Whether you’ve just purchased a new home or have areas in your yard that you want to improve and make greener, you may want to consider sod prices per square foot as opposed to the price of seeding the lawn yourself.  It’s a matter of time and convenience in both cases.  On the one hand, sod is more expensive than seeding, but you get to look at an instant lawn as soon as it has been put in place.  While the instant lawn may be convenient, it can be costly, running anywhere between $0.50 – $1.00 per square foot and you then have to pay for the installation.  You have to consider that in both cases, the ground needs to be prepared so that it is level and rock and weed free.

Sod versus Seed

Sod can’t just be installed and left to fend for itself.  You need to water it constantly and keep an eye on it for the growth of fungus (evidenced by dead circular patches).  When purchasing sod, ensure that it is fresh.  It is best to have sod installed within a day of being harvested to ensure that it will root well.  While it is relatively easy for a homeowner to seed their own lawn, it’s best to have your sod installed by someone who offers professional gardening services.  Ironically, sod prefers areas with cold winters/hot summers or mild winters/hot summers.

Installation and Care

Installation of a sod lawn to enhance your garden decor can run into the hundreds of dollars, so when comparing that cost plus the cost of the sod itself to the price of seeding your own lawn, there is a lot to consider.  Seeding your own lawn will be less expensive, but will require the same amount of preparation and a lot of care and attention once the seed is sown.  A seeded lawn needs regular watering, but even with the best of care, can turn out patchy and you may not be satisfied.  Seed can be spread with special spreaders or through a hose that contains a special agent that helps keep the seed in place (protected from the elements like the wind).

Professional seeding (as opposed to DIY) is much less expensive than using a professional sod installation company.  One thing that is convenient about sod is that you can cut the pieces of sod to fit around things like your walkways, trees, garden fencing or flower beds.  When considering sod prices per square foot versus the cost of seeding your own lawn, you’ll also need to consider the convenience, simplicity and the time you have available to dedicate to the project.

photo by reinvented

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Garden netting, and fencing in general, came to life centuries ago when people living in fiefs were forced to separate their properties from the adjacent estates. It was also the wall adding defensive functions to the house surroundings and gardens were a privilege enjoyed by handful of people in mansions fenced with stones. Today’s houses, thanks God, do not need stone walls to protect us from covetous neighbours and barbarian tribes and garden fencing is largely a decorative attribute of a place to enjoy our deserved respite.

The Garden Is a Special Place

photo by SylviavBruggen

Most famous architects liked to design garden decor for gardens are special places within a real estate. And while patio paving and invariable garden pond remained relatively unchanged during the ages, garden netting evolved in form and shape while new materials and types of fencing appeared.

Presumably, you will never use barbed wire fence to fence in your garden with impenetrable enclosure. You will eventually need a pool fence circling your garden pond but you can hardly create cactus fence in the rainy British climate. Concrete fences, for their part, are extremely durable and replaced the ancient stone walls while a good designer can give them shapes and forms unimaginable to create using stone. Concrete also replaced stones as a material for patio paving allowing house owners to create flowing pathways.

Green is Always in Fashion

photo by PinkMoose

Green fence is among the inherited British traditions that make houses and gardens in the United Kingdom so unique. We can add that traditional hedge-row has much to do with fox hunting but that is another story. A green garden fencing is always a good idea and even synthetic materials can add unique charm to the garden you designed with all your love.

Picket fences are also popular among people living in the countryside, especially if the garden paling is painted in fresh and bright colours (remember Tom Sawyer). It is always a better idea to design your garden decor with green in mind rather than raise six feet concrete or stone fencing.

Green is always in fashion while live fencing will transform your garden netting into a natural extension of the garden.

