Best Trees and Shrubs to Transform Your Garden

The garden is where we relax, enjoy, connect to nature, and do several other things. Adding the best trees and shrubs to your garden can take its beauty and aesthetics to the next level. However, if you have limited space, consider the size, shape and form of trees and shrubs. 

Another thing that you should consider while selecting plants for your garden is whether the plant variety suits your climate and thrives in the environmental conditions of the united kingdom. Here, we will help you pick the best trees and shrubs for your garden, but before that, consider asking the following asking from yourself.

• Do you want the trees to provide you with privacy?

• Do you want the tree to be the focal point in the garden?

• Do you want to add colours to your garden?

• Are you looking for decorative trees?

All these questions will help you narrow down the tree-options available on the internet and the ones that we have provided here. All this will help you pick the trees that suit your garden and meet your preferences.

1. Magnolia

Magnolia is known for its beautiful goblet flowers and magnificent fragrance. There are several varieties of magnolia, out of which some grow to 10 feet when they mature. According to a renowned landscaper in Newbury, magnolias are grown best in neutral and acidic soil but not in alkaline soil. And we must not plant them in certain places which are subjected to water logging. Also, some varieties of magnolia can be easily grown in containers.

2. Pink flowering Dogwood

Pink flowering Dogwood is native to the united states but is suitable for the united kingdom climate. One of the best things about planting them in your front yard is that it attracts wildlife. So, your garden will be full of bees and butterflies. During spring seasons, it blooms stunning pink colour flowers. Dogwood can be grown in almost every soil, but the most preferred are neutral and acidic soil.

3. Silver birch

Silver birch is a native plant of the united kingdom known for its beautiful appearance, especially its gorgeous bark, which appears during winter. The tree requires full to partial shade and well-drained soil. The best thing about silver birch is that, once established properly, they need little care. Some common varieties of birch trees are Paper Birch, River Birch, Cherry Birch, Dwarf Birch, Yellow birch, Himalayan Birch and Water Birch.

4. Wisteria

Wisteria is a climbing vine that contains beautiful and fragrant flowers, so it can help transform your garden with its stunning appearance. Wisteria will help add character to your home, whether you add it to your wall or over your garden fence. Two main types of wisteria are Japanese (Wisteria Floribunda) and Chinese (Wisteria Senensis). While Japanese wisteria produces 12 to 18 inches of clusters of flowers, Chinese wisteria produces 6 to 9 inches of blue, violet and white cluster flowers. After planting, Chinese wisteria takes around two-three years to bloom.

5. Crape Myrtle

A landscaper in reading will advise you to plant crape myrtle in your front yard if you are looking for a tree that produces plenty of flowers year-round. Crape myrtle is a small tree that grows about 15-25 feet tall, making it perfect to grow in your garden. But it requires a warm and sunny climate, which means you need to plant them in a spot that receives full sun. Also, crape myrtle requires watering regularly, especially during the dry season.

6. Green Giant Arborvitae

Green giant arborvitae is an evergreen and easy-to-care tree that can perfectly suit a house's architecture. They grow moderately, about 3 feet every year, and require less maintenance. Though green giant arborvitae can tolerate different soils, they thrive in moist and fertile soil. Their conical shape and height make them ideal for creating a focal point. You can consider planting them at the garden's centre or the end of the walkways to create a focal point.

7. Hawthorn

Hawthorn is native to Western Asia, Europe and North Africa and is named after the month in which its flowers bloom (May). It produces red berries in autumn and white flowers in the spring (which attracts plenty of birds). When mature, it can reach a height of 15m and contains dark green leaves with lobed shapes.

Continue Reading

Creating the Perfect Outdoor Living Space: Tips from the Pros

Everyone wants a perfect outdoor space where they can spend quality time with friends or family. An appealing outdoors also helps homeowners get a good price for their property. So, if you want to transform your outdoors, here are a few tips that can help you.

1. Add greenery

Adding plenty of plants and greenery is one of the best ways to make your outdoor living space lively, and you don’t need to limit yourself to potted plants and garden beds. You can think about hanging plants on your walls or creating a beautiful vertical garden with herbs and other small plants. If you want to add natural and bright colours to your outdoor space, consider picking plant containers with beautiful colours and styles. Some experts recommend placing a fresh bouquet on your outdoor space centre table to increase the outside curb appeal.

2. Pick a colour palette

If you want to give your outdoor living space a cohesive and well-designed look, you need to pick the right colour palette. One thing to note is that everything contributes to the palette, from architectural elements, such as roof fences and home exterior, to natural elements, such as plants, flowers, rocks, etc. So, take great care while picking a colour palette for your outdoor space. For instance, if you want to design a fun outdoor setting for your visitors, pick vibrant colours. For tranquil outdoor settings, think about choosing peaceful colours.

3. Ensure its utility in different seasons

Do you want to create a space you can’t use in the summer? So, add shade solutions to your yard, such as a covered patio, canopies, large umbrellas, and sailcloths to protect yourself and your loved ones from the sun.

Cool-weather must also not make you sit indoors, and one of the best ways to use your yard in winter is to look for heating solutions. Mushrooms or pyramid-style patios are some popular heating options for winter. Another option that can also keep you and your friends warm during winter is fire tables. A landscaper in Newbury can help you find the perfect option for every season if you are unsure what you should choose.

4. Add eating and dining facilities

While planning for an outdoor space, don’t forget to think about dining and eating areas. Most people first consider investing in charcoal barbeque or grill when it comes to preparing food outside. But you can also consider having fire pits or wood-fired pizza in your yard. As per recent trends, several people make separate cooking areas to serve outdoor meals. Along with cooking areas, think about eating areas- where you and your guest can sit and have a delicious meal together.

