as a mini football pitch!

Flickr image by: James Paul Long

Dog owners can ensure their animals are safe from hazards in the garden by enclosing a small part of it just for the dog. Provide enough space for your canine to run around and play, but also a corner where they can relieve themselves. It is important to secure this area if you also have children playing in the garden. Your boundary fencing should be of a good height to avoid your dog jumping over and leaving the safety of your garden.

Flower beds can provide a wealth of colour for most of the year if you choose the right plants. It is also important to consider the architecture of your planting. Structure, height and depth are all important when it comes to designing an attractive garden. You can give the illusion of a mature garden by planting more established shrubs, bushes and plants.

It can be nice to plant by colour to create sections. You might have one in red, one in white and one in blue. The combination is up to you. Other ideas include planting in a pattern whereby the colours fade into each other. You might choose purple, and then pink, red, orange, and yellow patterns. If you have a water feature or pond, you can choose water lilies to bring colour to your display.

Summer houses offer a place to relax as well as an extra room for working in. They can be quite cold in the winter, and a little too hot in the summer. To overcome this, you can insulate the roof space and wall panels. Some even come with double glazed window panels! For a smaller garden, an arbor or gazebo could provide a lovely, shaded seating area to enjoy.

Whether you are looking to design a zen garden or become self-sufficient, your new garden is full of possibility. You may not know it’s full history, but you can envision an exciting future. Make the most of your new garden with a unique design today.

Featured image by Flickr – Chrsitian Tlambert