For those of us lucky enough to have our own outdoor space, our gardens have been something of a sanctuary in recent months. What’s more, with many people opting for a staycation this year, it could be garden DIY rather than home DIY that becomes the priority. But how do you maximise your garden and ensure that it provides that additional al-fresco room to suit your lifestyle?
At its Priors Crescent development in the Worcestershire village of Salford Priors, Cala Homes has worked with garden designer Bev Rodway-Smith from Benchmark, to create two very different showhome gardens. One is a family-friendly cottage-style garden with space for the kids to play and areas for growing herbs and vegetables. The second is a stylish contemporary garden, perfect for entertaining throughout the summer months.
Bev Rodway-Smith comments: “One of the advantages of buying a new home is the blank canvas of the garden, but creating something from scratch can be daunting. At Salford Priors, we created two contrasting designs to suit two very different lifestyles, but both are achievable with some careful planning, basic garden principles and plenty of enthusiasm!”
Here are Bev’s tips for creating the perfect outdoor living space for you:
1. Think about how you will use your garden
Plan your outdoor space in the same way as you would your indoor space, with functional areas to suit your lifestyle. You might want to create a socialising garden with places to sit, eat and entertain or a productive garden with vegetable patches and fruit trees. Perhaps your priority is a garden that is wildlife friendly or a family garden which is split into different areas for adults and children.
Consider how much time you’ll have to take care of your garden and whether a low maintenance design would better suit your lifestyle.
2. Create a Mood Board
There are a variety of different garden styles, from cottage to contemporary, Mediterranean to Japanese. You could go for a theme that compliments the style of your home or instead go for a look that is a complete contrast. Save photos of features, furniture and plants you love and the kind of look you want to achieve. Pull everything together in a mood board, thinking about colour, texture and even scent.
Consider creating a focal point in your garden, such as a water feature, sculpture, garden mirror or perhaps a pergola to create structure and height.
3. Make a Plan
Draw a plan with the measurements of your garden, using graph paper to get the dimensions to scale. Make a list of the most important features you want to include and locate them on the plan. Use shrub beds and paths to link the various areas and features.
Consider the shape of your garden, any dead or awkward spaces, and the view of the garden from different rooms in the house. Consider the most appropriate place for different areas, for example herb gardens near the kitchen, wildlife areas away from the house and areas for beds with the right amount of sun and shade for your chosen plants.
4. Consider Every Aspect
Pay attention to the aspect of your garden. Is it North, South, East or West facing? The aspect of the garden will inform where you locate features such as seating areas, pergolas and arbours, herb and vegetable beds and areas for wildlife. It will also dictate the kind of flowers and shrubs you select and where you plant them. For example, a north-facing garden is in shade for much of the day, and so woodland plants like Snowdrops or Lily of the Valley which are shade-lovers will thrive in these conditions.
If you plan to spend a lot of time relaxing or entertaining in your garden, consider more than one seating area to maximise sunlight at different times of the day.
5. Tips for Effective Planting
- Plant in groups of three or five; individual plants may seem appealing but they don’t have the impact of a group of the same species
- Use evergreen plants with interesting foliage to keep your garden looking good all year round. Flowering plants are lovely but also consider the different colours and shapes of leaves.
- Have plants that provide flowers, fragrance and fruit in different seasons. This will provide interest in the garden all year long.
For more inspiration, view the professionally-designed gardens at Priors Crescent.
Priors Crescent is an attractive development of character homes set in a crescent overlooking a new seven acre village green. A range of two, four and five bedroom homes is currently available priced from £290,000.
Visits are by appointment only and Cala has introduced a new range of hygiene and social distancing measures to provide complete peace of mind.
For further information, phone 01789 867 164 or visit our Priors Crescent page.