You can express your soul in a live garden netting and let your inner man select live woody species that reflect your true character. Evergreen oak or chestnut, elm-tree or poplar, they all can add to your peace of mind being part of a live green garden fencing.

photo by yewenyi

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Cooking outdoors is a lot of fun as it provides entertainment for the whole family and friends, which is why outdoor kitchens are becoming such a rage! An outside cooking area can be as complex or as simple as you desire. Of course, it also depends on what one is willing to spend. If the budget is limited, you can opt for modular outdoor kitchens and continue adding more pieces as the budget allows. These units allow one to custom build a cooking area outside according to the individual needs and include everything from appliances and cabinets to outdoor grills and outdoor fireplaces or fire pits.
Besides the entertainment value, cooking outdoors has several benefits. One of the major benefits is that the air conditioning bill goes down. Cooking indoors makes the rooms hot, thereby forcing the air conditioning to work more and increase the bill. Also, there is less noise and chaos inside when the cooking is done outdoors. Finally, a well planned kitchen outside can even increase the value of a property, this is something we should be thinking about, especially if we are planning on selling in the future.

**Comfort Outdoors: the romantic style – Photo by the trial

Kitchen Blueprints

There are many outdoor kitchen ideas available which can be suitable for people with different needs. There are outdoor kitchens with trendy cooking surfaces, storage areas, refrigerators, sinks – even bars are possible. More and more people are taking their cooking outside as it gives them the opportunity to experience nature more closely, while enjoying cooking at the same time. Outdoor kitchen designs that blend in with the exterior of the house give the house a more spacious look and their easy maintenance makes them very appealing. An architect can help draw up the outdoor kitchen plans, or the main ideas can be searched for online.

Outdoor Kitchen with a Patio Garden

Cooking outdoors next to a well designed patio where everyone can sit to enjoy their meals, can enhance the outdoor eating experience even more. This is especially true when the garden decor is pleasing to look at. In the summer evenings, outdoor cooking brings the family together and provides some quality time while they are unwinding from the day’s happenings.

**Enjoying the view: the arquitectonic style – Photo by stirlingstoneworks

When thinking about designing the patio, a good idea is to ask the opinions of family members. When family members get to participate in coming up with patio ideas then they usually enjoy using it more. It’s good to know that there are many choices available when deciding what kind of garden furniture would be more suitable. There is resin patio furniture or outdoor wicker furniture; having both will allow each person to choose what they find most comfortable. Adding roll up awnings to a patio design means cooking can be done outside under shade during the day also. This extends the amount of time the family can spend outdoors, while keeping the indoors clean and tidy. Adding some strategic garden lighting can provide a more formal dining experience.

Cooking outdoors on a regular basis is becoming more and more common because it suits everyone’s needs. Whether it is a family spending time together, or a romantic evening under the stars with that special someone, or just hanging out with friends it provides the ideal environment. So, choose from the many outdoor kitchens designs, and get cooking!

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When one has a garden which is elevated or inclined, garden retaining wall ideas are a great way to keep it in place. In using a wall-ideas of what materials to use are varied. The main principles behind a retaining wall are the following: it should be strong and durable to withstand gravity and it should allow the outflow of water which collects in the garden.

There are different ideas for retaining wall and these all hold merit. However, one’s outdoor setting also has to be considered when envisioning building walls in the garden. Easy retaining wall ideas can be implemented if the homeowner is inspired enough to beautify and maximize his/her property.

Materials One Can Use

Stone and concrete are most commonly used for building walls. Construction of a retaining wall using these materials usually involves mortar. However, short landscaping walls may not have mortar. They may be made of concrete blocks or masonry units instead. There are many modern styles of these units which are often preformed for the ease of building and designing.

Wood is not the preferred material because it is prone to damage upon water exposure. It can also serve as the home for insects like termites or become the source of food for fungi. This makes it unable to withstand time. While it cannot be used as the wall’s basic material,  it can be used for decorating the wall.

Designs and Ideas

Building a wall which matches the garden decor is best for ensuring the unity of the wall with the rest of the garden. Retaining wall design ideas are varied. One such idea is to build the wall in tiers or steps. This design evens out the pressure on the wall and helps to make it more durable in the long-run. These tiers can then be used as raised flower beds, giving a natural feel to these garden additions.

