Garden looking tired? Before investing in plants and shrubs and all things flowering, why not stand back and survey your garden first?

It may be that you’re looking in the wrong place for an answer to why it’s looking so tired.

Maybe the attention you’re willing to give it should be focused on hard landscaping rather than soft landscaping. It’s amazing what a new fence or path can do to enhance a garden landscape – and that area set aside as a patio could become an inspiration, with a little imagination of course!

So here are a few tips to help you rejuvenate a tired garden:

1) As previously mentioned, stand back and survey your landscape. What are the negatives you can see? If the negatives are predominantly plant-based then ignore all further advice, get on down to your local garden centre and buy replacements of your choice (along with suitable planting material and food to nurture them). But if the negatives are predominantly structural, then read-on.

2) The basic structural elements that make up your garden are its very backbone. Without them your garden would have no definition. The fence defines your garden’s boundaries, the path defines the route through it, the patio defines the recreational area and the shed defines the storage area. Other structural elements are often brought into play too – to embellish those basic ones. For example, a gazebo would define a seating and reflection area, whilst a pond would define a wet landscaping area. Knowing these elements and their importance shows an appreciation of garden structure.

3) With your basic structural elements fully accounted for (and fully appreciated), take a close look at each one in turn and check for signs of wear and tear. Remember, these are the elements that will create the first impression to fresh eyes. Is the fence in good condition? What about the path and/or patio area – are they ok too? And the shed, would it look better with some attention?

4) You should now have a list of ‘to do’s’, unless of course your basic structural elements are all totally sound. Now divide your list into two parts, with maintenance and repair tasks in part one and replacement tasks in part two. This will help you to create a plan of action. Part one tasks should be attended to as soon as possible – especially in the spring and summer seasons when the weather will be on your side. Part two tasks again should be attended to soon as possible, but realistically you’re going to want to budget for those.

5) Get quotations for those part two tasks, who knows, the work may not be as expensive as you think – and far better to have accurate costs available for when you want to make a start. And if your part two tasks are mounting up, why not schedule them for attention, maybe one or two per season until all have been accounted for.

6) Adhering to all of the above advice will rejuvenate your tired garden, turning it from an area of neglect into an area of beauty, one that will become a real eye-catcher – and a sound investment for the future.

For more information about garden rejuvenation give Simons Landscaping a call on 01508 470674, or email us at [email protected] – for some no-obligation advice and assistance.