Are you looking to build the perfect garden? Time outdoors with the family is so valuable, so having a garden that you can use all year round is a dream come true for many people.
These 8 ideas will help you make decisions when planning your project. Take some time to think about these things and you will get it right first time.
What is your garden really for? Whether you are a modern family in need of a low-maintenance garden or a Dahlia-lover in need of some roomy-beds for the plants, here are some ideas of the type of things to think about when deciding what to do with the garden.
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- Who is the garden for? Are you a busy family looking for extra space to spill out into, or a retired couple with ambitions to win the best garden in bloom prize for you area? Do you have children or animals? Will many people be visiting or do you have many parties? Is the house owned by you or let to other people? Gardens for each of these groups will be different. Figure this out first and use it to help guide the rest of your decisions.
- Where will the entertainment areas be? Its most common to put these near the house, but not always the case. Sometimes the amount of sunshine is an important factor in making this decision. If you are avid sun-bathers then watch where the sun hits during the day. you may decide to put a patio near the house for serving food or grabbing a quick cup, not too far from the kettle, but if the sun shines at the other end of the garden in the evening, you might consider putting another deck or patio in that area.
- Think about the “flow” of the garden. Is your patio between the childrens area and the house. Will you have to move your chairs every time the kids run in or out? If you build a patio with a sunken fire pit in the middle of it, will people be able to get past it when the garden is busy? Youve built raised beds, but no path to run a wheelbarrow to the shed. Think about the path from A to B. What will it be used for and how many people will use it, will there be any mahcinery like lawnmowers that need to get through?
- What surfaces will you need? There are many options for garden surfaces and they have different uses and price-points. generally speaking, the scale is as follows (starting from the cheapest to install) Beds, Beds with Mulch, Lawns, Gravel Areas, Artificial Grass, Timber Decking, Composite Decking, Natural Stone Patios, Porcelain Patios. (there are exceptions to all of these, but its a good starting point) Consider how soft you want the area to be. Will children be playing on it? Is there a climbing frame over it? Have you positioned your beds in an area where there will be nothing but shade? Perhaps that area could be used another way. Lawns are soft and they drain, so they are good if you have dogs and children. Also they help to keep the garden green, so that you are not just laying acres of hard-standing and patio. Decking is useful is areas that are not easily converted to patio, e.g. sloping gardens or uneven surfaces that cant be dug out.
- What garden furniture will you need? I have witnessed customers buying new furniture for a new patio and it being too big for the patio. The issue was that they hadn’t considered when the chairs were pulled out, so there wasnt really enough space for the table and chairs in the end. back to the store! I always allow around 80 cm behind each chair if possible (when the chair is pushed in) I would recmomed doing your research carefully and checking out dimensions and perhaps even making this out on the floor before you buy to make sure.
- Electrics and Plumbing. When you are having the garden done, its worth considering any electrical or plumbing work before you start. When gardens are being dug up for patios etc, its easy to lay a pipe or a cable, but once the beautiful Italian porcelain has gone down, its not really an option. If you’re not sure that you will need electrics, e.g. “we are thinking of getting hot tub next year at the end of the garden” You can ask your landscaper to put in an armoured cable for relatively low cost. Even is this isn’t connected at the time, it will save a lot of bother and time and money for an electrician later. Also, if you are considering any electrical work, always bear in mind that it can be costly. Customers often find it a bit of a shock when faced with a quote for several thousand for a few lights and sockets in the garden. Its not always the case, but definitely worth checking first
- Going 3D? Gazebos and Pergolas are a great way to add shelter, shade or just an added dimension to your garden. patios, lawns, decking; it can all get a bit flat, so why not raise a pergola and grow some climbers up it? these days you can really go upmarket with these Outashade offer some of the best we have seen, if you are looking for a gazebo with a roof or Dunster House if you have a tighter budget, but are still looking for a good quality build.
- Outdoor Kitchens: A very popular outdoor living item is the outdoor kitchen. Broadly speaking, this means kitchen cabinets outdoors that are built appropriately for the weather. Some are modular and contains, sinks, fridges, BBQs, Pizza Ovens etc, others are bespoke. If you are looking for somebody to buid one for you, always consider the position of the kitchen and if it needs services such as electrics or plumbing.
Overall, designing and building your own garden can be rewarding and it creates a great space for you and the family and freinds to enjopy.
If you would prefer somebody to take a look at this for you and give you a quote for an end to end garden project or just to build you a lovely patio then CONTACT US today