An outdoor patio can also be built over land levelled by a retaining wall. A pavers ideas can be used to lay out a floor plan which is compatible and connected with the other parts of the house. With a good patio design, what is usually considered as an unusable space becomes optimised and adds value to one’s home.

When a retaining wall is used as garden fencing, its aesthetic value and functionality can be enhanced by outlaying it with bricks and adding engravings, wall plaques and signs.  This idea is often used in countries where hills and mountains are predominant. Additionally, multiple wall systems are used in the neighborhoods in these places to strengthen the structure of the people’s homes and prevent soil erosion and landslides.

These inexpensive retaining wall ideas can be used by the homeowner to enhance the structure of his/her property, maximize elevated spaces and add to the beauty of the home. In general, one can research on how to build a retaining wall in the internet or can refer to the local engineer or architect. The cost depends on the area which needs to be walled in, the material that is going to be used and the manual labor required. With a definite plan and a sufficient budget, a retaining wall can be built properly.

Photo bluekdesign **Courtesy of flickr.com

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Despite having done all the necessary reading and having watched all the TV programes on how to revamp and care for your garden decor, you will probably be looking through the yellow pages to find out what gardening services are available to you. We all want to bring the outside in and enjoy what nature has to offer and the rise of the TV gardener has upped our expectations and interest in our outside space. Low maintenance gardens can be constructed and obviously a small garden is much more manageable than a large rambling area however generally gardens do not care for themselves and will need a fair amount of input if they are inherited.

Research Locally

Research all gardening services to see what is on offer locally; it could be you require a specialist area such as a tree surgeon, or the local retired man who is a self taught gardener could be the solution you require to make sure your garden is well taken care of. The rewards of planting your seeds and going through the stages of transplanting seedlings and nurturing your garden to reap the harvest are many, but results take time. Patience and trial and error are more than often the best ways to learn so don’t be afraid to ask neighbours and friends for useful tips to get you going.

You will have ideas about what areas of your garden you can manage and what you feel you need a gardening service for, it could just be want the best organic fertilisers and weed and pest control for your vegetable patch and need advice and information.

Books

A great book for any organic gardener is Gwydion’s Moon Planting Guide. It is a fascinating and useful read for the organic gardener; showing how to plant and sow at the right time in the lunar cycle by making use of light and other factors to maximise effects for all crops and other plants. The book teaches a genuine and ancient skill that has a scientific basis.

Landscaping

It could be you require garden services for landscaping this is an area often best left to the professional landscaper. Remember when planning your garden design that you need to consider lots of things, light and shade being crucial to your planting strategy. Ongoing garden maintenance is an important factor, it may be worth spending a little more on the initial outlay to ensure that your garden is manageable once it is completed. Also don’t forget gardening products from compost or fertilisers to peat, you will need to feed and plant your garden if you want the best results. All these aspects of you garden should all be considered by garden service suppliers so do not be afraid to ask questions.

Lawn care in itself can be a whole area that requires VIP status, so when considering a large lawn area factor in prices for all the tools you require. It could be you are planning to treat yourself to a ride on mower, check out second hand versions as this may be a more affordable approach. You can also get grass cutting as part of the gardening services, particularly useful if you have a paddock or a wild overgrown lawn or meadow that is out of hand or has been neglected.

Photo by Randy Son Of Robert**Cortesy of flicr.com – Creative Commons

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Gardens ARE extensions of our homes. We must take care of our garden decor at all times as gardens have become over the decades an important part of our homes. There are all sorts of garden decorations for you to take into account; the best way is to create a theme and add accordingly – birdhouses, garden wall decor, benches, ponds, statues, etc – and yes, even one little flower in the corner of your lawn counts for that ultimate great look!! You must take care of your lawn as it should always look neat and tidy. If you own a large garden, why not try a ride on mower? A John Deere ride on lawn mower is one worth checking out.

