Whether you’re an avid outdoorsman or more of a homebody, humans were made to get outside. Because of this, regardless of your lifestyle, spending time outside can work wonders for your health. You’ll be happier, sleep better, feel more energized, and have less anxiety, just to name a few of the perks.
That said, it can be tough to get outside if you feel like you have nothing to do out there. That’s why you need an outdoor hobby! And there’s no better activity that gets you in the great outdoors than designing and building your perfect garden.
Gardening provides a multitude of benefits to you and your health, on top of those you’ll be getting from being outside ask Thousand Oaks garden and tree experts.
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. Listed below are a few tips and garden ideas to create the ultimate outdoor oasis at your own home.
Choose Your Color Palette and Style
Though you still have some steps to take before you can start planting, it’s a good idea to pick your color palette and style first. You can start to envision how your garden will look, and get excited about the finished product. You’ll also be able to shop more efficiently, as you’ll know exactly what you’re looking for.
Because flowers and other greenery come in a wide variety of colors and tones, you can feel free to let your imagination run wild when picking your palette. Do you like the idea of a pastel paradise? A burst of yellow and green? A romantic red hideaway?
It’s your garden, and your outdoor space, pick as many colors as you want!
As for style, you can be as particular or as free form as you please. But it’s never a bad idea to have a direction. Do you want your garden to appear polished and formal or casual and cottage quaint? There’s no wrong answer here, it’s all up to you.
Study Your Space
The next step is to ensure that you know the space in which your garden will be planted like the back of your hand. Different plants have different requirements, and you need to know what your yard can provide and what it can’t. Without this step, you risk losing all of your plants before you can enjoy them.
How much sunlight does your garden space get? Is it sunny in the morning or the afternoon? Do certain spaces get more sun than others?
Study your outdoor space and take note of how many hours a day each area is in direct sun, partial shade, and full shade. Here are the various plant requirements, so you can begin thinking about which types would work in which areas:
- Full-sun plants: 6 hours or more of sun
- Partial-shade plants: 3-6 hours of sun
- Shade-tolerant plants: 2-3 hours of direct light or constant filtered light
Draw It Out
Grab your graph paper or your tablet or computer, it’s time to draw out your garden. Don’t worry if you’re not the best artist, this is for your reference only. As long as you can tell what everything is, you’re good to go.
If you don’t have exact measurements of your yard on hand, consider taking them. Knowing how much space you have to work with in each area of your garden will be beneficial during this process. If you’re not working on a computer or tablet, it’s best to use a pencil to allow for easy adjustments.
Include everything that you want in your outdoor space in your drawing. What does your dream garden include? Oversized pots? Rows of planter boxes? Fruit trees and shrubs? Draw everything as close to scale as possible.
Carve Out Your Pathways
When you’re drawing all of your flowers, pots, and planters, don’t forget to include your pathways as well. Unless your garden will be confined to the edges of your yard or within your patio space, a pathway makes an excellent addition.
Your chosen style will help you choose the shade and layout of your paving. For example, if you’re going for a charming cottage garden, grey stone laid in a random pattern will help you achieve that look. For a more chic, modern look, you’ll want to go with white or silver paving in a neat design.
Take your color palette into consideration as well. If you plan to fill your garden with purple and white blooms, grey stone is a great choice. For those planning with pastels, consider golden paving that will complement the soft tones of the flowers.
Include Seating and Other Furniture
Picture yourself getting a few minutes of relaxation in your garden. You’re sitting with a cup of tea, enjoying a new book or your favorite album. Where are you sitting? What are you sitting on? Is there a table in front of you, or are you lounging in a swing seat?
If you have guests often, you might want to make room for a complete outdoor dining area or a fire pit with seating. Or, if you’d rather relax in your garden alone, perhaps you’d prefer a simple sun lounger amidst the blooms.
While you’re thinking about furniture, consider any pots and planters you want to add around your seating area. You’ll need to leave space for them too. Take a look at https://potsplantersandmore.com/fiberglass-planters to get an idea of sizes and shapes you might want to include.
Start Building Your Perfect Garden Today
Like any skill, gardening takes practice and patience. And though building your perfect garden will take time, and you might make a mistake here and there, the journey is too enjoyable to pass up.
You’ll find that you feel better on a day-to-day basis in both your mind and your body. Not to mention, you’ll have a gorgeous garden right outside your window, ready to be admired and explored.
Looking for more information on creating the ultimate outdoor space? Be sure to check out our blog!
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