Gardens are great spaces in the summertime, aren’t they? You’ve got natural sunlight up until 9 pm every night, the ground is dry and perfect for lounging on, and you can get the BBQ going without having to creep back inside because it’s gotten a bit chilly. All in all, the garden makes a wonderful summer space, and it’s great to spend time out there with friends and family!
But what about the rest of the year? Is your garden just as enjoyable in every other season? If it isn’t, we’ve got some tips for you that could really change things around.
After all, your garden should be usable no matter what the weather is doing. No matter how cold or dreary it is, no matter how wet and windy it is, you should have a ready-to-use outdoor space at your disposal. And sure, there will come some moments when it’s best to stay indoors, but those days only tend to number a few throughout the entire year!
So, if that’s the kind of garden design you’re interested in, the tips below are the kind to get started with. The more you can use your garden, the more value you’ll find in it, and the happier you’ll be with your home.
Plant for Shade
Shade isn’t just essential for when it’s super sunny and hot outside. It makes for a good canopy no matter what weather is bearing down on you. That’s why you should plant for shade in the areas that you spend most time in, whether this is near the house, round the lawn, or simply in strategic places across the whole garden space.
You may even find that this shade makes the indoors cooler during the peak of summer as well!
Plant taller plants at the beginning of the year, as early into their natural cycle as you can, and in a year or two’s time, you should be able to reap the benefits. Alternatively, you can invest in ‘mature’ trees (although not any that are fully grown), which have already grown to a notable height and will only get bigger.
Plant Perennials
Perennials are plants that flower every single season, so you’ll be able to see their beautiful buds exploding into colour no matter what time of year it is. Of course, you’ll have to invest in evergreen varieties to ensure there’s colour during the winter, but even non-evergreen types will be right back up again as soon as the weather gets a bit warmer.
The more perennials you have in the garden, the more your garden will look thriving year by year. As such, if a lack of life during the winter gets you down, this is definitely the tip to invest in most! With perennials out there keeping the space feeling alive, you’ll still want to head out and breathe in the fresh air. Pop a scarf on first, though, of course.
Cover Your Patio or Deck
Most gardens have a patio or deck area, and a lot of them feed out from the back side of the house, either through the door or some French windows in the living room or dining room. It’s a lovely way to extend your home without having to pay for new rooms and roofing! But whilst this is a lovely feature on its own, you’ll want to make sure it’s at least partly covered from the top.
Putting up a temporary gazebo will do this just fine, but hanging an awning off the side of the house that can be drawn out when the weather calls for it is a more long term and sustainable solution. Now you can dine outside even if it’s a bit drizzly out there, thanks to the use of waterproof canvas and maybe a fire-safe heater on the side too.
Build a Summerhouse and Insulate It
Summerhouses are amazing garden additions, as they really can be used for anything you like. A kids’ playhouse, a home office or studio, a reading room or a meditation zone – the list could go on and on. Because of that, put together a summerhouse in your garden, but to make sure you can use it all year round, insulate it as well.
Insulation is essential for both the summer and winter periods, as you don’t want to be freezing away inside a wooden box, nor do you want to be roasting inside something that’s been cooked from the outside by the sun!
Indeed, most summerhouses will come without any insulation, and it’ll be up to you to coat the wood yourself, but that’s not too difficult of a job. You really just need to know where the insulation will be best put and how much you need. Once you’ve got those measurements together and you’ve paid for the materials, you can get the job done in an afternoon.
After that, decorate in the way you like and then turn the summerhouse into a year-round room that can provide some peace and tranquillity no matter how hot or cold it is.
Plant in a Greenhouse
Gardening tends to draw to a close as we get nearer to winter. We instead spend this time freeing up garden space, making sure there’s no clutter in the yard, locking away tools and equipment for next year, and even mulching the ground to prevent dryness and freezing.
Namely, the autumn and winter months are for prevention and preparation, and rarely do you get to see a seed germinate when it’s cold outside.
If that bothers you, it’s time to buy a greenhouse for your garden. And if you’re worried you don’t have the room for one, there are many kinds of greenhouses on the market in various shapes, sizes, and designs, and you’re sure to find a version that suits your space.
In getting a greenhouse, you can plant and cultivate all year round. You can keep the space to the right temperature thanks to indoor climate control (although that can get pricey during times of extended use), which will allow you to grow what you want, when you want.
But even without the heating element, any plants kept in a greenhouse will be kept away from extreme temperatures, harsh conditions, and any wildlife that’s out foraging for a snack. You can keep the plants off the ground, give them perfectly temperate and moist soil to work with, and attend to them without having to pull on your winter wellies, gloves, and overcoat.
Have a Shed to Put Away Seasonal Items
Leaving out seasonal garden items, when it’s not the right season, can simply clog up your garden. This also makes the items a lot more susceptible to rusting and mold growth, which can make trying to keep your brand new top of the range grill in the best condition rather tricky.
As such, make sure there’s some spacious and secure storage available in your garden. A shed, for example, will allow you to pack away non-seasonal items and save them for next year. This way, you’ll never need to rush out and grab a paddling pool during the height of summer – you’ve got the perfectly good one from last year still in the shed!
Build Homes for the Wildlife
Want to see birds in the winter and squirrels in the spring, as well as hedgehogs on your night-vision camera and badgers making their way under the fence? Then, build year-round homes to suit incoming wildlife.
You should also focus on the smaller critters, like bees and worms, and make homes for them to take shelter in when it’s freezing or on the humid side. The more you take care of wildlife, the more you’ll see it!
Clean Regularly
If you really want your garden to be usable all year round, don’t let it get dirty. Of course, there’s a lot of mud and dead leaves out there, which will build up without you even noticing, but that’s not what we’re talking about here.
Namely, it’s best to keep the garden clean of actual debris, like things you want to throw out, bags of waste, old tools, fallen trees, etc., as these will really clog the space up. No one will be able to spend any time out there if the garden looks kind of disgusting!
Want an Annual Garden? This is How to Get One!
If the backyard is a bit too wet and covered with algae during the autumn, and the winter makes the whole place look like it’s dying, these tips can change both your perception and the overall suitability of your garden space.
Keep it clean, start planting in a greenhouse, make it so the wildlife can take care of themselves, and open up a summerhouse that is temperate no matter what the air is telling you! And if you can, get some coverage for your patio or deck – at the very least, it’ll keep your outdoor furniture dry and debris free.