Transform your garden

Having enjoyed some early good weather, now is the time  to plan and prepare your garden so you can really take advantage of the lighter nights and warmer weather through July and August. 

Functionality has become increasingly important for the garden with more and more people making it a space that works for the family and lifestyle beyond just a lawn, flowers and plants. Viewing the garden as an extension to your home and creating outdoor living spaces can give you new ‘open air rooms’ in which to entertain, dine and  relax.  Adding extra dimensions to your garden can also add value to your home.

The range and choice of products and materials available to create your outdoor living spaces is vast,  ranging from natural wood decking, natural and manmade paving, fences and walling to gazebos, pergolas, water features and lighting.  

Michael Bandy, Product Manager from builder’s merchants, Travis Perkins, which has a branch locally, offers some top tips on creating your perfect landscape for the summer months and beyond.

First things first, decide how you want to use your outdoor space and best locations for activities.  For example, you may want to position your BBQ area close to the kitchen door, a children’s play area away from the sun or a tranquil retreat in the remotest part of the garden.  This will help you create your ‘outdoor’ rooms.    

Next, decide what type of garden do you want – formal, informal, high or low maintenance.  It’s worth considering this beforehand as it will impact on  the shapes of paving, paths, patios and walls you design and your choice of materials. Materials such as decking, paving and aggregates are low maintenance solutions and look great. 

Take into account your style of house.  A beautiful country cottage wouldn’t suit a contemporary Zen space!  Create balance and flow from your home through to your garden. 

Employ an expert tradesman to help with planning, design and build.  Getting it right first time can save you money in the long term and enhance as well as add value to your property.  

Remember, the majority of installation costs are usually in the ground preparation and labour. Opting for the best quality paving won’t significantly increase the overall cost of your project, so choose the best product you can afford as it will last longer.

For more information about garden landscaping, visit  your local Travis Perkins branch and take a look at their landscaping display, which offers you a preview of what is achievable using some of the most popular landscaping products.  Or you can visit their website to find out more about the range of products and materials available to support your landscaping project.

More information can be found by visiting the website www.travisperkins.co.uk