Springtime garden design ideas to elevate your outdoor space
You don’t need green fingers to give your springtime garden a fresh new look – just think of it as an al fresco living room. Read on for our top gardening tips and garden hacks to get started.
New homes are designed for seamless indoor-outdoor living. Most Charles Church house styles feature French doors, framing your outside space like a favourite picture and making the most of your peaceful garden, but how can you make it even more magical this spring?
Garden layout hacks to create your sanctuary
Think of your garden the same way you would a living room. Start with layout, furniture and large evergreens as a base. Move things around to find the right balance. Once you’ve got the basics, add colour and texture with plants for the garden, decorative touches and lighting.
Visit your local garden centre for inspiration. Treat it like your favourite interiors store. You’ll find everything, including flowers from spring and smart planters that pull your space together.
Patios and paths make a huge difference
To avoid worn patches on your lawn, create a paved or decked area for furniture. A patio just outside your back door is a classic choice, but adding a second seating area further into your springtime garden creates a more layered space, and a perfect place to enjoy the view back toward your home.
It’s also a smart way to keep evening conversation away from bedroom windows. It's a simple gardening hack most people don't consider, but you'll be glad you tried it.
Garden lighting tips for a peaceful garden glow
Mood lighting isn’t just for indoors – in the garden, think Christmas lights all year round.
Fairy lights in the shrubbery, solar path markers or string lights hung from a pergola all create a warm glow.
Even if you’re not outside, the view from the kitchen window will feel magical. Think of it as the outdoor version of turning off the main light and switching on lamps. Warm lighting creates an instant calm-switch for your peaceful garden.
Zen garden ideas on a budget: Choosing the right furniture
It’s worth spending a reasonable amount on good-quality garden furniture. It’s going to be your centrepiece, and if you’re going to spend time outside, it needs to be comfortable too, just like your living room.
Choose solid, well-scaled furniture. Modular sets that tuck into a compact, weatherproof cube are a smart, space-saving choice.
Invest in some colourful waterproof cushions that will be perfect for our unpredictable weather. Add a few carefully-casually-flung blankets, then tie the look together with a hard-wearing outdoor rug.
Finishing touches: flowering plants and garden centre inspiration
A careful choice of plants to decorate your al-fresco room will give you depth, colour, and texture. They are the finishing touches, blending the seating area with the rest of the garden. The idea is to do enough, but not too much.
Start with flowering plants in containers and beds, but avoid overcrowding. A variety of spring flowering shrubs, climbers and perennials will give your garden structure and look beautiful as the seasons change.
Evergreen plants for the garden that go the distance
Bay or olive trees are stylish options, but for something more budget-friendly, think a little simpler. Rosemary is inexpensive to buy, but richly green and fragrant. It can grow tall or stay compact, and it’s handy for barbecues and cocktails, too.
Ivy is another smart pick. Keep it in a pot to control its spread and choose a variegated variety to brighten shady corners. Or let it climb a fence or wrap around a mirror for a beautifully relaxed look. Pro tip: be sure to keep on top of it, as ivy loves to climb.
Tall flowering plants that add elegance and movement
If you’re after low-maintenance height and movement, Verbena Bonariensis is a winner. This delicate flowering plant self-seeds and thrives in gravel, borders and pots. There's minimal work required to keep it looking fabulous.
Alliums offer bold bursts of purple, year after year, which is perfect for beds and containers. Or try Mock Orange (Philadelphus), a fragrant spring flowering shrub that brings height without blocking light. They make a brilliant focal point.
Classic flowering plants to brighten your springtime garden
Lavender never goes out of style. The Hidcote variety brings elegant height and colour through summer. Trim it back to keep it tidy and encourage more blooms.
Geraniums love container life and reward you with vibrant colour – just remember to water and deadhead. For long-lasting impact, perennial wallflowers (Erysimums) offer colour almost year-round. They’re ideal for seating areas and will keep your springtime garden looking bright even in cooler months.
Minimal effort with a big impact
Turning your garden into the perfect sanctuary can be as easy as taking these suggestions and making the most out of easy to grow potted plants.
Don't forget, customising your home and garden is all about personal taste. Whether you love evergreen shrubs and trees, hardy annual plants or beautiful garden beds, put your stamp on your garden this spring and enjoy the rewards for years to come.