7 Tips For Planning A Garden Transformation

Garden spaces are an aesthetic feature of our homes. Perfecting these garden spaces, no matter the size of an outdoor space you have requires careful consideration. Whether you are looking to improve the space by adding raised platforms or if you want to entirely transform the look on a budget, we can help you to create your ideal garden spaces. 

1) You Need A Plan

Planning the approach towards the outcome you are expecting can be the best way to stay in sync with your vision. Planning your spaces through sketches can help you in gauging the availability of usable area. Meanwhile, planning the budget, with the segregated cost for landscape, hardscape, lighting and maintenance can guide you to avoid splurges. 

Planning can also help find the perfect style that resonates with your personalities. You can start collecting these pictures and create a mood board before making a choice. This will save your time, cost and efforts during the process. 

Planning in terms of the season is crucial. You need to look after the plants you are thinking of adding and their compatibility with the different seasons in Ireland. The initial stages of plant growth require constant care and attention, planning the phase wisely can save you from losing your little ones. 

2) Choose What You Need & Want

Establishing a design brief in the form of a concise list for your garden spaces is the best way to stay on budget and also to make a well-informed decision. The list also needs to address the problems that need to be solved before you get started. For example, if you are having waterlogging issue or privacy issue, these need to be addressed in the designs.

3) What Can Change & What Can Remain

Look at retaining what parts of your original space are workable to save money. Sometimes subtle tweaks can make a big difference in garden transformations. 

To analyse this, take a critical look at your garden and start noting down the merits as well as demerits. Making a comparative list will help you in gaining clarity on which elements are worth retaining. 

4) Make a Smart Budget!

Even if you think about retaining the old, transforming a garden can cost you less than €6000, which in itself is pricey. When you include contractors, workers, painters, etc in the list, the budget increase way beyond. 

This cost highly varies on the type of garden style as well as the location. Suburban gardens that are targeting an entire transformation can also go up to €10,000. Now one might say that garden transformation is indeed a pricey affair, but just think about the quality of life it adds to your home. Think about all the communal times you can spend within your garden. 

Making a budget can be the best way to segregate the expense thoughtfully on what is needed and what can be cut off. Once you have a well-segregated budget you can easily start choosing the contractors, plants, decking or patio as well as the furniture. 

5) Understand The Aspects Of Your Garden

North facing gardens have the best shading spots to create seating areas, whereas south-facing garden enjoys the sunshine. West-facing gardens enjoy shade and sun during the day, therefore they are ideal for plants like roses, geraniums and many more. Whereas east-facing gardens are perfect for flowering varieties of plants. 

The key here is to choose species as per the site orientation and soil type. Buying plants that don't resonate with the surrounding conditions can just be a waste of money and effort.

6) Check With The Authorities For Planning Permissions

For most garden projects, you don’t require to apply for any planning permissions but certain plans like increasing the boundary wall or adding decking can require permission. If you are housed in a conservation zone, then the rules can vary widely. 

It is always helpful to verify before you make the final call as garden transformation are an investment. 

7) Be Space Smart

Compartmentalising your garden spaces can be an ideal way to create space for storage as well as leisure. You can divide and screen your garden spaces through various natural elements like bamboo, trellis or hanging plants to create small nooks from time to time. 

While a garden design also requires a strong weightage on creating enough storage and maintenance spaces. With the help of innovative seating and elevated storages, you can easily make space for it. You can also create a balance of softscape and hardscape by dividing the areas.

We hope you found some information that will help you to decide whether you want to transform your garden this summer.

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