Summer is finally here! And although Covid has put a stop to a lot of our plans, the garden still awaits. But where do we start? The idea of tackling the garden can be daunting, so this article will hopefully calm some tensions, and make gardening a hobby waiting to be delved into, rather than a monster waiting to be battled.
‘It’s not about the destination, but the journey’ - Planning
Planning your garden is easily the most important step. Knowing what your garden will function as not only helps you figure out what can go where within your garden, but it can help you understand the various needs different areas of a garden may have. In getting to know your garden as you research and plan, you can save loads of money and time, making the whole process worthwhile.
You’ll want to start by planning the garden construction in stages or sections, so as to not get overwhelmed. From there, you’ll want to work out what type of soil you have in your garden. This will help determine which flowers or other plants would grow well in your garden and perhaps those which won’t. You can see which types of soil are most common in the UK here.
‘The Fun Part’ - Treating Flowers
Once you have a grasp on what soil type you have in the garden, and what you ultimately want your garden to be, it’s time to buy some flowers.
When it comes to planting them, you’ll need to make sure you give each one enough space to thrive, trying to be gentle with them, and giving them the optimum conditions in which they can grow and flourish. Each type of flower will have different preferences and needs, so don’t worry if not every flower is in a peak of optimisation, as long as they seem healthy and stable in their growth, they’re happy.
‘Who remembers model villages?’ - Accessories for day and night
Now that your flowers are planted and growing in their new home, maybe its worth considering some additions like happy garden gnomes, or solar lights to light up your flourishing new space at night. Whether you like a quaint little garden filled with fairy cottages and wholesome themed gnomes, or a space filled with cheeky gnomes instead, there is always something to cater for every taste.
Accessories for the garden don’t have to be limited to those only visible during the day, however. Solar lights can add a whole new dimension to a garden, especially in the summer when friends are over. As the sun goes down, the solar ornaments can come to life, revealing a new level to the tiny community you might want to build. Whether you have a passion for dogs and puppies, or the quaint fairy houses mentioned earlier, there’ll almost certainly be something for everyone.
If open candles perhaps aren’t a great idea for your garden space, why not try our hanging tea lights and lanterns? Perfect for hanging up in bushes, shrubs, or a small wall or divide in your space, these beautiful lanterns not only look lovely during the day, but also illuminate the areas they live in during the evening. They really are a brilliant way to complete any flower bed.
“We shape our tools, and thereafter our tools shape us” - Tools for the garden
There are a vast array of tools which can be often utilised in the garden for many different purposes. The first that come to mind might be the trough, or the garden fork. One apparatus that might be sometimes overlooked, however, are plant markers. We know it can be a pain to remember what you planted and where, so why not do yourself a favour early on?
Another piece of kit that is often overlooked until it is too late, is the humble thermometer. The reason why is rather self explanatory, but essential nonetheless in curating the best conditions possible for your plants.
“Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds” - Weeding your garden
Everyone with experience in gardening will tell you to be absolutely brutal when it comes to weeding your garden, and we’re no different! Weeds are most certainly the gardener's worst enemy, cropping up before you can say “That Lavender Looks a Lovely Lilac”. Weeds tend to grow during the spring or early summer, so that is usually the best time to try and eradicate them, however, it is definitely a year-round job.
An obvious choice for killer weeds is (you guessed it) Weed Killer, but for a chemical free garden, you’ll want to weed by hand or use mulch to cover them and deprive them of light. A useful thing to know as a first-time gardener, is that you will probably never fully eradicate these weeds, or at least not at the cost of nuking your soil, effectively killing whatever else you have growing in the affected area. Even as little as 5 minutes a day can help in naturally and organically hemming the weeds. Tools like patio knives and dandelion weeders are definitely the best choice when it comes to weeding by hand.
Give your garden a face-lift - Hanging ornaments to elevate the the garden space
Why should the floor take centre stage all the time? Hanging ornaments can, like solar lights, give life to a new dimension in anyone’s garden. Whether to hold up a pot plant, or to catch the eye of visitors , there are so many different things you can do to bring up the eye level of anyone beholding your garden.
Candles can also help in completing a garden, similarly to solar lights, they can help illuminate any given space. What solars can’t do that candles can, however, is scent the area in which it is placed. Citronella candles in particular act as a great deterrent for flies and other bugs for when you want to be sitting in the garden, admiring your own private slice of heaven. Paired with the hanging tea lights and lanterns we mentioned earlier, they make a great addition to the depth of the garden space.
Another ‘welcome’ addition to any garden can be a garden plaque. A welcome message to a visiting friend or family member or an inspirational quote you want to remember, garden plaques can be a beautiful way to express what you hold dear.
‘Fill Up My Senses’ - Wind Chimes
On the subject of hanging ornaments, surely no garden is complete without a majestic wind chime. Wooden or metallic, it is completely down to preference. Wooden wind chimes sound more earthy and rugged, whereas a metallic chime can sound airy and light. Either way, there are loads of options out there, from featuring animals to fairies and other mythological creatures, there will certainly be something for everyone.
‘Are the plants looking sluggish?’ - Dealing with slugs and other pests in the garden
An area of the utmost importance when it comes to maintaining a garden is managing pests, particularly slugs, who will gorge on your plants till there’s nothing left, unless you keep them in check. There are a number of ways in which you can deal with slugs, from natural pesticides like astrantia and rosemary, to beer traps. However, a lot of websites and books often mention such methods as using copper tape as a barrier around pot plants, or spraying plant pots with WD40. These methods, although can be useful, are often time and money consuming. Your best bet might be to use either natural or chemical pesticides, depending on choice.
If the idea of allowing other animals into the garden is no issue, The English Garden suggests the idea of adopting an ex-commercial farming hen to help the decline of slugs in your garden. An added bonus lying in the free eggs you’ll be getting too!
We hope we have been able to give you some new ideas on how to begin your gardening adventure this summer. Plenty of the items we talked about are available on our website at https://www.bluewhalegifts.co.uk/home-garden/garden/. We would love to see what garden designs can be made, tag us on your garden posts on social media! Our instagram can be found here and our Facebook page can be found here!