8 Ways To Get More Use Out Of Your Garden | AD

*This is a collaborative post.

Is your garden space lacking something? Perhaps you have a small garden, and you’re not sure how to get any use out of it, or you have the space, but you’re still stuck for ideas? Today we are sharing some of the best ways to get more use out of your garden, even for those who aren’t keen on gardening!

Decking 

If you want to create layers in your garden, such as to create seating areas or different sections to the space, then consider adding decking to your garden. Wooden decking not only makes your garden look great, but it helps to create a less one-dimensional space. It’s great if you want to create an area for entertaining guests or to be raised off the grass. 

You don’t have to install decking around your back door, it can be installed anywhere in your garden. It could be lined up against fences or formed in a circle as a centrepiece of your garden. It also has the versatility of being able to adapt to the style of your garden as you can have it in a range of colours and styles. 

Summer Houses 

Perhaps you want to use your garden to create more indoor space? A summer house lets you create another room for your home in your garden. Some of the best uses for a summer house include office space, playroom, studio, or simply just a relaxing lounge space. What’s more, a summer house doesn’t have to be just a summer house. You can add heating and lighting connected to your energy supply so that it can be used at any hour or time of year. 

Your summer house can be as unique as you like, with all kinds of options available. From traditional wooden summer house styles to modern glass spaces. During the warmer months, you can open the doors up to create an outdoor room and a place to shelter from the heat and sunshine. If you want to create a space for entertaining, you could consider making your summer house into a bar, games room, or a family cinema room.

Create A Seating Area 

If you feel like you’re not getting much use out of your garden, it could benefit you to create a small garden nook where you can sit and enjoy your garden in comfort. Garden furniture tends to be on the expensive side, so if you wanted to save some money you could try your hand out at some DIY garden chair ideas. Placing seating around a table gives you the opportunity to use your garden as a dining area. You could also place a fire pit or chiminea in the middle of a seating area to create a focal point around which to socialise and relax. This means that even when the colder evenings start setting in, you can add accessories such as blankets, cushions, candles, and fairy lights to help give your seating area a cosier feel. 

Adding Verandas And Pergolas 

If you want to create a covered area for your garden that can also create a nice feature for the rear of your property, then consider a veranda or pergola. Glass verandas give you a covered space for relaxing outside or entertaining, meaning you can even stay outside and enjoy your garden if it’s raining. 

They can come in a range of styles, such as traditional and picturesque or sleek and contemporary. Pergolas can make a beautiful feature to compliment your garden. Placing climbing plants next to your pergola will allow them to grow up and over it and create a wonderful feature during the summer months when they’re in full bloom. This is the perfect area for things such as afternoon tea in your garden with family and friends. 

Install An Awning

If your garden is smaller or you don’t want space taken up by permanent verandas and pergolas, consider an awning instead. This type of coverage can be retracted when not in use, meaning it doesn’t need to take up permanent space in your garden. It also has the added benefit of providing UV protection during the harsher summer weather, blocking out intense sunshine, and providing much-needed shade. 

Awnings are a great option if you have children and want to make sure they can still use the garden whilst being protected from intense UV rays. Nationwide Home Innovation provides a range of different awnings for your garden, so you can find the perfect style for you. What’s more, they can be fitted in less than a day, so you can get on with making the most of your garden with your new covered area. 

Vegetable Patches And Greenhouses 

Are you a keen cook and what to include more fresh produce in your and your family’s diet? Creating a vegetable patch is the perfect way to get more use out of your garden whilst also being able to produce your own food. Growing your vegetables is incredibly rewarding and a great way to teach children where their foods come from and how plants grow.

You can involve your children in every step of the process, from planting seeds, taking care of them and watching them grow, and finally harvesting your little crop of produce. Adding a greenhouse will allow you to grow a wider range of fruits and vegetables that might not be able to survive as well being exposed to the elements. For example, tomatoes and strawberries do particularly well when grown inside a greenhouse. 

Raised Planters 

If you want to grow fruit and vegetables, but you’re reluctant to due to owning a pet dog, then you could consider raised planters. These not only protect your plants from being damaged by pets, but they also make a lovely feature to your garden. You could even use them to help create sectioning for your garden. Raised planters are just as useful if you’re more interested in planting flowers than vegetables. Flowers such as geraniums and foxgloves make especially nice features to a raised planter. 

Ideas For Those Who Dislike Gardening 

Perhaps you’re not so green-fingered, and you just want a simple garden that’s low maintenance and easy to maintain? There are ways you can still spruce up your garden without having to add lots of plants or high-maintenance features. If you want to add some greenery but don’t want to be mowing the lawn regularly, then fake grass is perfect for you. Fake grass can range in price, but generally, the more realistic it is, the more expensive. 

There are also some pretty realistic fake flowers and planted trees available that you could use to add some flora that doesn’t need watering etc. Creating paved areas will be more low-maintenance than other options such as grass and easier to keep clean and tidy. Perhaps you could create structures and pathways and add low-maintenance bushes and trees to add a bit of greenery. Adding things such as rockeries and water features is a great way to dress up a garden without creating too much maintenance work.

Do you have any plans for your garden this year?