A curious aspect of gardening and landscaping, particularly around London and Surrey, is that so much of our focus is on making the most of the spring and summer, with the other half of the year a time when we mostly allow gardens to naturally decay in time to be reborn.
Whilst there is always something to do to take care of a garden every month of the year, there is a much greater focus on looking ahead rather than making the most of the moment.
Is it possible to keep your garden looking beautiful all year round? There is, but it takes a very intentional approach to garden design, making the most of evergreens and wildflowers, and resisting certain gardening conventions that can cause plants and lawns to die off prematurely.
Which Evergreen Plants Should You Use In Your Garden?
The backbone of a year-round garden isevergreen plants, which, despite the name, come in a wide range of colours, shades and textures.
In particular, whilst the most common types of evergreen plants are the likes of fir trees and holly plants, vibrant lavender and beautifully brightcamellia flowers bring a touch of colour to your garden all year round.
How Do You Time Your Blooming Season?
Whilst evergreen plants should be a huge part of your evergreen garden, you can also have distinct growing seasons that keep your garden looking fresh and new during the different seasons.
Pair spring bulbs and summer flowers with plants that begin to grow in early autumn and winter plants designed tolook beautiful even during cold snaps.
Which Trees Should You Plant In A Year-Round Garden?
Yourchoice of trees is vital to ensuring that your garden maintains its vibrancy, and your choice of tree should ultimately maintain as much of its lustre as possible all year round.
Whilst an evergreen tree such as a fir is certainly an option, choosing an ornamental tree which looks beautiful regardless of its foliage can be even better at times, particularly if you plan torewild your garden and provide the perfect habitat for nurturing wild animals.
Do You Need To Install Outdoor Lighting?
If you intend to use your garden during seasons when the days are short and the nights are long, then you need to install a set of lights to provide not only adequate light for you to see but also add a vibrant ambience to your outdoor spaces.
Even if you are not intending to make a garden designed for year-round greenery, outdoor solar lighting is a must if you plan on using it at all during the darker months of the year.
Do You Need To Use Mulch All Year Round?
One of the most important tools for keeping your garden green, neat and well-kept all year round ismulch.
It helps to keep moisture in the soil during hot weather but stops plants from getting waterlogged during rainstorms. It also keeps soil at the right temperature to encourage growth, improves its mineral content and looks fantastic.