When you star getting the urge to re-design your garden or you want to get into serious landscaping then one of the questions you have to ask yourself is when do you want the garden to look at its best? The obvious answer is summer, but if you really think about it, do you not want it to look beautiful all year round? You may be thinking that it is not possible since winter is gloomy and cold and most plants do not look good during the winter months. And there is truth in that, but remember that there are a variety of plants that you can use that looks good during different times of the year.

By doing proper planning and studying the different plants you can use you will be able to have a garden that looks great all year round. To do this properly there is a couple of steps you should take. Here is a summary of what you should be doing before you start landscaping your garden for an all year round head turner.

1. Find out what type of soil is currently in your garden. This is important, as there are certain plants, shrubs and trees that only grow in specific types of soils. It is not a huge problem if you want to plant something that requires a different type of soil as that area can undergo a partial soil change to accommodate the plant. But you want to be aware of it before planting. We can provide you with the soil, the complete set up or a partial service.
2. Study the plant, shrub and tree types that will grow in your soil type as well as your regional weather conditions. While studying the plants you will also see in what seasons the look best, bloom or flower. Start making a shortlist of everything you are interested in.
3. Once you have a shortlist, make your final selection. Make sure that you get a well-balanced selection that will keep your garden looking good all year round. Keep notes on each plant, shrub or tree in your final selection like whether it needs shade or direct sunlight, watering tips and even tips for planting. The more information you have on each one, the more successful your venture will be.
4. Now you can start planning your garden. It is important to ensure that you do not plant everything that will bloom or flower at the same time, together. So ultimately you want to go for a staggered approach that allows your garden to look great all over, throughout all the seasons.
5. Once you have done your final planning you can start sourcing suppliers for your plants. When you buy, it would work better if you buy the biggest pieces first, then working to the smaller elements. Also make sure that you follow the planting and watering instructions to keep your plants happy.
6. Remember that if you are adding structures like ponds, gazebos or water features that you need to plan it together with your other plants. You do not want to end up in a situation where you want to put a big tree close to a pond that you installed the previous day, and then have to remove the pond’s foundations to get the tree into position.

And most importantly, if you are ever in doubt, consult a professional. We are trained and educated and have a passion for what we do. Look out for my future blogs in which I will start going into much more detail.