How To Make The Most Out Of Your Gardensubmitted on 31 August 2018
We spend so much time making the insides of our homes look wonderful that it can be all too easy to forget that there is a garden to think about at all. However, having a beautiful garden can really add value to your property if you are thinking of selling and moving on. Even if you do intend to stay, there are many different benefits to having a great outside space, and those benefits are not just limited to the summer months. Here are some of the reasons why and how to make the most of your garden.
Eat Outdoors
There is something extra special about eating outside, and when the weather is good, and you have friends and family over, then al fresco food can really make any occasion much more enjoyable. Even a simple sandwich and drink of water seems to taste so much better when you are outside rather than in. All you need is a nice table and (ideally) matching chairs, and you are all set to enjoy the sun.
Barbecues are perhaps the most obvious way of enjoying food outdoors, but they are not the only one. If you prefer to do your cooking inside, then you can do just that. That’s the beauty of eating outdoors – it can be done in any way that you want.
Use A Chimenea
You can even use your garden when the weather starts to turn a little colder, or on those summer nights that have a chill in the air. All you need is a chimenea that can be bought at most homeware or DIY shops, and you will feel a lot of warmth. If you don’t like the idea of naked flames (even if they are inside the chimney itself), then there are electric or gas heaters that can work just as well. This way, you can make the most of your garden at nearly all times of the year in most weathers.
Install A Conservatory
Although a conservatory is always going to cost more than most other options, it is also one of the very best ways to enjoy your garden all year round and really make the most of what you have. Having a conservatory is like having an extra room in your house, but one that almost seems to be in the garden itself. With the right heating and cooling and by using a reputable company, you can use your garden without actually needing to be outside. If that sounds good, why not check it out?
Pests
If you are planning to make the most of your garden, then you won’t want your fun to be spoiled by pests such as wasps and ants. There are a number of different ways to keep them at bay, but some are more natural than others, and these are the ones you should try before you resort to sprays and poisons which can be harmful to other animals and even people. Citronella candles have long been thought of as a useful way of deterring insects from coming around, and they do work well in most cases. Scatter these candles around where you are sitting, and you should find that you are left alone by the bugs for the most part. What makes these citronella candles great is that they smell pleasant too.
Make It Comfortable
If you are going to spend some time in the garden, you need to be comfortable. Otherwise, you’ll soon give up and go back indoors, and what would be a shame and a waste. Therefore, bring some cushions outside with you. You can keep these cushions for the garden if you prefer, rather than bringing your sofa cushions outside, but if that is the case then remember to put them away when you’re done by tying them up in a black bag and storing them in a shed or garage.
Not only will these cushions make things more comfortable, but they will make guests feel welcome and let them know that it’s okay for them to sit and relax.
Have Outdoor Games
Playing in the garden might sound like a childish thing to do, but there is nothing wrong with having some fun and enjoying yourself. You can buy oversized chessboards or board games such as Twister, for example, or you can buy traditional games like shuttlecocks or Swingball. Have a variety of games so that you don’t get bored, and if you have guests over you can even work in teams and have a contest. It’s a great way to enjoy the garden – and your life – a little more.
A Pool
Installing a swimming pool might be out of reach due to cost or the space you have available, but there are other options. There are small spas or hot tubs, for example, or temporary pools that are not as big as a standard one. You could even have a paddling pool for resting your feet in. Enjoying a splash in the water is something that will always improve your garden. If you don’t like the idea of getting wet yourself, but you still think water would improve things, what about a water feature? That can be the ideal way to make your garden a relaxing, tranquil space.
Grow Your Own
If you want to make your garden work for you rather than simply being a place to have fun, then you could think about growing your own fruit and vegetables. Preparing the ground is the hardest part, but once that is done, you can sow your seeds and keep them watered and hopefully, within a few months or even weeks, you will start to see the produce you have planted come through. There is something so wonderful about picking your own ingredients from the garden and using them to cook with, and they always seem to taste a lot better too.
If you have lots, you could even give them away to neighbours, or make jams and chutneys with them. Some can be frozen for use later in the year.
|
