How to keep your garden alive
When my husband and I lived in London we didn’t really have any outdoor space, so when we moved to Kent in 2015 we suddenly found ourselves responsible for a lovely little garden complete with two ponds (and fish), a patio and some lawn which was a bit of a challenge!
Luckily we have only had a few minor tragedies occur and today the garden still looks beautiful with its colourful flowers and foliage, but looking after a garden can be hard, so when online voucher code website My Voucher Codes got in touch with some top tips on how not to kill the plants in your garden I was keen to share my thoughts on their insights:
I think we all feel like we need a beautifully landscaped garden, something that Lancelot Capability Brown would be proud of, but you have to be realistic. Keeping it simple is the best way to go for effortless elegance, start with baby steps such as plotting a nice lawn or adding a decorative boarder rather than going all out and calling in the JCBS! Access to a garden is always key for all members of the family to be able to enjoy it and of course so you can water and tend to your plants without traipsing through undergrowth, plants in hard to reach areas are likely to be your last priority and may suffer.
Do you want to add some grass to your garden but are not sure if you can keep a lawn looking gloriously green? You might think that grass is easy to look after but you have to remember to cut it regularly, pull up weeds and of course water in the summer to stop it from drying out and ending up brown and ugly. If you don’t think you can handle this then why not look into artificial grass which will still give you a lovely look but requires lower maintenance? If you are going for AstroTurf or similar then try to make sure you have some nice wild flowers and enough real foliage so wildlife can still find a nice home in your garden.
When it comes to choosing plants for your garden it’s best to focus on low maintenance varieties if you’re concerned you will forget to tend to them. I have to admit that I have killed a few hydrangeas by forgetting to look after them but happily my magnolia seems to be doing ok, with new buds showing. Perennials are pretty easy to keep alive, plants like daffodils, snowdrops and scillas bring you joy every spring with minimal effort. Try potted plants for an easy life: they tend to be simple to look after and more mobile for garden design; how about adding some herbs to your garden for a real fresh treat in your summer salads? Forgetting you water your plants? There are a number of self-watering systems available which will mean you can sit back and relax and know your plants are getting the water they need.
Speaking about getting garden ready, Chris Reilly General Manager of MyVoucherCodes said: “Some of us are just born plant killers, but fear not, it doesn’t always have to be the case. Simple hacks can make any of us green fingered. Our guide is designed for those of us who are novice gardeners. As we head towards better weather we want to be able to get out and enjoy a nice garden, not a jungle.”
I have to admit that I am by no means green fingered and prefer to put a plant in the garden and leave it to fend for itself – although I do remember to water them when we get some summer heat. What are your top tips for having a beautiful garden?
