6 Ways to Improve Your Outside Space this Summer

Many of us have much more time than usual to tend to our gardens, and with the summer ahead it is the ideal time to make some improvements. When it comes to home design and decorating, all too often our gardens are afterthoughts. We might plant a few flowers or put out some garden ornaments, but most of us do not think about the garden as a living space. With the right design, your garden can become another room of your home where you can relax, entertain guests and spend time with your family. Here are 6 ways to improve your outside space this summer. 

Upgrade your boundaries

Often the boundaries around our gardens can have a huge impact on the overall aesthetic of the space, so if you have fallen or broken fences or crumbling walls, this should be your first project. You do not necessarily have to replace your boundaries, but fixed and newly painted fences or cladding on walls can give them a whole lease of life. 

Plant flowers as borders 

To separate different areas of your garden, flowers planted as garden borders provide colours, texture and personality to a garden. There is almost no limit the number of flowers you could plant, but it’s usually best to research the maintenance they require, when they are in bloom, the type of soil they are suited to and whether they do best in sunlight or shade. 

Consider adding trees or shrubs

Depending on the size of your garden, you might want to add a tree or shrub as a focal point. They can provide a wonderful canopied area and, if you choose a fruiting tree, a wonderful source of food. Consider how the tree will change throughout the seasons before making your choice. The Woodland Trust has some useful information about possible British trees you could plant in your garden. 

Build a summer house

More and more people are building garden summer houses in their outdoor spaces. These beautiful structures are ideal for relaxing in, entertaining guests, as a hobby room or garden storage. Some people even transform them into home offices or guest accommodation. 

Create an eating area

Whether you are planning on growing your own fruit, vegetables or herbs or like to host a barbeque, eating in the garden is a wonderful way to spend a summer afternoon. From garden dining tables and chairs to wood-fired pizza ovens, there is a wide range of al fresco dining options to choose from.  

Encourage the wildlife

If you would like to see life thriving in your garden, you should plant flowers, trees and shrubs which will entice the birds, bees and butterflies (and possibly squirrels and hedgehogs). Having solid hedges, wildflowers, bird feeders and a birdhouse are simple ways to share your garden with some wonderful creatures. 

A water feature such as a pond, waterfall or even a birdbath is a great attraction for birds and insects (possibly even frogs) and, if you have running water, it can also bring a relaxing sound to the garden. 

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