Ok, no matter if you are an urban dweller with limited outdoor space or you live in a more rural area with loads of space, there are some really cool and relatively easy things you can do to completely change and improve your garden. If it ever decides to stop raining and you get the time to do some garden maintenance, follow these steps where possible and hop to it!

• Choose a design and shape for your grass or green space
  It will create nice clean lines and allow for more growing space in and around it. Rather than your standard square or rectangle shape go for a diamond, or pentagon style shape to bring in the edges.

• Decide what you want to plant in the flower beds and get organised
  It will help to know which flowers prefer sun vs shade. Depending on the light, you can also decide what colours will look best. For example if one area of the garden tends to be dark you might want to put bolder coloured flowers that will stand out whether they’re in sunlight or not.

• Make a small space feel bigger
  If you’ve got a smaller space, make it feel bigger by placing raised potted plants or flowers in the corners of the lawn. If you’ve got the space, add a pathway that runs along the length of the garden – it will give the look of greater space.

• Use vertical space
  The use of a pergola or canopy can add a decorative feature to a garden as well as separate spaces or even act as a screen for privacy.

• Be low-maintenance
  Once your garden is complete you’ll want to enjoy it rather than have to constantly take care of it. There are lots of low-maintenance shrub varieties that come in a range of colours, shapes and sizes and will provide a lot of texture to the garden. As well as look utterly fabulous! Some examples: Holly, Flowering Quince, Magnolia, Lily of the Valley, English Ivy and Red-Barked Dogwood.

Now, if the blinking rain takes a hiatus and gives us some decent weather at the weekends then hop to it and give your garden some much deserved TLC. If the rain continues to pour, well at least you’ll have lots of time to plan, so when the sun does put its hat on, you’re ready to go!

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