Gardening is for everyone

Before you start, decide what kind of garden you want and what type of garden is best for you, this will save you money.
The way you live your life and perhaps your style of home will influence the way you garden.

Houseproud

You may dislike clutter, you have a modern minimal style house then I think unruly plants and a cottage-like garden is not for you. Instead, You could create a very neat and tidy garden by mixing structural plants and containers with gravel paving or decking.

Evergreen plants that can be trimmed or shaped will suit you, think box hedging, plants on stems and topiary, they also look good all year round.

A wild cottage style like this would drive a house proud person slightly mad

Collectors.

Are you an avid collector with a houseful of nick nacks, perhaps with an alphabetical record collection.

Try alpines or hobby plants like roses, fuchsias or dahlias.

You would enjoy accumulating knowledge, researching, then sourcing plants for your collection, you might join a society and find rare plants to grow.

Competitive

You have a competitive streak and good attention to detail, then you should try growing plants for flower shows.

Start off at a local flower show, the prize money may be small but the skill and determination needed to grow show quality flowers and produce have its own rewards.

You can then try the regional shows and test your growing skills against the best.

There is a friendly camaraderie between exhibitors although world record holders sometimes have to resort to extreme security measures.

Model makers and crafters

If You are a keen crafter or model maker then gardening uses similar skills, good technical knowledge and attention to detail. With gardening, you also have room to develop your own designs and ideas.

Why not try bonsai, miniature indoor gardens,

On-trend

Are you a frustrated designer, do you have an eye for colour and design.

Gardening allows you to develop your designing skills, everything from a tiny project like a container, to big gardens costing thousands is possible.

A garden will allow you to test colour combinations and shapes, unlike home furnishings or paint, plants can change shape and colour you can even move them about, the possibilities are limitless. Find out more

Children

Gardens are brilliant for kids.
To begin with, they may just like to play in the mud or runabout, but soon it will be an adventure playground. They are very observant and notice the seasonal changes in the garden, in the spring you can point out bulbs and blossom, during the summer there are things to eat. Toddlers like to touch and feel the flowers, older kids will build dens and search for beasts.

Eventually, they may want to grow something. You can start with things they like to eat, I find peas are one of the best for the summer, the super sweet pea pods are fun to open. Plant some fruit bushes and strawberries the kids can watch them flower and ripen before enjoying the fruit. Why not try our easy projects

Aspiring Chef

Nothing beats fresh ingredients when cooking, why not grow your own. Start a veg patch or grow them in pots. You can grow unusual vegetables and varieties not normally seen in the shops.

Nothing is as fresh or tasty as food from the garden

Spiritual

When Gardening you are always close to nature but some gardens can be designed to create a quiet reflective area, It doesn’t even have to be the whole garden just create a quiet corner to sit in. You can make a garden to relax in, grow plants that are good for the body and soul, herbs for instance. Use water and props to create a tranquil oasis of calm like a Japanese style garden.

I haven’t got a garden.

Well, that’s no excuse! You can still experience the wonder of plants.
Outside there are doorsteps, fences, hanging baskets, window boxes to consider.
Inside try house plants or indoor vegetables like herbs and salad leaves. are like miniature gardens, you can even have a vegetable or fruit garden in a pot.
Create your own planter or hanging basket .

Care about the environment

With a garden, you can improve the world in a positive way. Gardens improve the environment, by improving air quality, collecting and storing rainwater. They also provide habitats for all types of creatures. Gardening can be a lifestyle choice, learning to grow organically, for instance, may lead you to consider your other buying habits.