Let’s have a look at some of the most popular themes:

English Garden

My favorite is the English Garden Rose. It has become increasingly popular in the last few years. The British style gives your outdoor garden decor a definitely panache; it has a very elegant style but is also extremely simple to create (as long as you take good care of the flowers which can be very time consuming). Even though roses are my all time favorite, we can’t forget how the Brits mix them nicely with potentillas, geraniums, daisies, dandelions, daffodils, heather, lupin, pansies and primulas.

If you are looking for a cheap garden decor an English garden might be the answer for you. Still, you will have to spend quite a lot of time taking care of these beautiful flowers whether you opt for a rose garden or a mix of different ones.

Japanese Garden

Yes, I know, very elegant, beautiful, simple, eye-catching, and… not that easy to create! Some refer to it as a type of whimsical garden decor. It is fascinating spending time creating a delightful Japanese Garden, and certain features are a must, like bamboo fountains, a tea house, beautiful stone lanterns and moss. These particular outdoor garden decorations will add nicely to your Japanese theme.

Mediterranean Garden

I’m thinking tomatoes, peppers, aromatic herbs, olive trees, lots of vibrant colors, and of course Spain and Italy! The Mediterranean garden is indeed a very beautiful one. If you live in a hot area this type of garden will “take good care of itself” For your outdoor garden decor you will need nice colorful pottery (majolican pots works really, really well), a nice garden statue, a couple of benches and lots of beautiful “helechos” (fern)

Ever thought of a “Junk Garden” theme?

Yep, you guessed it; this is the type of home and garden decor for someone who really can’t afford to spend a lot of money. It works wonderfully well, as you “design as you go”, adding bits and pieces using your creativity and imagination. Also you can look at it as a way of “recycling” different objects by placing them scattered around your garden or patio. What I like the most about these so called “junk gardens” is the element of surprise! Remember you can be as free, bold and unique as you like when it comes to your garden décor.

Whatever your choice, from the lovely warm and romantic English rose garden to the more intrinsic Japanese one, you will become a garden designer from the very first moment you decide to work on your garden decor. And if you find it too overwhelming, don’t hesitate to hire a professional. They will help you out assessing the possibilities and make it a lot easier for you!

Photo by Martin_Heigan **Cortesy of flickr.com – Creative Commons

Photo by Gavin Anderson **Cortesy of flickr.com – Creative Commons

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For your garden decor you must consider a beautiful garden pond. They are very attractive and can also be very original; artificial ponds are a very nice way to fill up spaces around your outdoor areas that have no specific utility.  Make sure before installing garden ponds that the area where you are going to construct it will not be used in the future for anything else, and preplan the whole operation using a rope around the area in order to visualize measurements, etc.

There are many different types of garden ponds and basically what you want to look for is the shape in order to measure depth and overall decor.

Where and which one?

It is a good idea to place your pond where the sun shines for at least for to six hours a day. Something people usually forget is not to place it near a tree as the leaves will fall onto the water and that can be quite a source for lots of infections. Protect it with a fence if there are going to be children playing around the area.

It is very easy to find preformed plastic garden ponds and many gardening centers, but the shape and size are not always adapted to the needs of your particular garden so you might want to create your own one from scratch. This is a more difficult option and it might be particularly useful to get a professional to do it if your budget can afford it.

There are many ways to decorate your pond and make it really beautiful; try to divide the space into two different areas. One would be for marsh plants and the other for the fish and any aquatic plants you want to add. What about tiling around it? You could also place nice pebbles around the area or just stones.

To give it originality and beauty you can add waterfalls, which apart from being really ornamental they provide oxygen to the water. The installation should be quite simple and can be done by placing some type of natural or artificial stone and then with the use of garden pond pumps you can create the illusion of a natural waterfall. An essential part of your pond would be the plants that you choose to decorate it. They are also very useful and essential for fish life as they supply oxygen. There are many species that can be used for the decoration of your garden pond like lilies, irises, flags, fairy moss and marsh plants such as bullrushes.

