How can I make my country garden look better? 8 tips for an attractive plot
Every season brings a new look to our gardens, and those particularly attuned to nature are aware that each plot has a unique “sweet spot” when it shines.
There are, however, ways to keep our country-style backyards looking great for longer.
“This is especially true in a country garden, which by nature is relaxed, informal, and slightly ragged around the edges,” explains Lucy Searle, the global editor-in-chief of Homes & Gardens. You wouldn’t want a country garden to look too manicured, but there are ways to make it look nice again if it’s past its prime.
HOW TO MAKE A COUNTRY GARDEN LOOK BETTER – EXPERTS SHARE THEIR TIPS
There are easy ways to improve your country, whether looking for a quick clean-up or a more permanent approach to landscaping and design. To make your plantings last longer and improve the aesthetics of your garden, you should consider these suggestions.
To improve the appearance of a country garden at any time of year, we sought the advice of garden designers and gardeners.
1. PLANT FLOWERS FOR PICKING
Your country garden will benefit from the rows of flowers, and you can choose to pick half and leave the rest to brighten your borders inside the house if you like. When planning a cut garden, the best flowers to grow for vases are suggested.
“Pick a place protected from the wind but still gets a lot of suns. Diary of a Modern Country Gardener author and Stockton Bury Gardens gardener Tamsin Westhorpe advises her readers to plant in rows because doing so simplifies tasks like weeding and providing plant support.
Sweet peas, gladioli, and dahlias are all excellent choices for a kitchen garden, even if you don’t have a specific area for growing flowers for cutting. Brightly coloured bulbs, perennials with a long picking season, and shrubs with attractive foliage can all find a place in cottage borders and herb gardens.
2. Keep it looking great all year
Your backyard may be a riot of colour and activity from spring to fall, but it doesn’t have to go dormant in winter. Consider some winter garden ideas if you want your country garden to look better all year round.
According to Fabienne Maitland Robinson, lead garden designer at plant company Dig, who explains the importance of landscaping with evergreens in a garden, having a green structure in winter can be a valuable element for maintaining interest, ensuring the space looks green and cheerful in the winter months.
Don’t trim perennials or grasses if they have attractive seed heads in the winter. Frost will form delicate patterns on the seed heads this winter, and the birds that eat them will appreciate the bounty.
3. BRING THE COUNTRYSIDE INTO YOUR GARDEN
Take advantage of the natural setting to enhance the beauty of your backyard and country garden. This is another strategy employed by landscape architects who have come up with creative solutions for small garden design.
Choose a less obvious boundary if your garden backs up to fields or views of open countryside, advice garden designer and author Tim Newbury of the Garden Design Bible.
Remember, Tim says, “the more room there is around you, the more likely it is that you will be exposed to the prevailing weather.” Pick a vantage point that won’t be blown over by a brisk breeze or a raging storm. If that isn’t possible, “frame” your views with trees to reduce wind speed.
4. TEND THE LAWN – BUT NOT TOO MUCH
According to Dig’s head garden designer, Fabienne Maitland Robinson, a countryside garden needs only a light touch, such as mown paths through grass or wildflower areas, to maintain subtlety and connect to the surrounding area.
However, your country garden won’t look any better if you let the lawn become overgrown and weed-filled. During the peak growing season, when more sunlight is available, you should mow your lawn more frequently, every two to three days; if time is tight, mow it once a week. Carlos Real, Lawn Care Expert and Managing Director of TotalLawn, advises clients to “cut little and often rather than all at once” during the summer months because grass grows more rapidly then.
To avoid putting the plant under unnecessary stress and the risk of discolouration, “generally you shouldn’t take off more than one-third of the height in a single mow.”
An edging blade is a secret weapon of the rural gardener. Use an edging tool to define your lawn with a crisp, clean outline for the finishing touch.
5. FOCUS ON THE PATIO
If you’re wondering, “How can I make my garden look better?” a quick answer is to maintain a well-kept section of your garden close to the house. It will be the first thing you see when you step out of your home or into your backyard and set the tone for the rest of the space.
Garden designer and creator of Border in a Box Nikki Hollier advises, “Start with the planting.” Pelargonium tomentosum, lavender, and lemon verbena are some of my favourite fragrant plants.
Make a point of emphasis next. A fire pit or some decorative candles on a coffee table in the evening can turn a patio into a cosy retreat. When the summer nights draw in, string up some festoon or fairy lights to set the mood. Nikki recommends using small potted plants and pebbles to make a floral tablescape during the day.
The first order of business is to sweep the pavement and clean the area thoroughly. Incredible progress has been made!
6. ADD CONTAINERS FOR INSTANT COLOR
Container gardening ideas, such as filling pots and planters with colourful and fragrant flowers, can instantly improve the aesthetic appeal of a country garden.
Fill empty spaces in your borders and pathways with potted plants, and use them to decorate your deck.
According to Alex Hollingsworth of Dig, “bulbs are important for pops of colour in the border throughout the seasons.” You can switch things up every season and every year with spring, autumn, and winter bulbs. Be wary of animals, especially squirrels, who might try to eat them. Adding some gravel to the soil directly above the bulb will deter these pests.
7. DESIGN CHILD AND PET-PROOF BORDERS
The border of even the most exquisite country garden can be trampled to death by a stray soccer ball or a dog running through the planting. Plants that are hardy, resilient, and quickly recover from damage are the answer if this is a problem in your backyard.
Many plants will bounce back quickly from occasional interaction with children and their activities. Still, others will not tolerate regular abuse and eventually die back or look so poor and bedraggled that they will not be worth keeping, says garden designer Tim Newbury.
Tim recommends putting plants that can survive being trampled on or mowed down near playgrounds and borders. Many plants exist, such as the Alchemilla Mollis, the Viburnum davidii, the geranium, and the geum.
Your country garden can look better with minimal effort when implementing some low-maintenance garden border ideas.
8. ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES TO YOUR COUNTRY GARDEN TO MAKE IT LOOK BETTER
The sight of colourful butterflies fluttering among your flowerbed borders adds a touch of nostalgia to any rural garden. Focus on creating a garden for pollinators, such as butterflies, by planting flowers they enjoy.
Sean McMenemy of Ark Wildlife says, “plant bright, fragrant, and nectar-rich flowers; butterflies are particularly attracted to buddleia shrubs (aka the butterfly bush).
If you want your country garden to look nice, you probably shouldn’t leave a lot of sprayed fruit on the ground. However, if you hide a few overripe fruits under trees or otherwise out of sight, you’ll attract butterflies looking for a tasty snack.
Sean recommends preparing a “butterfly cocktail” of mashed banana or a simple sugar solution to attract butterflies.
HOW DO YOU DECORATE A COUNTRY GARDEN?
Stone, terracotta, rustic wood, pebbles, and shells are some natural materials that can be used as ornamentation in a country garden. Pergolas, trellises, mosaics, paving, planters, and pots are all garden elements that could benefit from these additions.
Incorporating decorative elements like pretty parasols, throws, and rugs onto outdoor furniture can help spruce up a country garden’s aesthetic appeal.
