Creating and cultivating a wonderful outdoor area can be time-consuming and stressful. You might be thinking where on earth do I start with this task? But not to worry we are going to take it slow and start with 4 easy ways to create the outdoor space you have been dreaming of.
1. Tidy up the area
There is no getting away from this. You will have to start with a big clean-up operation. There is no way to sugarcoat this. You need to take a long hard look at your space and start making a priority list. What do you want and what do you not want? Do you want to spend money or not?
It might be simple things like getting rid of old broken furniture or weeding. But equally, you might need to think about bigger issues. Is your outdoor space working for you? For example this year I need to sort out my garden drainage as a little stream has developed making the whole area a bit of a swamp. Not the idea. I will have someone in to do the digging to stop this from developing into a real problem.
We would all love to have an outdoor space that just works for us but to get this we will need to put in the elbow grease and get to work. Operation tidy needs to be the first step.
2. Landscaping
Once you have tidied the garden and made your plans there is only one thing to do. Landscaping. This can actually add value to your home. So it is a win-win situation. You will get a beautiful space for you and your family and you will add money to your investment in your home. But this is the age-old spend money to make money situation.
I recommend going for clean lines with features like flowerbeds and forgoing anything too complicated like water features and ponds. Who really has time to maintain such things? But each to their own this is after all your oasis.
I would recommend hiring a professional landscaper as they can advise you on a design and other possibilities depending on the size and layout of your existing garden. If you are considering a large outdoor space renovation it is always worth hiring a professional and at least seeking advice.
3. Invite the Birds in
There is nothing more relaxing than watching the wildlife in your garden. I particularly love to watch the birds in my garden. It is really easy to encourage birds into your garden.
By buying a bird feeder and food for the birds. For food, I buy Bird Seeds in summer and Buy Suet Balls for Birds in winter months. These keep the birds fuller for longer in the winter than seeds do in summer. Also, add a bird bath to your garden this will give them a safe space to bathe.
You can also plant flowers that birds prefer like wildflowers these encourage birds to come into your garden for food. Plants like hedging and Ivy are good for protection from predators and give the birds a safe haven to nest. If you like you can also add a nesting box and this will also help.
It really is a wonderful addition to any garden have the chance to watch more wildlife and enjoy your surroundings as much as you do.
4. Grow your own food
This is not everyone's cup of tea. But the luxury of having an outdoor space gives you the option to try your hand at growing your own food.
Different climates and soil are good for different foods. It is worth asking around your area for what other people are growing. For example, my garden is the perfect location for potatoes to grow and they are so easy to plant and grow with minimal maintenance.
I have an abundance of blackberry bushes naturally along the edges of my garden and I have made some lovely blackberry jam with these. This year I plan of also adding in some raspberry bushes too.
For the more adventurous gardener, you can even get your own greenhouse and grow more exotic foods like peppers and even chillis. The choice is yours.
I hope this has given you a helping hand in how to make your outdoor space more beautiful and work for you and your family.
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