We all worry a little over how good our house looks to the outside eye. Those people on the streets don’t live here, and thus they have no idea of it’s real charm and coziness. That means we take a lot pains in making sure the exterior is cleaned up and has plenty of curb appeal, but that still leaves the entire world of the garden to take care of. Let’s face it, if you own your own house, or you have the bottom floor of the apartment building you live in, there’s quite a big chance you’re also responsible for a garden.
There’s quite a lot you can do in terms of landscaping, which leaves a bit of a creative ebb and flow to be filled. However, a lot of us don’t know what we can do, or where to even try to start. So here’s a few ideas to get you started on the outlook of your dreams.
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Know Your Boundaries
These are both in terms of the physical and what you can manage, and whereabouts your land ends and what you can do with the space in it.
If you have a big area to work with, work out what you’re allowed to dabble in before making any of those planned changes. Do you know where the zoning areas in your neighborhood are? Look into those first of all and then see what you can do if the stipulations are a lot harsher than you thought.
The main aim is to frame your house with any of the plots you use, the lawns you cultivate, and the trees and flowers you seed to finish off the perfect picture. It doesn’t have to go beyond this, but if you’re looking for a practical element as well you need to allot for a vegetable garden. If you need to bring in some help for your landscaping needs, whether it be because you don’t know how to grow a tomato or the edging around your pool just isn’t working out, do so.
What You’ll (Most Likely) Need
For most gardens, a lot of the supplies are similar. You’ll want to use bricks for the paving, and some timber if you’re building yourself a deck. This is always a nice addition so consider it for your budget!
You may also need to invest in some edging wire or more bricks for this as well, as having a green area in a sea of reds, blues, yellows, and purples, is a wonderful contrast, and leaves a good place to have a picnic or BBQ. If this area is curved, you can use gravel or other shingle materials to make it easier to lay and separate.
The you have your plants to think about. It’s a good idea to buy the potted variety from the garden centre if you want some faster results, or if you just want ease of planting. Otherwise, be sure to invest in a variety of bulbs, seeds, and cutting. You can design your perfect garden as well as brush up on your gardening skills at the same time.
Some Common Designs
For the more contemporary among us, geometric shapes are the way forward. Having everything in neat places with a clear walkway around it is good for maximizing on space whilst having a little leeway with your plans. Try bulk planting with a certain flower to increase the impact, and make sure all the bigger flora is kept to the back near fences.
On the other hand, a cottage garden is popular with the masses. This means planting in small quantities and having lots of plants at once in the same space. Creating a cacophony of color, you’re guaranteed to spend a lot of time out there with all the scents and sights for your time.
The plants are what brings a garden together, and the whole point of one. Make sure they’re well planted with the right heights and spacing for their needs.
Don’t Limit Yourself, Build in a Garage
This option is for those with the time, money, and property rights to do so. If you have the room for it, you can install yourself the garage of your dreams. Finally, a proper place to store the car and keep all your extraneous storage attached to the ceiling! If that’s not for you, you can even turn the space into your own studio or gaming room, and have mini theatre nights for all the family.
Remember that adding a bit more of an interesting view to your garden doesn’t only come in the view of pretty flowers and creeper vines up the fence; it can also mean you build up your own mini estate. Visit the The Garage Plan Shop for some detailed plans that range from having loft space to storing more than one car.
Make Sure You Have Safety Thought Out
If you’re the type of person who loves a bit of DIY, you’re going to need to make sure everything is up to standard or code before you try anything. The main thing is to know what you’re doing, and that can mean taking a few classes, or buying some books to read up on, or even just surfing the web for tips and tricks.
Of course there’s learning by doing, and that works a lot of the time, however, don’t rely on this for everything. When it comes to something like destroying waste material, you’ll probably need to hire out a machine rather than use a fire, and it’s never a bad idea to hire a professional to take care of a few things for you.
You don’t have to be a retired older person to be interested in gardening, and it’s a great versatile hobby for anyone to get into. Draw up your own plans and get crafting; it’s good to do a bit of your own creating and hard grafting afterwards, and you can be proud of the finished product.