- by Rightmove
Seven simple ways to upgrade your garden or balcony
Seven simple ways to upgrade your garden or balcony
If you’ve been itching to get out in the sun and do some gardening, we’ve got some good news for you.
Garden centres across England were given the green light to reopen this week after the government announced steps to ease certain lockdown measures.
Boris Johnson said that garden centres can reopen from today (13th May) so long as they comply with strict social distancing guidelines.
In Wales, garden centres have been open since Monday (11th May), while in Scotland and Northern Ireland they remain closed for the time being.
The move is a welcome opportunity for green-fingered Rightmove users – particularly if you’re thinking of selling or already have your house on the market – to upgrade your garden.
So here we’ve compiled a list of seven top tips for improving your garden or balcony.
Create a barbecue terrace
We all know the weather in this country can be a little hit and miss, but there’s no harm in constructing a terrace or decking area specifically for barbecue season.
If you’ve got room outdoors to do this, it means you’ve got a ready-made al fresco dining space for when the sun is shining and it’s a hugely appealing selling point for prospective buyers.
Build a ‘wildlife shelter’
A well-planted and cared-for garden offers lots of places for nature to feed, shelter and breed. But to a bird or hedgehog looking for a place to raise its young, an artificial home can be a valuable alternative to a natural shelter. You can buy a variety of wildlife boxes and then put them up at any time of year.
It’s also a good way of getting the whole family involved and you can teach your children some valuable life lessons along the way.
Plant flowerbeds
This relatively simple tip is a great way to add some colour to your garden. If, like us, you have a habit of killing every plant you own, go for hardy plant options, like conifers or hydrangeas.
If you have a balcony, have a go at growing some herbs. They usually come in small containers so they’re perfect for balconies. For sun traps, try growing thyme or rosemary, but if you’ve got a shady balcony, perhaps go for dill or parsley.
Have somewhere to sit
Having a bench or swing seat where you can relax with a book or a glass of wine will help a buyer visualise a dream lifestyle.
Make sure it’s got the best view of the rest of the garden, and looks like an inviting place to take a power nap on a sunny weekend.
Plant curry and mint
Ants and other garden pests don’t like the smell of curry and mint plants, so these are great for planting around areas that you want to keep pest-free.
But beware, mint spreads quickly. To prevent this, try pushing a long tube (an old rain pipe will do) into the ground and then plant the mint into it. The tube ensures the roots grow downwards and can’t spread out into the soil.
Erect a water feature
Not everyone has the space or money to maintain a pond, so why not invest in a DIY bird bath or a water feature?
After all, the sound of running water is very soothing background music when you’re out enjoying the garden.
Put up a bamboo privacy screen
These are great if you’ve only got a small balcony or patio to work with. They add heaps of character to an outdoor space and also give you the opportunity to introduce more colour.
What’s more, they double up as a makeshift wind shield and look great if they’re topped off with stylish lighting.
