With the cold winter months just around the corner, it’s time to get your garden in shape to make sure it’s refreshed and ready for the harshness of the season. A great way to detract attention from plants that might struggle through winter is to shower your garden with bright ornaments, as well as to consider weather appropriate plants and arrangements. The following tips are sure ways to quickly and easily invigorate your backyard and balcony.
Ornaments:
Do away with the clichéd garden gnomes and angels and opt for ornaments with a contemporary feel. Garden décor such as stainless steel or concrete spheres are an innovative way to spruce up your garden. It might sound strange, but you can decorate the garden by arranging various lines of spheres in all shapes and sizes along barren surface areas.
However, they also look fantastic amongst lush green grass. Similarly, ceramic stepping-stones cleverly crafted with cobalt or aqua hue mosaics are a water free way to enhance the look of any garden or outdoor area.
If you enjoy the look of classic garden pieces such as animal or floral inspired designs, and want something to enhance the appearance of your favourite flowerbeds, ‘spinner stakes’ and ordinary stakes are a great option. The top of each stake features a beautifully crafted piece, such as a hummingbirds, dragonflies or filigreed pinwheels.
The filigree design is particularly stunning, and assorted antique style colours such as bronze and pewter will perfectly complement any outdoor plant. All you have to do is pop them in the soil of whichever garden bed you choose!
Plants:
Winter is a fantastic time to plant bare rooted roses, in other words, rose plants that are dormant and pre-bloom. If you have a large garden, you should take advantage of planting plenty of attractive rose varieties along hedge areas, entrances to gardens and near the ends of pathways.
This way, the roses will focus attention to the ‘frame’ of your garden, and mass planting of roses will also certainly revitalize dull features of your outdoor area, such as old fences and walls. Choosing areas with plenty of sun during the day will also guarantee that your roses are lush and thriving throughout the cold months.
If your backyard is more like a small courtyard, or the only plants you have time to nurture are the ones living on your balcony, then potted roses and plants are the way to go. Growing plants in pots will allow you to rearrange the focal point of your small garden area. For example, the convenient portability of pots is ideal for switching an accent of colour from the back door to the steps leading off the porch. The pot itself is also a great way to bring your personal style to your outdoor space, and to perfectly present your plant, with a myriad of vibrant ceramic glazes that you can choose from.
Arrangements:
If you’re an avid DIY landscaper and want to put in extra effort to enhance your garden, plant and flower arrangements are sure to make a statement. A current craze for sprucing up your garden are creating your own topiaries, which you can arrange in repetitive patterns along stairs or stretches of walls that are in need of greening. Topiaries are fun to make, and simply involve buying a ready-made wire frame in your favourite shape, slipping your favourite plants within the frame after potting them, and regularly pruning and shaping the growing plants to maintain the effect. Common topiary shapes include simple domes and spiral shapes, but it is also possible to get your hands on exciting frames such as zoo animals and mythical creatures!
If you want the latest trends in outdoor decorating, garden ornaments, plants, and arrangements are a great way to add individual flair to your favourite outdoor space. Stay ahead of the pack when it comes to original and creative outdoor pieces, and look into these great ways to spruce up your garden today.
Bernadette Lee is a landscaping specialist who also knows all about using waterjet cutting to create striking outdoor design pieces for any backyard or outdoor area.