Make Your Garden Space Count This Year

Gardens and outdoor spaces have long been recognised as invaluable to our mental and physical health. Whatever the size of your outside patch, you can convert it into a sanctuary which enhances your well-being every day, while also potentially significantly adding to the value of your property. And that’s particularly the case if you may be selling up sometime soon.

So think of your bit of land as an extension of your indoor space. Before deciding how to revamp it, have a good think about how you most want to use your garden. Will it be somewhere to eat, relax, play, work or entertain in?

Next, decide whether you’re happy with the existing structure. Could a landscape gardener either enhance the planting you already have in place or undertake some bigger projects to improve the space?

Think about everything you will need – whether that’s lighting, shade, a dining area, somewhere to work or a compost bin, and how the different elements could come together.

Consider how you can fill your garden with plants and flowers – including container pots if space is limited – so that it offers interest and colour all year round. Another idea is to plant a wildflower meadow to encourage butterflies and bees. Or how about creating a vegetable patch?

Bricking it

Another option is to assess how a wall could transform your garden. If it’s built well, it could enhance security and define separate areas or zones. A wall can also add texture and colour and a different height. You also get protection from the elements. So talk to your landscape designer about garden brickwork.

Teak memorial benches

This is another idea, that you may not have considered previously. Memorial benches are often installed in public places, but can also go in private gardens to commemorate the life of a loved one.

They provide a spot for quiet reflection, and mark a life that has been lived; you can add a plaque to your bench if you wish. Many find it hugely comforting to remember someone in this way.

Teak is a particularly good choice for a piece like this because this timber is so durable and sustainable, requiring little in the way of maintenance, due to the natural oils protecting the wood. You don’t need sealants, finishes and the like. And most people prefer to let their teak benches weather naturally, as the colour changes naturally from a honeyed gold to an elegant silvery grey, meaning the furniture stays looking smart and stylish. So no wonder teak memorial benches are so popular.

Choose Grade A or AB heartwood from the innermost, and therefore best, part of the tree. This has a uniform colour and a surface that looks almost shiny. (It also has a higher oil content than other types of teak.)

In summary, being outside is good for the mind, body and soul. With some attentive planning, you can make even a small outdoor space a beautiful, hardworking extension of your home that will make a significant contribution to your life and well-being for years. So make 2025 the year of your garden!

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