When it comes to home improvement projects, how often do you think about your garden? How often does your mind turn to improving the way it looks and/or works, and how much use you could get out of it if the lawn was just a little greener? Probably a lot! But when it comes to actually tackling the job, the task just seems a bit too hard, doesn’t it?
However, there’s a lot you can do to break the garden job down into manageable pieces, and that’s what this post is here to help with. Being able to create a garden paradise entirely on your own doesn’t have to be impossible, and there’s always something small to start with that’ll spiral onwards until the wild jungle out there has been completely tamed!
Make Liberal Use of Mulch
Mulch is one of the most important products you could ever spread on your garden. Why? Because it’s so good for controlling weeds and other soil problems! And if you want to set up a paradise garden, you’re going to need nature’s help. And mulch can be made out of pretty much anything, from tree bark to plant cuttings to old compost that’s broken down to just a bit of old rubber. So if you think you don’t have any mulch anywhere to make use of, think again!
When you’re designing the layout of your paradise garden, think about where you want to have the lawn, as well any walkways and/or side gardens that feature plenty of rocks and wood shavings – basically anywhere that a weed is likely to pop out of. Because before you put these places together, you’ll want to weed them and then spread a thick layer of mulch down on them. Simply put, once you’ve ripped out any weeds you see, use the mulch mixture to prevent them from coming back, and then build on top of this weed-free foundation.
Paint Your Plant Beds
If you want your garden to look a little more luxurious, think about painting the plant beds you’ve got laid out. Whether you built the frames yourself or bought them from a garden centre, you can get any colour paint you like to give them a bit of lift!
But first of all, make sure you pick the right type of paint; you don’t want any harmful chemicals to be around all the plants out there, so check for toxic ingredients on the cans. And remember, it’s always best to use a water based solution that’ll be easy to wipe off if need be.
It’s also a good idea to use a liner to keep the paint from touching the soil at all. You can buy a bit of landscape fabric at most garden centres as well, and this is best for preventing a chemical (including things like weed killers) from leaking out into the garden at large.
Put a Deck Together
If you want to really get stuck into DIY garden skills, why not build a deck of your own? It’ll certainly be more budget-friendly than hiring a professional, and you’ll be able to sit on it and sip some fresh lemonade knowing just how hard you’ve worked! But where do you start? Well, it’s best to measure out your space, decide what kind of deck you want, and then collect together your tools and materials. One of the best materials to use here is Timber Decking – it’s natural, durable, and easy to put together, even if you’re not good with a saw.
Then you’re going to have to prepare your site; measure, set up lines, clear it out (cut and remove turf or any other debris), and then set down a surface level. A lot of people tend to opt for shingles or pebbles here, but even just packed soil and a bit of gravel can do wonders for your needs. Then it’s time to learn how to cut your decking! You can find a great tutorial for doing so right here – just make sure you’re wearing the right safety gear as you handle the tools.
And once you’re sure about your cut measurements, make sure you know the process to follow. You’ll want to lay out and put the frame together first, including securing the joists at each corner, before laying anything on top. Make sure the foundation is safe and stable, and you’ll have an easy time getting the decking on top, alongside any furniture or plants you want to add.
Embrace Your Garden’s Natural Levels
It’s an unfortunate reality that we have to work with sloping levels of ground. As such, some parts of your garden are going to be higher or lower than others, and even a bit more lumpy and bumpy than other parts of the ground. Now, you could take your time to level these out and make them flatter, but that’s a lot of effort! It’s much easier to simply embrace these natural differences and then work with them.
As a result, your paradise garden is going to have different levels to it, but that’ll give it a lot more dimension and make it look much more interesting. If the back of your garden is lower than the other, this could be a great place to build your deck and/or patio, as it’ll make a great vantage point for laying out furniture.
However, this could be a good place to put raised beds, seeing as the sun exposure would be greater than anywhere else. Or you could build a water feature that incorporates the height differences, and have your very own fountain tinkling away in the backyard! You can go very ambitious here, and your garden will look so much better as a result.
If you want a garden paradise of your own, make sure you keep tips like those above in mind. It might be hard work, but you’ll be left with a beautiful outdoor retreat.
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