As days begin to get longer and lighter and temperatures start to rise, we know that spring is on the horizon. Before long we’ll be back out in our gardens, tending to our plants and soaking up some sun. In preparation for the shift in seasons, spruce up your outdoor space with these easy DIY projects that are simple enough to do with children but are guaranteed to make an impact.
Pond Boxes
Don’t have space for a full-sized pond? Consider pond boxes as an alternative. These portable structures allow you to create a pretty and peaceful water oasis that can sit on a patio or balcony.
Fill your pond box with small-sized water-loving plants, combining submerged oxygenators like java fern and hornwort and surface-level flowers such as water lilies and water soldiers. Aim to have around 50% of the water covered in foliage with the remaining surface left clear.
Raised Beds
If you have a green thumb and are interested in broadening your gardening horizons, consider adding raised beds. You can use these to grow your vegetables rather than having to dig up a patch of your lawn.
Make sure to check that the rootstocks of your chosen plants won’t outgrow your raised beds. It’s best to choose your produce first and then build the beds with the necessary depth.
Start with low-maintenance yet highly rewarding options like tomato plants, beans, potatoes, lettuce, garlic, and courgettes. You can then work your way up to more challenging produce which includes aubergines, cauliflowers, and onions.
Vertical Herb Garden
Create a display that is simultaneously ornamental and functional with a vertical herb garden. This can fit seamlessly into even the smallest outdoor space and will give you an almost year-round supply of herbs which you can use to spruce up your cooking too!
Put together a simple wooden stepladder that can be easily painted in any colour you choose. Next, find fairly shallow pots that sit flush with the length, width, and depth of the step and fill these with soil. Finally, plant your herbs, and voila! Your vertical herb garden is complete.
Remember to angle the steps slightly to ensure sunlight and water can permeate every section.
Succulent Wreath
Go one step further than the traditional hanging basket and put together a succulent wreath. This can be used as an alternative to the winter greenery wreaths that adorn doors around Christmas time, or hung on your garden or shed wall as multi-season décor.
All you need is a wreath frame (submerged in water), your succulents, and a florist wire to hang your creation. Mix and match textures when selecting your succulents, incorporating soft moss, rubbery leaves, and unusual shapes such as geometric flowerheads and spiky-leafed plants.
