Back gardens are our chance to build ourselves a sanctuary. To have somewhere where we can escape to when we need a bit of alone time or just want to be outdoors. All too often, however, back gardens are left neglected. Concerns over the money or time it takes to really maintain a garden can make it difficult to get started on creating your own little bit of paradise. But it’s still possible to make the most out of a back garden (no matter the size) in a cheap and low-maintenance fashion so that you have a space that you can really enjoy. Read through our three top tips to help you make the most of your back garden.
1. Use the walls
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The best gardens have plenty of plants. A mix of different flowers creates something that is pleasing to all the senses. Plus, it’s great for wildlife (especially bees) who need flowers to thrive. The great news is that, no matter how small your garden is, there is plenty of room to grow flowers if you start to think about planting upwards. Make use of any walls that you have by hanging planters on them and putting in some beautiful flowers. If money is an issue, you can always raid charity shops or second-hand stores to find pots.
You could even grow climbing plants, such as clematis or ivy, to really cover the walls and create a sense of privacy. Climbers are great for creating something that is visually interesting in your garden with minimal fuss. The plants tend to be cheap and low-maintenance so they should really fit into your busy lifestyle.
2. Invite wildlife in
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Even small back gardens can offer a haven to wildlife. Why not think about adding in some features to help create a garden that your local wildlife will love? You could add bat boxes or nesting boxes for birds, as well as add in a feeder or two to attract different types of birds into your garden. You could even use a recycled container to create a pond – the wildlife will love the water that you provide for them.
Many people these days are beginning to make decisions that are great for the planet. Statistics show, for example, that over 71% of shoppers take the environmental impact of their shopping choices into consideration when doing the grocery shop. It makes sense, therefore to take environmental impact into consideration when designing your back garden, too.
Once you start to get creative with ways to minimize your carbon footprint, you can begin to make the most of every little aspect of your garden, from composting worms food to installing a water tank that captures the rainfall so you can use it to water the plants. And when you find that the wildlife is naturally drawn to your garden based on what you put out there, you can make sure they truly get the most from your garden, especially if you live in an area that doesn’t have much woodland or you are in a very urban area.
Looking after the wildlife is certainly the right choice for the environment and it will also make your garden extremely inviting.
3. Forgo the lawn
If you don’t have children who want to play outside you could consider forgoing the lawn so that you have more space to grow flowers. It might be that you need to spend a bit of money on laying a path and installing flower beds, but you won’t have the hassle of maintaining your lawn on a weekly basis throughout the summer months. You could sow wildflowers in at least one of the flower beds that you will have room for if you give up your lawn – and increase your positive impact on the environment at the same time.