Leafy sanctuary
Find a sheltered, secluded spot to create a secret leafy sanctuary away from family areas such as the patio. Pave the ground with a mixture of cobbles and paving sets for minimal maintenance. Laying the cobbles in a fluid design will give the garden a leisurely, romantic style.
EXPERT TIP: Try to organise sitting areas in the garden so that you have a choice between sun and shade – and buy comfortable furniture that is made for dreaming.
HOW MUCH? Steamer chairs and sun loungers from £39.99 (www.homebase.co.uk, 0845 077 8888).
Secluded seating
Low walls can provide additional seating in a small garden – and are especially effective if you cleverly extend part of the wall with timber so you can tuck a sun lounger into a raised flowerbed. This private haven can be magic if you surround yourself with the tactile, scented leaves of plants such as sage and the calming fragrance of lavender and roses.
EXPERT TIP: Plant sitting areas with non-scented plants if you suffer from asthma and hayfever and avoid plants like grasses and daisy flowers, which also cause allergies.
HOW
Durable decking
YOU don’t have to restrict your use of decking to just outside the house – you can create “desert islands” for sitting in sunnier parts of the garden, which are screened with plants for privacy. Decking also works well in association with water and in conjunction with wooden fencing and timber features such as a summerhouse.
EXPERT TIP: Check out the latest design trends and the newest and most desirable gardening products at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show – May 20 to 24.
HOW MUCH? Visit the show for as little as £13 (www.rhs.org.uk, 0870 906 3781).
Tough trellis
Trellis not only makes an effective screen for privacy and for filtering the wind, it is also a good host for plants such as climbers. Make it from substantial timbers and you can safely add built-in planters and arrange low-growing and trailing plants for seasonal impact. It also means you can have useful herbs near the barbecue!
EXPERT TIP: When building trellis, use 3x2in timbers for the long and cross rails, 1x1/2in for thin slats and rust-proof screws and staples.
HOW MUCH? Lengths of exterior sawn treated timber from £5.55 for a pack of eight (www.wickes.co.uk, 0870 601 1216)
Super stencils
YOU can get beauty on a budget with the clever use of paint and stencils. In a sunspot, go for a sky blue backdrop and frame it with lush green foliage. Then follow this year’s trend for shabby chic with vintage-style props and use flower stencils for stunning effect.
EXPERT TIP: On a clean, dry and grease-free painted surface fix the stencil with tape and apply the paint with a round-headed natural bristle brush. Allow the paint to dry for at least two hours before removing the stencil.
HOW MUCH? Stencils from as little as £1.99 (www.hobbycraft.co.uk, 0800 027 2387).
Smart planters
Clean lines and simple geometric shapes are perfect for modern-style urban gardens. Use plants for their architectural qualities – agaves, hostas and grasses are fashionable examples.
EXPERT TIP: A row of brightly-coloured waist-high pots reinforce the modern concept. Part-fill them with polystyrene chips before planting to save on compost.
HOW MUCH? Square fibreglass planters up to 3ft, £149.95 (www.primrose-london.co.uk, 0118 9427 345).
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