| If you've decided to redesign your garden, then | | | | By making sure that the elements you have in your |
| perhaps you're looking for gardening ideas to help | | | | garden don't need a lot of looking after, you'll be able |
| you get the garden you want. | | | | to enjoy your garden a lot more, and not see it as a |
| Here are 10 ideas to get you thinking. | | | | chore. |
| 1. Why not get the children involved? Perhaps you | | | | 7. Make sure that your garden is easy to use. Things |
| can give them their own patch of garden, or a few | | | | like the position of the washing line, shed, or the |
| pots, so that they can grow their own plants and | | | | barbeque will make a big difference to how much |
| flowers. They'll enjoy helping, and will want to make | | | | they get used. |
| sure that their seeds grow. | | | | 8. Will you want additional storage space from your |
| 2. You could grow your own fruit and vegetables. As | | | | garden? What about a shed or a garage, or a play |
| well as saving you money, you'll notice the difference | | | | house for the children. You might want to build a |
| in taste between fruit and vegetables bought from | | | | home office or kids summerhouse |
| the supermarket and those you've grown in your | | | | 9. Perhaps you could turn some of the garden into an |
| garden. Perhaps this will spur you on to eating more | | | | additional play area. What about adding a sandpit, or |
| healthily too. | | | | having somewhere to store the bikes and other |
| 3. Think about the amount of space you have, and | | | | outdoor toys and games? |
| what you can realistically do with it. It's easy to get | | | | 10. Whatever you have planned for the garden, you'll |
| carried away and want decking, and water features | | | | need to compromise with other members of the |
| and huge trees, but, if you don't have the space, it | | | | family. What might be important to you might not be |
| won't work. Don't get too ambitious, and be prepared | | | | important to the rest of the family. You might want |
| to scale back your ideas. | | | | a cottage garden full of flowers, but will your |
| 4. Do some research and find out what sorts of | | | | children? You might want a minimalistic garden that |
| plants will grow in your garden. Don't just buy plants, | | | | easy to maintain, but will there be an plants and |
| as they may not be suitable for your garden, and so | | | | flowers in the spring and summer? You might want a |
| they'll be a waste of money. | | | | pond, but are the children old enough to be safe near |
| 5. If you're starting from scratch, perhaps you could | | | | it? |
| think about things for the children. Room for a slide, a | | | | Once you've decided how you want your garden, |
| trampoline, a swing, or to kick a football or play | | | | and got some gardening ideas, you can then design it |
| badminton will be greatly appreciated. | | | | properly and make the most of it. By getting it right |
| 6. Your garden will need to be easy to manage. You | | | | in the first place, you'll be able to enjoy it all year |
| won't want to spend all your spare time tending to it. | | | | round. |