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Garden Makeover
5 January
2004
There is a whole new gardening year ahead and
lots more resolutions to break. This year, go
mad and treat yourself, the neighbours and the
garden to a face lift. Love them or hate them
garden makeovers were interesting to watch.
Where will the decking be this week? What will
they paint blue? Will Charlie finally get the
go ahead to make a proper sized water feature.
It was amazing how much could be accomplished
in a small space over a few days.
This is the secret to success. Make changes
which won't take all year to achieve. By tackling
the garden in manageable portions it won't matter
if there is a part out of action for a short
time.
If there is a large area of grass it will benefit
from a few features  providing
the ability to cut it with a rid-on mower isn't
hindered. A line stepping tone, hexagon slabs
set flush with the grass will create interest.
Space them at a sensible distance apart for
walking. Remove the sod and bed them in mortar.
Ann island bed of low growing shrubs shaped
in a figure eight or kidney shaped in the lawn
will add colour, interest and height. If space
allows plant a specimen tree, off centre, in
a bed. Landscape fabric and bark mulch the surface
for weed control. The stepping stone path could
travel through the planted bed.
 Perhaps
the vegetable garden or other area has falllen
into neglect. A cottage garden planting scheme
would transform the site and supply cut flowers
for home use for most of the year. Red hot pokers,
delphiniums, rose, hollyhocks, sweet pea, asters
and sweet William will all make a riot of summer
colour with bulbs for spring and autumn.
Creating a pond or patio may be a bit ambitious
but finding the space allows you to consider
the possibilities.
Your own small woodland area is a joy to have.
It need not be large to be enjoyable. A path
surfaced with bark mulch wandering through close
planted trees with honeysuckle trailing from
the branches is bliss. A spring carpet of bluebells,
snowdrops, wood anemones and aconites is easily
achieved. In summer, golden leafed cornus, weigela
and sambucus will light up shady corners. In
autumn, a mat of hardy cyclamen will shorten
the winter.
Birch,
alder, beech, poplar, sorbus and wild cherry
area all quick growing and result in a colourful
mixture.
Start
now and you will have a makeover for spring.
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