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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