Summer is here, the days are long, and you are stuck in an office (whether that be at home or somewhere else!). You gaze longingly out of the window at the sunshine and when the clock hits 5pm, you head into your garden – but you find yourself faced by weeds, children’s toys and pet related hazards that need clearing up, and cracked old garden furniture. So how can you quickly and easily turn your garden into the relaxing oasis you crave?
Firstly, put aside a block of time to tackle things – ideally NOT at the end of a workday. Future you will thank you!
Start by removing the clutter. Put away any garden tools, recycle anything that’s broken (did you know you can put plastic plant pots in the household recycling?) and clear up any mess from pets or children. If you don’t have a shed, consider getting one – even if you don’t have room for a shed, a small garden storage container where you can hide all of the bits and bobs, will be worth getting to minimise the mess. Having a place for everything works wonders when trying to keep things tidy.
Next, think about dividing the garden into zones - perhaps reserving a specific place for pets to go to the toilet. This principle also works for children; if you want to carve out a restful space for yourself, try moving play equipment to a different area of the garden - or if your garden is large enough, screen off your relaxing space with planting or a trellis.
Think about what you DO want in your oasis – do you find the sound of running water relaxing? A small wildlife pond with a solar powered fountain could be the answer, or if budget and space allow, something larger – a pump-operated cascade – these can be pond-less to prioritise safety or a larger pond with lush planting? If you love the sound of wind chimes, treat yourself to a new set and hang them from a tree or fence, then lie back and relax.
Talking of lying back – what do you find most relaxing? A hammock? An egg chair? A recliner, or a garden sofa? Think about what you really want and get looking – car boot sales and reclamation yards are all great sources of second-hand goods – as a proponent of environmentally-friendly gardening, I’m always looking to reuse or upcycle – it’s kinder on the planet as well as the budget! Look for sustainable materials that can be maintained for years, and fixed when broken – plastic rarely fits this bill.
Now, let’s talk weeds. Depending on how overgrown your garden is, you might want to consider a few different options. All a weed is, is a plant growing in the wrong place. So, think about whether or not you can live with a few ‘weeds’. Many plants that are considered weeds are actually excellent early sources of nectar, helping many insects and in turn, birds and bats. If you’re completely overrun with bindweed and brambles, you will certainly need to tackle them properly – but if we’re talking just a few stray dandelions, learn to love the fact that they are amazing plants for pollinators!
Consider adding scented plants to your garden, so when you are relaxing in your hammock, listening to the sounds of your water feature trickling and your chimes ringing gently in the wind, you can also breathe in a gorgeous relaxing scent. Lavender? Roses? Or if you love your garden in the evening, maybe some evening scented plants like night-scented-stocks – these will attract moths, as will honeysuckle and star jasmine. They are also all pale coloured, which helps them to show up in moonlight or dusky light.
Please be careful with garden lighting – too much can discourage wildlife from entering your garden – you can read my recent guest blog from Christopher Hudson of Hudson Lighting, which describes why low light is important and how you can choose the right kind of light for your particular garden.
If you want to create your own garden sanctuary but are still finding it all a bit overwhelming, pop me a message and we can talk about how I can help you to develop a space so relaxing, you won’t want to go on holiday! (This actually happened with a client!)
Have a wonderful summer.