When summer comes around, it inevitably means more time spent in the garden – especially if you’re not going on holiday. After all, who doesn’t love basking in the sun amongst the bees and butterflies with a great book?
Summer is your garden’s time to shine, but if you’re looking at yours during winter, wondering how on earth it’s all going to come together when the weather changes, you’re not alone. Gardens take a lot of work, and while the scenario above may seem picturesque, making it a reality is a different story.
To get you off to a good start, here are ten ways to improve the functionality of your garden ready for the hot weather.
- Sort Out the Grass
One of the most important areas of your garden is undoubtedly the grass. While your mind might go straight to pretty flowers and attractive water features when you think of a pleasant outdoor space, it’s the grass that covers the most surface area, so this is what your eye goes to first.
To allow for maximum functionality, cut your grass nice and short and reseed the patchy areas. If the roots are too far gone, it may be easier to simply lay new turf.
- Create Shaded Areas
The balance of light and shade is a crucial element for any garden, so if you currently have no shady spots in yours, there would be a great place to start.
There are many ways you can add shade to your outdoor spaces, but the best way is typically by building some decking. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but adding decking that’s fixed to the exterior of your property or garage with a fixed overhang is the perfect way to add some shelter from the sun (you could also consider a gazebo if you’re on a tighter budget).
- Get Yourself Some New Furniture
High-quality furniture can truly transform a garden from something that simply looks nice to a true, functional extension of your home. There are many different options available, from reading loungers that fix directly to an exterior wall to full outdoor sofa suites.
You’ll usually get a better deal from most suppliers if you buy multiple pieces at once. Garden furniture sets collection usually make for a good deal that doesn’t compromise on quality, so keep an eye out for these.
- Make a Dining Area
Building on the point above, one of the best use cases for a garden in summer is as an outdoor dining area. There are dozens of great outdoor dining table setups to choose from, and these pair great with a deck.
Some people also choose to add a mini bar or even a fire pit to this sort of space – be sure to check out Pinterest for what sort of options are available.
- Seek to Improve Accessibility
One of the first things you should consider is how accessible your garden is currently. Perhaps you have areas that are a pain to get to because there’s no paving or lighting, or maybe there’s one part of the space where a bush has overgrown to the extent you can’t get to the other side anymore.
Rectifying these issues gives you more space and allows you to plan more clearly, so make note of each inconvenience and seek to tackle it as soon as possible.
- Install Proper Storage
Gardens get cluttered very easily, and you may even have been looking at your own earlier today, thinking just that.
As such, if you’re designing a new one, you’ll do well to implement some smart storage features to ensure it never gets that way again. Using storage units built into decking seating, or even something as simple as adding a small shed, can go a long way in keeping the space clean and tidy all year round.
- Pay Attention to What You Plant
Functionality isn’t just about the garden infrastructure you bake into the area; it’s also about how high-maintenance the space is, and in this regard, what you plant matters.
The simple fact is that some plants take significantly more work to grow and maintain than others, so do some research into what flowers and trees are the best fit for your local climate, as these will take the least amount of effort to look after.
- Create Specific Zones
Gardens designed for optimum utility are typically segmented into specific zones, as this is the best way to make the most use of the space you have.
Exactly what sort of zones you’d like will be down to the vibe you seek to create. Again, take a look at Pinterest for some inspiration, but reading areas with a hammock are a nice touch, as are evening spots where you can entertain guests, such as a hot tub area or even an outdoor dance floor if you have the cash. It’s truly up to you how you want to split things up.
- Add Cooling Features
Many people neglect to do so, but adding cooling features to your outdoor spaces is one of the best things you can do.
Garden misting systems and fans placed close to your seated areas can make a big difference to temperature regulation and enable you to stay outside for longer. Adding water features and ponds also does a lot to create a cooling atmosphere, even if it’s not cooling you down directly (these provide some nice contrast to the other elements of the garden, too).
- Don’t Forget About Vertical Space
One problem with many gardens is that there has been no effort made to utilise vertical space. People simply forget to look up, and that’s leaving a lot of functionality on the table.
From wall-mounted shelves to systems for growing herbs and other edible flowers, there’s a lot you can do with the walled parts of the garden, so don’t write them off.
Wrapping Up
You should now be a little clearer on how to improve the functionality of your space in time for summer. It’ll be a lot of work, but if you get started now, you’ll be glad you had the initiative to get the jump on things. Have fun!
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