Creating a garden that you can enjoy throughout the seasons is easier than you think.
If you want to get the most out of your garden all year round, then it makes sense to work towards turning it into a beautiful evergreen space. With the addition of the right plants, clever landscaping and some enduring finishing touches, you’ll have a garden that you and your family will be able to enjoy throughout the different seasons.
Finding the right plants
The easiest way to create a garden that looks beautiful all year round is to invest in some evergreen plants. These are plants that don’t shed their leaves, even during the winter months. Most gardens will have some evergreen shrubs in place already, so for many gardeners it is a case of working with, and building on, what you already have. Popular evergreen plants include laurel, beach wormwood, sweet violet and ferns. Remember, you should keep the local microclimate and soil type in mind when you shop for plants to make sure they will grow to their fullest potential.
How much time do you have?
If you are going to turn your garden into an evergreen haven, then think about how much work you want to put into it. Some plants, like privet hedges, require lots of trimming and maintenance to keep them looking tidy all year. If you’ve got a lot of time on your hands, by all means pick something that’s going to take up more man hours, but otherwise, opt for low-maintenance evergreen plants like ferns and grasses that will slowly grow of their own accord to fill the space.
Create style and shape
We’re used to our garden plants dying off in the winter. However, if your garden is going to be full and lush all year, then you should create some structure. Stone borders are a great way of doing this, as they will allow you to divide your garden into different sections and stop particularly full evergreen shrubs or plants looking untidy. Natural stone paving winding through your garden will help you to create shape and interest in your landscape, too.
Filling in the gaps
You are going to have some gaps left by summer bedding plants, even if a large portion of your garden is evergreen. So to minimise the impact of any unsightly spaces in your borders, introduce some decorative boulders or feature stones. These will look great dotted through flowerbeds, and will maintain the intrigue throughout the winter months. Plus, feature stones tie into two big trends for 2019: natural landscapes and sculpture. You could also use them to create an eye-catching rockery.
Finishing touches
Seeing as your garden is now going to be looking green and gorgeous all year round, don’t forget to invest in some outdoor products that can be used throughout the year. Floor cushions, deckchairs and parasols will turn your landscape into a tropical paradise during the summer, while a fire pit, fairy lights and cosy blankets will keep it feeling warm and welcoming throughout the colder months.
Will you transform your garden in 2019?
Now that you know how to transform your garden into an evergreen oasis, why not get started straightaway? With a little green-fingered effort and a bucket full of imagination, you could create an outdoor space that looks just as beautiful in the winter as it does the summer. By this time next year, you could be enjoying the garden of your dreams, regardless of the seasons!