Top Irish landscape designer and horticulturist Mark Grehan has the ultimate top 10 tips to ensure your garden is in full bloom this summer without breaking the bank.
Top 10 recession tips:
1. Get out and dig that garden yourself, create flower beds and enjoy a little exercise at the same time. Cancel the gym membership, you‘ll get plenty of exercise working in the garden and save on your wallet as well! If investing in new tools, pay that little bit more for better quality and with the right care they should last you a lifetime.
2. Test your soil before buying plants — a small plant soil kit is very inexpensive allowing you to then choose the right plants for your garden, saving time and money down the line.
3. Go to flea markets or look around your home for pieces that would make interesting or unique planting pots — recycling them this way will give them a new lease of life and allow you create something special and bespoke without the huge cost.
4. Grow flowers suitable for cut flowers so you can decorate your own home — plants such as Agapanthus, Digitalis, Verbena, Phlox, and Cana all make great long lasting flowers and are easy to grow too.
5. In the current times give back locally — support your local co op food market and buy organic home grown plants and flowers and food available throughout the city and nationwide.
6. To save money and do your bit for the environment, make your own compost in a compost heap and feed regularly to get the best value out of plants. Farm manure is also good.
7. Have a good look around garden centres for the bargains and special offers — public holidays are always key ‘offer’ times at the bigger garden centres.
8. Grow your own fruit and vegetables — once you get started it is so easy for beginners to start with salad crops even in a small space. Lettuce leaves are easily grown in a window box and potatoes in a large pot or compost bin.
9. Plant a good mix of plants to give you interest all year round and mulch flower beds with bark or gravel to retain water and moisture and save on watering and time during summer months.
10. If you are considering a major renovation it is best to get the professionals in at the start – it will save you time and money and prices are very competitive at the minute. Most designers will even come and do a consultation which is a great starting point. Agree the rate before the designer comes and have your list of questions ready.
