3 Tips For Improving Your Garden This Year
In the depths of winter, we do not tend to focus much on our gardens. It is dark, cold and wet out there, and very often, snow-covered. The beautiful thing about gardens though, is that even without our attention, there are always stirrings out there. With spring around the corner, your garden will be getting ready to burst into life. Which makes now the perfect time for us to share 3 tips for improving your garden this year, giving you a few weeks to start making your plans and preparations.
Image Pixabay – Pixabay License
Pay attention to the structure
The first thing worth doing is paying attention to the structure of your garden. You can make a real impact by tidying this up or changing it.
Repair or replace any broken fencing, or perhaps you could give the fences a new color. Changing old brown fences into bright greens, or purples or blacks if you are feeling bold, can really change the look of your garden and won’t cost more than the paint a day’s work.
You could reshape the lawns, add new beds, cut down trees or add new pathways. It might just be that some of these things need a new lease of life, so you could use a commercial lawn service and The Local Tree Experts to improve your lawn and landscaping.
Weeds
It goes without saying; but weeds gotta GO!!! Check this site to identify and remove unwanted weeds.
Create interest for wildlife
It can be wonderful to turn your garden into a haven for wildlife. You will be helping your local ecosystem and it can be great fun to watch the wildlife as it comes and goes out there.
One of the best things that you can do is add some water to your garden. This might be a pond, but a birdbath or small water feature can also work. You will be providing habitats and water to drink for a wide range of creatures.
You can then build a mini-beast motel, to encourage insects to take up residence. Or perhaps you will add a bird table or a box for rodents to sleep in.
The types of grasses and shrubs that you plant can also attract certain types of wildlife, so if you are looking to attract a particular insect or bird, look into what you can plant to bring them into your garden.
Plant for your senses
Think of your garden as you would a room of your house. When you remodel that room, you think about the colors that you enjoy, the textures, the furnishings and the atmosphere that you want to create. You need to think about your garden design in the same way. Think about the colors you enjoy, the plants that you find aesthetically pleasing and the textures and scents that you like.
Do not worry if you are not very knowledgeable about plants, you know what you like, so concentrate on that. When you are out and about, make a note of plants that draw your attention, and look out for flowers with colors and shapes that you enjoy.
Plants normally come with a label advising you on where they are most likely to thrive and how to look after them, so follow those instructions and watch them bloom. You will have a garden that thrills your senses in no time.
13 Comments
heather
Great tips in this post and a few I am so going to try thanks for sharing. We are always up against the deer here.
Diane K. Brimmer
Wow I found something I haven’t commented on! I have four raised garden beds that help me more and more as I age. The grandkids use to love coming out and planting. Later they would come out and just pick what they liked to eat it while they were still there in the garden. The younger grandchildren don’t do that! I miss it! There is pride about something you have planted and get to harvest.
Connie Gruning
Diane, I would LOVE that! I would love Alice to come and garden but I will just continue to feed my 4 legged friends that come and eat what they want!! LOL
Kate Sarsfield
Winter in Ireland generally doesn’t include much snow so the work (i.e. the weeds) never stops!
Connie Gruning
Kate, Ireland is sounding better and better. We are expecting snow again tomorrow.
The snow came crashing off the roof today it was so LOUD I thought the front porch came down with it.
Rosie
These are good tips. I’d like to have a garden again. The last time I had access to a patch of ground, I did an herb garden. It was fun, although some gourmet critter ate my special order horseradish root!
Connie Gruning
Rosie, I’m looking forward to a little garden this year. This spring and summer will be the first time we won’t have workers around the house. I can not wait!!!!!!!
Tamra Phelps
When I get home, I want to plant some good heirloom tomatoes. I’ve been craving really good homegrown tomatoes, lol. I don’t care if people think I’m nuts, I think homegrown tomatoes are miles better.
Michele Soyer
Creating a garden that includes wildlife is a great tip…. they are part of your landscape…
Connie Gruning
Michelle,this is the first year that I will actually be able to work on my garden without having construction trampling through. I am SO excited!!
Shannon Holmes
Thank you for sharing all of these tips! I need to start gardening again.
Dana Rodriguez
These are all great tips. I wish we had a place for a garden but we live in a rental house. We do decorate with hanging plants on the front porch in the summer though.
Connie Gruning
Dana, I plan to bring home a new flower basket every week as soon as spring hits. With the deck finally done it’s going to be FABULOUS!!!!!!