Check out my simple guide to transforming your outside space into a place you can enjoy all year round.
Year-round greenery, flowers, and foliage
First of all, if you want to be able to spend time in your garden all year round then you’ll want your greenery, flowers and foliage to look their best. The problem here is that so much of the flora in a garden can be seasonal, which means it dies off at certain times of the year, making a consistent look impossible.
Fortunately, there are some solutions to this problem. For example, if you choose evergreen trees and shrubs you can ensure that your garden looks lush and healthy all year round. Similarly instead of planting flowers in beds, and having to deal with the bareness of autumn and winter, swap to tubs instead. Then you can continue to plant flowers that will bloom during all seasons of the year, and you can move them around to where an injection of colour is most needed as well.
Another way to keep your garden green even in the heights of summer and the depths of winter is to work with a supplier like DD’s Landscaping that installs premium synthetic grass. Synthetic grass now comes in a range of soft realistic textures, and colours, making it almost indistinguishable from the real thing. The only difference between the two is that synthetic grass is much easier to maintain and care for as it doesn’t need weeding, mowing, or sowing.
Outdoor living spaces
Another way that you can make sure your garden is fit for use all year round is to create specific outdoor living spaces or rooms. This means instead of just plonking down a plastic garden table and chairs you consider your needs and wants, and the things that will get you using this space in all seasons.
For example, those living in a cold climate in the winter will want to consider adding shelter and/or heat to their garden living spaces. A firepit can work wonders in creating a warm comfortable relaxing outdoor space even as the temperature falls. Sails hung from the walls, or wooden outbuildings can also protect garden users from rain and wind ensuring they stay comfortable outside no matter what the weather is doing.
Conversely, those wanting to use their outdoor space all year round and live in areas where it gets very hot will benefit from a pool where they can cool down. Smaller pools known as splash pools are particularly popular right now as they provide enough space to immerse oneself and cool down, without incurring the high costs of installation and maintenance.
Gardens in warmer climates will also benefit from plenty of places with shade if you want to use them in the height of the summer season. Covered verandas can work well here as you get to spend time in the cool outside breeze while still being protected from the heat of the sun. The bonus is that many verandas can be fitted with insect screens which allows the breeze in but keeps any troublesome bugs out. Longer terraces with flower vines grown across the beams can also provide much-needed shade and contribute to the overall aesthetics of your garden space.
Let there be light
Light is also crucial to get the most from your garden and use it all year round. You’ll need to think carefully about the lights you use in your outdoor space though, as too much can be as off-putting as too little.
With that in mind, a layered approach to outside lighting is best. For this, you may include string lights in your plants or trees to add a base layer of warmth, add portable outdoor lamps to high-use areas, and then add solar guide lights along paths and frequently used routes.
You may wish to use spotlights in certain areas of your garden to highlight specific architectural features and greenery. Although if you do it’s always best to choose lights that you can easily control and turn on or off as they can make quite a different look at different times of the year.
Make the transition from indoors to outdoors more subtle
Last of all, if you want your garden space to be a place that you use all year round, you can facilitate this change by making the boundaries between inside and outside less delineated.
For example, installing bifold doors to your garden can help bring the outside in and vice-versa. Similarly providing a comfortable patio with quality furniture including sofas for lounging can help make your garden feel as if it’s just another room in your home.
