So, you’ve moved into your new home and the inside is everything you dreamed it would be, but how about the outside? A new build garden is often a blank canvas, and it can be a little bit daunting and overwhelming when it comes to turning this open outdoor space into the garden of your dreams. However, if you follow these useful gardening tips then it doesn’t need to be stressful at all. In this blog we’re bringing you a sprinkling of
Spring garden ideas and our top garden design tips to help make sure your new build garden is right on trend.
- Think about functionality..
What do you want from your garden? A place for the children to play, a place to relax with a good book, a place to invite your friends and family over and entertain, or simply a place to grow vegetables? Knowing this will make designing your garden and planning your space much easier and you’ll ultimately be much happier with the end result. It can be tricky, but a top is to pick one theme and run with it or you’ll end up with a mishmash of ideas all competing for space, resulting in a confused garden that doesn’t fulfil your needs.
- Create a garden design and test your soil...
Always start with a plan. Sounds simple, but this will be much more beneficial in the long run as you’ll make less mistakes and save more money. As tempting as it is to rush out to the local garden centre and buy lots of plant,s its best to have a plan in your mind first. Draw out what shape you want your spaces to be, where you want your key areas and any focal points. Another key is to first figure out where the sunlight hits most? Where are your shady spots? You can then use this guide to plan out where you want your areas to be and what kind of plants will flourish in your garden. number 3 is to test your soil as you may need to invest in some decent quality topsoil before you do any planting to really ensure your garden flourishes
- Add levels to create focus and space...
All new build gardens start off very one-dimensional so adding raised beds will always be a popular. Adding levels can create a much-needed focal point and gives the impression of more space in the garden. Including raised beds allows you to create an instant impact by adding flowers to provide that burst of colour. They can also provide the perfect space for vegetable/herb gardens. The “grow your own” movement, which had an initial boom throughout lockdown, is still gathering momentum and is expected to be a huge continuing garden for 2023 as many people are choosing to find cheaper, alternative, and more sustainable ways of growing their own.
- Consider your borders...
A big for 2023 is relaxing the borders and having a more organic softer border. Swapping the angular edges for softer curves helps create a natural flow and draws your eyeline to any focal points of the garden. An emerging if you have children is to create a sensory area by adding scented flowers, herbs and even a small water feature. A pro
gardening tip from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is to create a border that is a little larger than you might think, as plants tend to grow and spread more than you might expect.
- Reshape your lawn or remove it altogether...
Another popular for 2023 is a huge push towards more sustainable gardens. Those perfectly manicured lawns are becoming a thing of the past as they require too much maintenance and regular watering. The latest suggest people instead are opting for more relaxed gardens, smaller lawned areas that are allowed to overgrow, wildflower meadows to encourage wildlife back into gardens and tapestry lawns. Unless you need an area for the kids to play then it’s an idea to remove the lawn altogether and replace with wider borders and gravel paths as these are lower maintenance and look good all year round.
- Build a patio and bring the inside out...
Whether your garden is for entertaining or purely for relaxing, building a patio or seating area is a must. It extends your living space and connects the indoors with the outdoors, creating a more fluid space. You can add outdoor sofas, dining tables, wood fires or even create an outdoor bar area – however you furnish it, a well-crafted patio will provide that much needed link between the indoors and outdoors.
- Consider sustainable planting...
When it comes to choosing your plants, the biggest is a sway towards drought resistant planting. People are encouraged to be water wise and more sustainable, especially in light of the recent drought and hosepipe bans, and are looking for hardier plants that can survive tougher conditions and less watering. Combine this with the changing weather patterns linked to climate change also means you can throw the rulebook out the window for when plants are typically meant to flower, with many flowers blooming later, giving you a wider window of colour. Another key gardening tip – orange is the on-trend colour for this 2023 season.
- Make your fences a feature and create privacy and shade...
Most new build gardens uses fencing to create the boundaries and these can be the perfect vehicle to add some much needed style into your outside space. A simple way to do this, is to paint the fences! While in the past we have been told to avoid darker colours as they can make gardens seem smaller, current suggest people are veering away from this view and are opting for those darker colours to provide that instant contrast. To tackle the issue of privacy, other include adding some greenery by planting taller trees and ferns or utilising trellises with climbing plants for a faster impact. These can also help provide some much-needed shade which can be hard to find in a new build garden. If you don’t have the time to wait for trees to establish then adding an umbrella or investing in a pergola for full time shade, especially if you have children, can be a good idea. This also has the added bonus of allowing you to utilise the garden all year round.
- Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise...
The final push and the fun bit! Let your imagination run wild and creativity flow. Accessorise the space and make it your own. If your focus is entertaining, create a dedicated outdoor space with a comfortable seating area, dining table and chairs, benches, outdoor bar, or you may wish to continue last year’s trend and add a pizza oven. The latest suggest that we’re moving away from the current anthracite/grey theme for our garden furniture and embracing warmer, more neutral tones. Stones, copper, brass, and terracotta all featuring heavily in the 2023 trends. Don’t forget the lighting too as this can often be overlooked. Add fairy lights to the garden as this will help create the mood and set the ambience or for a more popular add some solar lights for a more sustainable approach. If relaxing is your thing, then add plenty of cushions to a corner sofa for that splash of colour and personality. Water resistant rugs can add a touch of character and flair and help to link the indoor and outdoor spaces. A fire pit or chiminea will help to keep the chill at bay on those cooler nights or snuggle under chunky blankets. If it’s a family-oriented garden, adding a sandpit or a chalkboard or a mud kitchen will help to keep the little ones entertained for hours.
So now you’ve read our Spring Garden ideas and seen the upcoming new build garden trends it’s time to embrace your blank canvas, enjoy adding your own personality and flair to your garden and create your perfect outdoor space.