Garden fish ponds are very beautiful and the pond should contain a mixture of different fish species which are compatible with each other. They do play a very important role in the natural life of the cycle of your garden pond.

Your new beautiful garden pond should contain a mixture of different fish species which are compatible with each other. To maintain them in good health it is necessary to provide them with adequate food, mainly nutritional. Make sure to take good care of them as they play a very important role in the natural life of the cycle of your garden pond and ultimately the overall look of your outdoor area.

photo credit: Murdo McDermid – Cortesy of sxc.hu

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Many people ask themselves how to enclose a patio and which is the best way to go around it. To enclose a patio you first need to sketch out your ideas through several designs according to the existing structure and also what is the preferred outcome in terms of look and style. When it comes to thinking about different ideas for enclosing a patio, it is important to point out that the design and overall result should match that of your garden decor or/and the actual look of your house. Is the wood the predominant element? Brick? Concrete? What do you want to enclose a patio with: glass? walls? screen? plastic?

The next thing you have to ask yourself is if there is a need to add a roof. This should be fairly easy to decide upon; first and foremost think why are you enclosing a patio in the first place. There is no doubt that it would protect you from the weather and add an important touch of privacy (especially if you already have a garden for outdoor enjoyment); at the end of the day you do spend quite a lot of time in the patio and/or outdoors during the spring, summer and fall. If the main reason for undergoing such a task is so you can elongate these periods of time during the winter, you should contemplate the idea of roofing your patio as well. There are ups and downs with this option; you will close in your patio area a lot more than if you were just to build walls or add screens around it and you will less light througout the whole year even if you add windows. If you are adding a roof to your patio the best thing would be to think of glass when it comes to the walls, a bit like the British conservatories or at least similar to the style. These conservatories are usually surrounded by glass (the English weather is renouned for being very cold in the winter) and supported by metalic frames. Some of them have the lower half built with bricks as it offers more security and privacy. You should design your roof first and then the framing structure.

The next thing to consider is the cost to enclose a patio. After you finish your design (you should have quite a few sketches so it will be easier to choose the design that fits best) it is important to set yourself a budget and take it from there. Are you going to enclose the patio yourself or are you going to pay for professional help? Surely professionals will be able to do a good job but it will come at a price. You should definitely go for it if your pocket allows. Next you should budget for the right materials and the ones you chose on your sketch. Some are more expensive than others and some are easier to work with especially if you are doing it yourself. Maybe you should compromise here by choosing certain materials  that are cheaper in order to be able to afford others that need to be sound and solid when it comes to quality. Enclosing a patio is not the same as building a house: you don’t need to be so worried about a perfect finish, but building with good materials is always a plus.

The actual enclosure can be done in different ways but the easiest by far is by using screens. They are cheap and very simple to set up. Although not as strong as brick or steel, they will definitely do a good job for many years to come if fitted properly. The other advantage is that they do let a lot of light through which is an important factor when it comes to gardens and patios (or any outdoor area in general). You might want to think about proper patio lighting for the evening and night times and also to enhance the decor of the new enclosed area.

Think of style and design of the windows if you are opting for brick walls, and, again, if you are enclosing it yourself windows might be a bit more complicated than just enclosing with screens. Do you want to add window sills? Are they going to be double windows? What about light coming through the roof? Think of all the electric appliances that need fitting when doing your designs, and of any central heaters that need to be placed.

If you live in a flat and you want to enclose a patio you should first ask your neighbours to see how they feel about it. Also make sure you get planning permissions if needed (whether you live in a flat or in a house in the countryside). Some places consider enclosing a patio building an extension to the house (especially if you are enclosing with brick and adding a roof).

