Renovations – in the garden
The renovation of period properties doesn’t end with the building work. Getting the period feel just right means proper garden planning too. Whether you want to recreate the authentic garden design in keeping with the period of your house, or create your own practical garden plans to suit your more modern family needs, we’ve compiled a guide to help you get the most from your new garden space.
The first step is to draw up a plan. As with home renovations, a little preparation goes a long way, so before you go planting anything, get out a pen and paper. Make a list of everything that you want from your garden and start from there. You can section your garden off into areas if you like – creating a working garden area for fruit, vegetables and herbs for example, or a separate play area for children, or a relaxation area for grown ups.
Drawing up a plan also allows you to work out any problems on paper before you get to work. This will save you the time and hassle that can come with encountering a problem mid-way through your project.
One of the most important points to remember is who will be using your garden and not what you will be planting in your space. Creating a beautiful and delicate floral display is all well and good, but not if it means that your garden is in accessible to your children and pets.
If you have children and want to include a water feature in your plans, then a pond may not be the best idea as these can be dangerous, especially where small children are concerned. There are plenty of other water feature alternatives, so consider a pebble pond, small fountain, or any water feature that doesn’t require a water basin.
Before you go choosing your plants, it’s wise to carry out some analysis of the soil in your garden, as well as some research into your local climate. This will help you to choose plants that are best suited to your soil conditions so that your garden will flourish.
It’s also a good idea to set yourself a budget and some time restraints. This will help you to keep costs down and let you work out realistically how much time you need to spend on the work.
Then it’s on to the dirty work. By setting out your hard features first – like decking, patios, paths and fences, it’ll make it easier to then carry out the rest of the work, like settling in your new plants and laying your lawn.
The final step will be accessorizing - from garden lights, to decorative ornaments, barbecues to garden furniture, you can have fun creating the kind of garden setting that’s right for you. Remember to include these items in your home insurance policy as they can be costly to replace in the event of theft. Many home insurers will now allow you to add garden items to your policy, with insurers like Kwik Fit Insurance allowing you to add up to £500 worth of garden item cover when you purchase their home insurance.