Everyone wants a beautiful garden and a beautiful home. For some it is writing a large cheque after someone has done all the work, others get a lot of satisfaction doing it themselves. They also usually save a lot of money. There are, however, a few pitfalls to avoid when deciding to redo your garden and your house’s exterior yourself.
1. Failing to plan is planning to fail
This is a very old saying but it is still applicable to almost every aspect of our daily lives. Gardening is no different. If you don’t draw up a plan before starting, you are definitely planning on failure. You need to make a sketch of your garden and what you want to do with it. It is wise to go to a nursery (or other professional gardeners) and find out which plants need sunlight and which ones can survive in shade. Find out how big certain plants will grow and where the best spot is for your plants and bushes.
2. There are other options
Most people prefer a lawn or at least a small piece of grass, especially those who have small children or pets. But remember that the old “green carpet” might not be suitable to your lifestyle if you are away constantly or travel a lot. Not many people realise this, but there are alternatives to having a lawn. White river stones are very popular and obviously needs no maintenance. There are so many things you can do, especially if you don’t have a very large space. Concrete bricks with crusher dust between look very neat and you don’t have to spend your Saturdays mowing the lawn.
3. Colour schemes are important
Remember that the colour you choose for your walls are very important. You want it to blend in with the garden and the rest of your house. A neutral colour is always the best option as the chances that you will grow sick of it are a lot slimmer than choosing a bright colour. It is also important to remember that if you would want to sell your house one day, most people prefer a neutral or white coloured house to a pink or blue or green house.
4. Irrigation is a good option for travellers
If you travel a lot, it is a good idea to invest in an automatic irrigation system. This way you don’t have to worry about what is going to happen to your beautiful garden and lawn when you are not there. It is convenient to ask a friend or relative to water your plants while you are away, but it is a time-consuming exercise and most people simply don’t have the time to water someone else’s garden on a daily basis.
5. Practicality plays a big part
Of course you want a beautiful garden, but you want one that is practical too. Don’t plant large trees next to the swimming pool as the roots might lift the brick paving later on and it will most likely shed its leaves into the pool during winter and autumn. Make sure the larger plants and bushes are planted at the back and smaller plants and bushes are in front, otherwise the small plants will not get sufficient sunlight and water.
It is important to speak to professionals when deciding to redo your garden because many of us don’t have the necessary expertise on different plants and compost to achieve a truly beautiful garden. There are many gardening books on sale and you need to make sure you know what you are doing. Creating a garden from scratch is a big job but there are few things in life that gives you the satisfaction that a beautiful garden that you created yourself does.