If you are going to spend a good amount of time in your new enclosed patio during the winter you should think of insulating the floor. This can be done easily if there is already concrete and it just against the ground, but it becomes more of a difficult task if the patio is suspended above the ground level (as it happens with garden decking) and you need to do a thorough plan.

Some people wonder how to enclose a covered patio as their property was sold to them with a roofed outdoor area. These situations take place when site developers roof an outdoor structure with the idea of owners wanting to enclose it at some point in the future. Sliding doors are a good, simple and inexpensive solution if this is the case.

How to enclose a patio is down to you in the end, but the most important step that people should not take for granted is designing sketches on paper first to avoid unnecessary problems that might arise later on.

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Have you ever thought about adding a water scarecrow to your garden? This scarecrow is a nifty little system that keeps the birds away from gardens and pools. It consists of a sprinkler that squirts water for a few seconds and it is activated only when motion is detected. The scarecrow water sprinkler will cover an area of around 10m (wide) by 14m (length) and operates on a 9 volt battery capable of supplying up to three thousand shots and uses very little water in each shot, and it will not affect at all any of the watering methods you use in your garden.

It also will not affect your garden decor, as it is quite small and not very noticeable. Some people use the scarecrow water sprayer for their pools or outdoor water fountains (so pigeons and other birds don’t rest on the borders messing them up). It will shoot water at them when it detects motion without any damage (it is harmless) so your pool can stay nice and clean throughout the summer period or while your are using it.

For best brand jet water spray deterrent check out what your pocket can afford. Contech is probably the most popular one, while Havahart also offers a scarecrow yard sprayer at an affordable price with good consumer reviews. They’re both popular brands with similar prices, Contech’s scarecrow looks more like.. well, a scarecrow.

**If you are in the UK, click HERE for best Amazon Sprayers**

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Here are the 3 Contech options we’ve chosen:

Contech CRO101 Scarecrow Motion Activated Sprinkler List Price: ($59.99) Sale Price: ($33.99) Availability: (Usually ships in 1-2 business days) View Product

Contech StayAway Motion-Activated Pet Deterrent List Price: ($49.99) Sale Price: ($37.91) Availability: (Usually ships in 1-2 business days) View Product

Contech CatStop Ultrasonic Outdoor Cat Deterrent List Price: ($59.00) Sale Price: ($107.10) Availability: (Usually ships in 1-2 business days) View Product

And here’s the Havahart 5265 Spray Away Motion-Activated Water Repellent:

Havahart 5265 Spray Away Motion Detector Sprinkler Animal Repellent List Price: ($49.99) Sale Price: ($47.99) Availability: (Usually ships in 1-2 business days) View Product

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Our last option is a cheap “scarecrow” by Laguna (Laguna Blue Heron), which can also help the look of your garden decor:

Laguna Blue Heron List Price: ($39.99) Sale Price: ($19.39) Availability: (Usually ships in 1-2 business days) View Product

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Water scarecrows are being used as a method for conservation in gardens but it is advisable that you do not leave outside during the winter. The water will freeze and damage the scarecrow, so store it inside the shed or somewhere indoors. This device can set you back from $40 to around $100 depending on the specific brand. The beauty is that it doesn’t use any chemicals and it is not complicated to set up as well as being very inexpensive to run. The sprayer shoots water unexpectedly which works extremely efficiently when it comes to scaring off any animals that could damage your garden and keeping the decor at its best. It is also environmentally friendly.

So there is no need for you to be thinking of traps or electric fences which can be quite inhumane to animals. A scarecrow water jet pack and its motion activated sprinkler is a very innovative way for you to take care of your flowers and vegetables and also will “add” to your decor in the sense that you will not have to opt for ugly fences or any other sort of unappealing methods.

When the water is shot, the scarecrow makes a loud noise which also helps to scare the animals away. An added bonus is that the animals associates this experience to the area so they are not likely to return.

