Not happy with your garden but not ready to call in the garden designer? Here are some pro step-by-step tips to help you take the space yourself!
1 – list everything you need from your garden
Write down your needs and wants – most owners don’t like their spaces because they don’t meet their needs, but try to keep this list short if your doing it yourself. Common requirements include:
- safe play space for children
- sunny seating area and space for a barbeque
- storage for bins
2 – now list what your space is lacking
Looking at the requirements list so see what is not working well and why….
- patio is too small, and in a shady position
- no where for the bins to go
- neighbours directly look into my garden
3 – get to know your garden
Measure up the garden, and sketch it up to scale on A3 paper; mark up existing features like doors from the home and trees/shrubs that are to stay. Make a note of direction and where the garden is shady during the day, and take a look at your soil to help you pick your plants well.
4 – fix your issues (step 2)
Take your issues one at a time and find a solution to address each one. The patio might be in the wrong spot to catch the afternoon sun, or maybe it can be extended with a gravelled area to give more flexibility for parties. If the play area is bounded by a spiky Pyracantha hedge, pick a new boundary material or move the trampoline. If you’re overlooked, could you use a pergola or strategically placed small tree?
5 – know what you can and can’t do without permission
Check with your Local Authority to see if you’re in a Conservation Area and what your permitted development rights are – some things need special approval. Common considerations are:
- fence heights and types
- height and position of structures like garden rooms and pergolas near boundaries
- height of decking cannot exceed 300mm without planning permission
- sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) regulations mean that your need to carefully manage surface water drainage – you may need approval before extending your paved driveway
- high hedges rules mean your should not grow very tall evergreen hedges on your boundary
6 – Choose your plants to suit your soil
If you’re not a keen gardener, check out the wonderful planting guidance from the RHS – selecting the right plants for the dry, sunny spot and for the damper, shady areas will save you a fortune!
7 – Less is more
When choosing your planting palette, better to choose a few plants for each border and repeat them rather than collect dozens of different cultivars – this makes the garden more pulled together, and easier to take care of. Keep landscaping simple, look at the house to see what suits – clay pavers to match brick build house, or porcelain to complement a rendered home will look nicer than 5 different finishes.
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