For many of us, the garden is the first thing we see when we open the door in the morning, or return to our homes after a day’s work. Increasingly, however, I find I’m called on to produce garden plans for second homes, for lots of reasons. The second property might be a holiday let, or a much- needed weekend refuge for city dwellers. It’s often the ‘home house’, originally belonging to parents and now being restored for the next generation to spend vacation time in with their families, keeping them linked to their roots. Sometimes, the plan is to move there altogether during the retirement years, so starting the garden now and allowing it to grow and mature in the meantime makes sense
These gardens bring their own set of challenges – if you’re not there to keep an eye on things, how can the garden thrive? And how do you make it work for lots of different people who all want different things?
Well, if you lay the space out right to begin with you can’t go wrong. Make sure your seating area can comfortably fit as many people as the house is likely to hold, and choose paving that will blend well with the surroundings. This applies to fencing and hedges too, and gives the impression that the garden belongs here and hasn’t just been transplanted from somewhere else.
When planting, aim for a blend of fast-growing plants that will provide a visual impact quickly, along with those that will look good for most of the year with minimal upkeep – yes, it sounds like the Holy Grail but there are lots of suitable candidates so it can be done! Prepare the soil and mulch them very generously indeed, to help them establish and keep them healthy.
ANNE’S TIP OF THE WEEK: Gardens can get tired looking in August as the first flush of summer flowers starts to fade. An hour or two deadheading spent blooms, followed by a feed of liquid seaweed to encourage new ones, will go a long way towards keeping it all looking fresh right into next month
Anne Byrne Garden Design provides easy to follow Garden Plans that you can implement right away or in stages. Anne’s design flair and passion for plants brings a touch of magic to gardens of all sizes.
Anne Byrne Garden Design – Creative Ideas – Practical Solutions – Stunning Gardens
T: 086 683 8098 E: [email protected] www.annebyrnegardendesign.com