A water scarecrow is really easy to set up, and with the best brand jet water spray deterrent listed above you can’t really go wrong. They are very economical to run and will help keep your garden decor at its best!

In Action:

**See also fox deterrents for gardens

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If you are wondering how to grow a garden at home, you should plan first a general design before embarking in any hands-on job. Do sketches on paper first. They will help you enormously along the way.

Study the ground. It is advisable to conduct a soil survey to determine its characteristics and adept to these when growing your chosen plants. In case there was a garden before and you want to improve it or change it completely, you should take into account all the plants, flowers and trees and also the general structure of the garden: it is all about maximizing all the possible elements within the already established garden.

Don’t go over-budget. Set yourself a budget that will be realistic; think of general subsequent maintenance that your garden will need. We have to consider  factors such as the presence of children, any spring allergies and also pets in the house. When planning we have to look at elements in our garden like the pool, pond, garden arch, garden decking, ornamental statues or any other decorative item that might add to our existing garden decor.

Is the garden or patio area part of a house that has not been built yet? Ask the architect or designer to develop a joint home-garden, so that the views from the home fall into your outdoor area. The next step would be for the ground to be leveled with that one of the house. If the land is away from the house it is possible to plant trees just before the finishing edges to create a sort of “garden fencing” with them and at the same time allow them to adapt to the terrain. Also, we do not want the bigger trees near the house as eventually we would run into problems when the roots grow too far in.

Grass is probably the most essential element as the most prominent feature in any garden is the lawn. It will take it 12 to 18 months for it to be fully grown and it is not easy to grow it nearer the trees but gravel can be used for ease of growth. Furthermore, it should be noted that in the lowlands gardens can suffer from flooding making it convenient to “terrace the plants” so they can develop roots above the water. Also, soil aeration is important in case of soil that has been compacted by heavy machinery or trampling roots.

In case of an existing garden that only needs a bit of improvement, the elements and other materials have already been established. Make sure that plants always compliment them as you don’t want to have different elements that don’t blend in.

The right plant selection if of utmost importance: check general light conditions, soil, temperature and humidity and choose the plans accordingly, plants that will be integrated with ease taking into consideration all these factors.

The final results will mostly depend on the height of the plants you are planning to grow, volume, structure, colors and flowers. Furthermore, there are many ways to “present” this collection. Plants can be arranged in sections or scattered around separately. Analyze in your sketch how you want to grow these sections so you can see an overall shape before starting to grow a garden.

Plants in general are very useful for creating fantastic areas within your garden and at the same time create different types of moods and feelings in the designated areas. For example, protected areas that have been fenced in should really stand out for their particular ornamental features. Contrary to what people may think, you should not select plants based on the beauty of its flowers but for shape, volume, size and texture instead. The most important factor is that the general conditions are favorable for their survival.

Finally, and in relation to plants, we must make an effort to avoid growing excessive varieties within the same area, a very common mistake. It is advisable to grow a garden that shows simple and uncluttered plants; for example, choose a dominant color and group all the different varieties very carefully.

Trees also provide a wide range of options and can play different roles within your garden. One of the main objectives is to create shaded areas and the other is to do with the design and attractive focal points. So, trees have both a useful and ornamental functions. The top of the trees vary from spherical, umbrella-shape, fan-shaped and column-shape. These different shapes will create various effects and types of shades. Please, take also into account the growth rate of each and every tree in order to avoid “space” problems or the overall development of the tree. Other tree qualities that should be considered is if they are evergreen or not, color, foliage texture, brightness of the leaves, its flowers and consequent fruits. Evergreen trees (the leaves do not fall) are very useful as windbreaks and also to keep your garden looking green during the winter. Deciduous trees will lose their leaves in the autumn season, can provide shade during the summer and allow passage of light through their naked branches during the winter period.

Make sure you take all these factors into account. The secret of how to grow a garden successfully will depend on your determination, patience and how faithfully you follow your sketch designs and choice of the right plants.

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