Be inspired by this collection of gardening ideas and practical tips to help you get more out of your outdoor space. From creating a vibrant insect hotel and discovering surprising moments of nature to planning your garden and capturing all the life within it: small ideas can give your garden a whole new atmosphere.
Insect hotel with garden
This really is a five-star insect hotel. It’s made entirely from old wooden planks and little logs. The hotel is a great place for insects, like bees, to make their nests. Making your own insect hotel is easy using planks of wood, branches, canes, roof tiles, pinecones and plant matter. Give it a sunny spot in your garden.
Hedera broom
Sometimes you just have to let nature do its thing. This hedera grew all by itself on an old broom that we had left behind the shed in our garden for afew weeks. Isn’t it lovely? I think I’ll take a break from sweeping the garden for a little while. It’s amazing what you find when you leave nature to it for a little while.
Make a plan
Take a piece of paper and some coloured pencils, then map out your garden. Write the name of everything that’s growing there and all the things you’d like to grow too. It’s sure to give you lots of new ideas.
All in a row
Rob made this handy tool rack out of an old pallet plank. I painted on the letters. I’m really happy with how it turned out. I’ve asked him to make another one for the rake, spade and hoe.
Photograph the residents of your garden
Anne came up with this great idea. We have been using our phones to take photos of all the living creatures we come across in the garden. It’s so fun to see everything that’s living in our garden. Try it for a little while, you’ll be amazed by what you discover in your own back yard.
Oranges from your own garden? Yes, really!
You don’t need tropical temperatures to grow an orange tree, you can have one in your own garden. They smell wonderful and they look so attractive too, with the bright oranges hanging among the green leaves. It makes you feel as if you’re on holiday.
A lemon tree in your garden is a very easy way to create a Mediterranean atmosphere. The great thing about a lemon tree is that it will stay green all year round, and flowers and fruits grow at the same time. So you can enjoy it in every season.
Tomatoes from your own garden taste extra delicious. You can start growing them early indoors and then move them out when they get a bit bigger. They don’t need much attention, but you do need to ‘top’ them. That way more energy goes into the tomatoes than the leaves.
A lovely spot in the garden
Move your table and chair to a new spot in the garden. Put a nice cloth on the table, make a pot of tea and enjoy looking at your garden from a different perspective. This might just become your favourite place.
