Planning for Luxury in your Summer Garden

Once winter is over and summer is on its way, we plan on spending more and more time out in our garden – but after months of frost, rain and neglect, the garden can look tired and run-down. It’s definitely time for a makeover, and what better way than by bringing a touch of luxury into your summer garden?

Just like the rest of the home, a garden needs to be maintained and kept neat and tidy. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with a little wilderness creeping in here and there, but it ought to be contained and managed. A summer garden is a place to enjoy, one’s own plot of land to relax and hang out in, whether with friends or family.

A great design

Ever wondered how to get that landscaped look without calling on the services of professional gardeners? It’s all in a great design that controls the greenery without flattening it, which allows for a bright and vivacious garden that still manages to look neat and well-maintained. It doesn’t matter if your summer garden is a small backyard or half a country estate: the key is in marking out different areas (lawn, patio, etc.) and both separating and combining them with great features such as flowerbeds, bushes, and even water features.

Water features really make a statement and are nowhere near as complicated to install or maintain as one might first imagine. Ponds can be hazardous with small children in the home (and can also be hard to keep clean) but less high-maintenance options that look super-sophisticated include fountains and waterfalls that also provide the soothing sound of running water.

Plant pots and beds

Flowers and plants look beautiful in a summer garden, bringing bursts of color and vitality to the area from Easter onwards, but foliage does has a tendency to spread – or get swallowed up by weeds. One way to contain greenery is by making beds. Plan and mark out a defined area for flowers – or a herb garden for some fantastic aromas – and enclose it with edging stones. Or make your life even easier by using plant pots to mark the edge of lawns, patios and terraced areas.

Patios for a Summer Garden

Patios are a great way to make a garden look great and are so easy to maintain. They also serve a practical purpose – a play area for kids, a spot for outside dining, summer barbecues, etc. These days, many people make their gardens more accessible with terrace doors opening directly onto the patio, and there are plenty of home decor and furniture stores offering a wide selection of lovely patio furniture that will make the space an extension of your living room.

A table and chair set is a patio must for anyone planning a couple of summer garden parties, but why stop there? Lounge furniture brings the living space outside for ultimate summer relaxation, and outdoor sofas, armchairs or even a hammock are both practical and attractive. You might want to consider covering the terrace or purchasing a marquee in case of rain.