We all love a nice garden, don’t we?

Well, it’s better to have something than nothing… If you’ve a neglected outdoors space and you want to do something with it, how can you get started with re-designing your space to make it work for you? This is going to depend on a series of factors that you may not have thought about before embarking on the journey to getting a new garden.

If that’s the case for you, just make sure you think about your local environment (and how your garden fits into it), your personal preferences, the reality of your life and your current garden situation. Here are these key considerations in more detail:

YOUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

Ideally, your garden should fit in seamlessly with the environment around it. This is for your own benefit, as well as that of your neighbours and the ecosystem. When we bring in plants that are not from our local area, they compete with other plants for resources which can be detrimental in the long-term, not to mention the fact that they are not always compatible with local wildlife. These are important considerations.

It’s also good to think about your neighbourhood and what your neighbour’s gardens look like. We all like to stand out of course, but you want to stand out for the right reasons. This is also a good thing to think about if you are going to be selling your house at any point in the future. A nice garden is an amazing asset to have, and will boost your property value, especially if it’s comparable to your neighbours’ gardens.

YOUR PERSONAL PREFERENCES

This is the most straightforward element to your new garden. What do you want out of it? If you haven’t got a very clear idea about what you want or need, you’re never going to get it. There are many configurations which offer different benefits. Do you want a large space for pets and/or children to run around with? Or is it important for you to have a seating area to eat and entertain?

Each family has different requirements and needs, so figure these out before anything else. Look at your life, and how your new garden will fit into it. Do you enjoy tending to your garden, or would you rather it be more low-maintenance? What kind of garden work do you prefer? Your new garden should cater to your preferences. If you’re not sure how these could translate into garden design, talking to a gardener will help you to clarify what you want.

YOUR LIFE-RELATED REALITIES

We all have dreams, but there are some inescapable realities we must face, which might keep us from achieving them. Perhaps you can change them but it’s good to be aware of your current situation. For instance, what is your budget? How big is your garden? What does your daily routine look like? All of these will have an impact on your garden redesign project.

If your budget is too small for what you want, think about saving some extra money to pay for the features you want. Otherwise, you might need to rethink your garden ideas. If size is an issue, you may have to re-think the configuration of your garden entirely to make sure you get what you want.

YOUR CURRENT GARDEN

Your redesign costs and timeframe will depend on the state of your current garden. If you have piles of rubbish, they will need to be removed first. You can get your gardener to do this (garden design is also something they can help you out with) for you along with the other tasks they’re helping you out with.

If your garden is very overgrown, it’s going to take you more time to turn it into what you want. So making a plan for your new garden depends on all of these things. If you’re unsure about any of this, ask an expert. Gardeners can give you a good place to start or guide you through the whole process.