Gardeners Club The Gardeners Club is a free to join online club for everyone with an interest in gardening and gardens.
Related Articles
During the summer, there is nothing better than spending time in the summer with your friends and family, especially when warm summer days turn into lovely summer nights. Be sure to make the most out of your garden this summer with these 5 ideas to transform the way you see and use your garden space, no matter if you have acres of land or a small apartment balcony.
Create Colourful Patches
If you have some areas of your garden which are unused or unloved, then why not create some colourful flower patches to add a splash of brightness? Gently rake the soil and thinly sow rows of summer blooming seeds such as calendula, cornflower, dwarf sunflowers and cosmos, making sure to leave around 50cm between each row. You could also consider buying a variety of different sized and shaped plant pots to add some beautiful summer plants and tropical greenery for an instant effect.
Turn Your Patio Into An Outdoor Dining Room
During the winter, our gardens and, in particular, our patios, can become unloved and once summer comes around we’re left with an unsightly space. There’s nothing better than dining alfresco when the weather is wonderful, so turning your patio into a luxurious outdoor dining room is a great way to make the most of your garden all summer long.
Clean down your patio or decking with a jetwash to get rid of any build up of dirt and grime which has accumulated over the winter and add an outdoor cooking appliance, such as a bbq, pizza oven or fire pit, and some patio garden furniture. If you want to add something truly unique to this space, then why not add in a plant buffet? Gather together some different pots and plant some edible plants, herbs and flowers that you can grab and use whilst cooking or even making some refreshing summer drinks. Basil, coriander and parsley are great to start with, but you could also use alpine strawberries or edible flowers, such as sky-blue borage.
Transform Walls Into A Vertical Garden
If you have a small garden or balcony, then often in the summer months you can feel as though you are missing out on the soothing effect of a garden. The truth is, you don’t need to as there are so many tips and tricks you can use to add some flowers and greenery into the space you have. If you have bare walls which you find unsightly, then there are many ways that you can create a vertical garden or living wall.
There are some planting systems you can buy which specialise in vertical growing, but you could also create your own with a trellis or old step ladder and add in climbing plants and flowers. Before you choose your flowers and plants, however, you will need to consider the placement in line with the level of sun exposure you get in the space, as this can have a huge effect on the flowers.
Pay Close Attention To Your Boundaries
This is particularly useful if you have a small garden, as fences, hedges or boundary walls may be the biggest thing which is on view, so it is important for you to make them look as good as possible so that they don’t have a negative impact on the way that you use your garden. The elements you use don’t all have to be the same, but try to provide some form of visual link between them.
For example, if you have the same fence surrounding your garden, look at growing climbers up them. If you are unable to change the fence, then you could also paint it or add trellises filled with flowers. Be sure to check with your neighbours beforehand in order to establish who’s fence it is and get their permission before carrying out any work.
Integrate Ornaments
The most important thing with your garden is that it also acts as an extension of your home. Garden ornaments are just as important as internal ornaments as they add a level of depth and colour to your space, but the most important rule is to integrate them in between plants or flowers. Ornaments which are sat in the centre of an empty area of your garden is unlikely to look good and, if it is too small, then it will just look lost.
Look at getting a large ornament which stands out, such as a water feature, to use in the corner or centre of the garden. Then, add in smaller ornaments in the space around it. Garden candles, decorative plant pots or garden lights work well in these spaces.
