Collaborative Post
As many of us are currently in self-isolation, we have never felt so grateful for our gardens and the sunshine that we’re lucky enough to be enjoying at the moment. Dave and I have struggled to get our garden ready for use this year due to a combination of long working hours, lack of funds and the heavy rainfall we experienced early on during the year. When you have spare time, you’re able to keep a garden ready for use all year round, but if you’re time poor or gardening just isn’t your thing you can still have a garden that’s always ready and suitable for use all year round. Take a look at five tips to help you have a garden you can enjoy all year through:
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All-Weather Seating
Having all-weather seating will ensure you’re tempted to go outdoors and enjoy your garden all year round. Great all-weather-resistant materials to consider include bamboo, powder-coated steel, resin, rattan and concrete. If you have the space to store garden cushion seats indoors these are a lovely choice. Personally, we like to have a traditional wooden garden bench and picnic table, which with regular weatherproof treatments will last for years.
Every garden also needs a patio or decking area which will help to break up your garden into different use areas and can be the perfect entertaining space all year round.
2. All Weather Grass
This winter I have been so envious of our friends and neighbours with artificial grass. Our own lawn has been overgrown and bogged down with rain, it’s been out of bounds to us and the kids all through winter. I would love to have one dog-free area of faux grass for just the kids to enjoy playing on as well as practice their football and sports skills. Take a look at Clearance Artificial Grass here.
3. Year-Round Colour
I really admire gardens that are well-tended and full of colour all year round. The good news is that we can all have the benefits of all-weather colour in our gardens with easy to maintain flowering bushes. Buddleia, Rhododendrons and Hydrangea will give your garden privacy and ensure hassle-free colour all year round. They’ll also attract and feed butterflies and bees. If you create a butterfly garden you can Pledge a Patch to Butterflies here.
4. Keep Warm in the Garden All year Long
Adding a heat source to your garden can allow you to make the most of it all year long. Add a fire pit or chiminea to keep you warm on the patio. Our fire pit doubles as a BBQ so we can cook outdoors all year round. I’d love to add an outdoor pizza oven too.
5. Year-Round Play
If you have children, make sure you have at least one large outdoor toy that is suitable for outdoor play. This could be a playhouse, a swing or swing set, a sandpit or a trampoline. if you have room for more that’s great too. If you don’t have the space for large play equipment just add some fairy gardens or play pots for imaginative fun. A pot, some soil, seeds and a watering-can will ignite your child’s interest in gardening too.
Following these simple tips will ensure your garden is ready to enjoy all year round, with little preparation. Enjoy your time in the garden as we, as a nation, stay home to stay safe and well!
