THE ULTIMATE SUMMER GARDEN

try your hand at creating a garden that you can get back from, try planting herbs in small pots that you can use to spruce up a dish. Vegetables like potatoes or carrots can easily be grown in buckets while strawberries thrive grown in hanging baskets or window boxes.

Kitchens:

Al fresco dining is also a big tick in any garden during the summer months, especially for entertaining. BBQ’s, pizza ovens and wood-fired grills are great garden additions, especially when incorporated into a more permanent kitchen setting. Having a sink or even a wine cooler will save hosts dashing inside allowing interrupted time to be spent with family and friends. When paired with a pergola or a parasol and rustic garden furniture an outside kitchen can totally transform you away from the city to somewhere further afield. Fire pits and fire chimneys are also ideal for smaller spaces and help create a nice focal point.

Patios:

A smart decking or paved area accessorised with premium teak furniture or a smart bistro set will add a good deal of appeal to a garden. Having a hard surface will not only keep your feet clean and dry, it provides a level surface for your garden furniture to sit on, stopping them from wobbling. Accessorising your patio with festoon lights will create a cosy atmosphere, as will outdoor rugs, cushions and blankets, while potted plants will help bring scents, texture and colour to a space. A wide parasol will look lovely in a courtyard while a wisteria-clad pergola will provide the wow-factor over a larger patio.

Grass:

A well-manicured and maintained lawn will help your garden look the part this summer. Keeping on top of any ‘bald patches’ and weeding will keep your garden looking neat and tidy as well as making a good first impression. For properties that have a paved courtyard or a small concrete balcony, artificial turf is a sure way to inject some greenery into a space. Although best to check with a landlord if you’re renting, this splash of colour can help draw the eye from your interior to the exterior of your home, plus it’s evergreen and you won’t require a lawnmower.

Pools:

Pools are a little “horses for courses” but can be a good selling point for larger houses. They can take up a fair amount of space and so the ones that I have seen often have covers or boards placed over them to make space for parties and entertaining.

Garden accessories:

Big or small, our gardens can be accessorised to reflect our individual personalities. Hammocks can be a great addition to a garden of any size and can be put up even in courtyard gardens, creating a relaxing nook and an ideal spot to enjoy the sun or some dappled shade. Mirrors are also a great way to create the illusion of extra space by ‘doubling up’ your garden. They can also draw in and reflect light into a space, ideal for city balconies.