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As the saying goes, ‘if you have a library and a garden, you have everything you need.’ Having your own space outside to enjoy, soak up some sunshine or entertain friends is such a luxury- and is something so many don’t have. So if you’re lucky enough to have a garden, take full advantage! Here are some of the ways you can upgrade the space.
A Seating Area
The best thing about having a garden is when it’s nice outside, you have a whole separate space to enjoy. Whether it’s entertaining friends and family with barbecues and garden parties or having lunch or dinner outside, you will need a seating area. You could finish the look with an outdoor retractable awning. It allows you to create a shaded area to protect you from the sun on very sunny days. Alternatively, you could go with a gazebo or pergola, these look nice when you grow climbing plants like roses or ivy up them.
A Pond
If you want to attract wildlife into your garden (and you should, since as humans we destroy the habitats of many creatures when we build on land), a pond is the best way to go about it. Expect to be visited by birds, hedgehogs, frogs, toads and insects. You could even add a trickling waterfall to your pond to make it more attractive, and create a calming background noise to drown out the sound of neighbors and traffic.
Decking
Decking is smart, works well in both large and small gardens and even boosts the value of your home. If you’re handy and enjoy DIY it’s something you could do yourself, otherwise, call in the experts. You may also want to look at installing an awning for deck as well if you would like some shade in the summer months, it is up to you and your vision for your garden. Your decking could be a patio area which you step onto as soon as you come out of your back door. Alternatively, you could have a raised ‘stage’ deck somewhere else in the garden. There are lots of different types of wood, and even composite which is a blend of wood and plastic. Your budget and how much maintenance you’re prepared to do to keep the decking at its best will decide on the material you go for. As wood requires sanding and regular staining to prevent it from rotting.
A Greenhouse
A greenhouse allows you to extend the growing season, and get the very best from your garden. You don’t have to be particularly green fingered or an expert either, it’s something that anyone can benefit from. There are a range of greenhouses, they can be small ‘lean-tos’ or large walk in sizes. They can be warm, hot or just left cold. They can be made of glass or polycarbonate. Decide what you want to grow and what you’re hoping to achieve with the greenhouse and then do some research to work out what is best for you. Maybe you want to produce tons of different crops? Maybe you just want a safe, sheltered place to protect your plants over the winter?
Will you be making any of these upgrades to your garden this year?