5. Choose the right furniture

Next is to pick the ideal furniture based on how you want to use your outdoor space. For example, if you intend to use it for reading, relaxing or lounging, consider investing in chairs, coffee tables, etc. And think about purchasing an outdoor dining set if you want to use it for eating and social gatherings. Search online or consult a landscaper in reading to buy the right outdoor furniture.

6. Invest in weather-resistant furniture

Your outdoor furniture has to withstand different seasons, so it must be durable enough to last. Some of the most durable materials used in outdoor furniture are aluminium, stainless steel, wrought iron, plastic, cotton canvas, and many more. So, buy outdoor furniture made of these materials. You can also select multi-functional furniture, such as convertible benches, fire pit tables, garden stools and outdoor dining sets for your yard.

7. Pick the right lights

Lights add to the beauty of outdoor space, especially during evenings. But make sure you don’t install too many lights on your property. When it comes to lighting, there are many options from which you can pick, such as electric lights, LEDs, candles, fairy lights, and chandeliers. You can choose any light source, but ensure you position them in the right place. Also, place lights wisely in the paths, walkways and steps to help navigate the people along the property.

8. Personalise your space

You can reflect your style and interests to people by personalising your outdoor space. One of the best ways to do this is to hang outdoor artwork such as metal sculptures and photographs. Some people also add personal items having sentimental value, such as family photos and collections, to make their space look like an extension of themselves.

Continue Reading

Landscaping Tips to Make Your Home Look Amazing - Landscaper Reading

Whether you have a vast yard or a little space in an urban setting, a landscape design may breathe new life into your outdoor space. Everything, including flowerbeds, grass, and other landscaping elements, affects how your home looks. We have included a few landscaping suggestions to help you revamp your outside space. The following ideas are good for any landscape, irrespective of size, style and region.

1. Determine your needs

What do you want? A space where you can grow vegetables, a place where your children can play, or a place where you can enjoy with your family and friends. After deciding what you want, draw a rough sketch of the design and think about where you will place things. Experts say that landscaping designs increase the home's sale value by an average of 7%.

2. Think about the sun and wind

Think about the sun and the wind because they significantly impact how comfortable our outdoor environment is overall and how quickly the plants develop. Some of the tips below can help you with this.

Sun

• Notice the sun and shade of the sun in your yard throughout the year. It will help you choose the right plants and the direction in which you can place the patio.

• Choose the right plant for your yard depending on the sun's exposure. For example, plants that require full-day sun thrive in areas where there is direct sunlight, whereas shade-loving plants thrive in shady areas. Landscaper Reading can help you make the right direction when it comes to selecting the right plants for your garden.

Wind

• Wind patterns at your home location will help you determine where you can plant a windbreak.

• If you live in a windy area, consider plants that can tolerate strong winds, which include grasses and shrubs.

3. Decide a focal point

The Focal point is that part of your landscape that draws attention or creates an interest in your landscape. And it can be anything from a tree to a sculpture, depending on your purpose. And not only rock, trees or a water feature, but you can also use potted plants or outdoor furniture as a focal point.

4. Add layers

Adding layers is one of the most effective ways of creating interest and depth in your outdoor space. If you don’t know how you can add layers to your outdoors, below are some tips.

• Begin from the base layers

Ground cover and background design constitute the base or foundation of your landscape. You can use plants of different textures, styles, colours and heights to create a design that can draw interest.

• Consider the middle layer

The middle layer consists of plants that are slightly larger than the plants in the base layer. One can use shrubs and small trees in the middle layer.

• Use hardscape elements

Consider using hardscape elements such as walls, paths and garden beds to create layers in your landscape. You can also use gravel and bricks to add texture to your landscape.

5. Start from small

You can’t make significant changes in the landscape in a few days unless you hire a landscaper in Newbury. Landscaping involves a lot of things, such as heavy lifting, which is not easy for a newbie. So, start slowly and enjoy the whole landscaping process. You can start by planting the flower bed and then execute the next part of your landscape design. If you continue working like this, you will soon make the landscape of your dreams.

6. Add lighting

Lighting can enhance the look and feel of your outdoor space in several ways. It helps draw attention to the stunning features of your yards, such as a water feature, sculpture, etc. Soft and warming lights also help in creating a comfortable and cosy environment for your outdoor space. In addition to these, adding light in the outdoor space also makes it easier for people to navigate.

7. Maintain your landscape

Regular maintenance is the best way to keep your landscape looking amazing. Pruning trees and shrubs, controlling weeds, mulching, cleaning, watering, seasonal planting and mowing your lawn can help you maintain your landscape.

Conclusion

At last, by following the above tips and ideas, you can transform the look of your landscape. Also, incorporate your personal preferences/styles and enjoy the landscape design process.

Continue Reading

How easy is it to maintain a garden? Do and don'ts of gardening?

Everyone loves gardening, but only a few can do it because of their busy lifestyle. The good news is that there are some ways through which you can maintain your garden with less effort. Read the below article to know how you can easily maintain your garden in less time.

Watering

• Consider watering plants in the early morning or evening as watering during the other time of the day lead to evaporation due to heat.

• Avoid watering the plant leaves, as this can cause mould to grow. If dust accumulates on the leaves, wash them carefully.

• Install an irrigation system that can regulate the water flow into the soil and use minimum water, such as a drip irrigation system.

Lawn

• Don’t cut the grass too short if the temperature is high. Long grass protects the soil from the sun and prevents it from drying.

• Clean your gardening tools at least once a month to prevent the transfer of diseases from one plant to another.

• Aerate your lawn after a month or two to ensure the water and nutrients reach the roots. A landscaper in reading can help you aerate your lawn the right way.

Weeds

• Avoid leaving spaces in-between plant beds and other areas of your garden, as it allows the weeds to grow and thrive.

• Remove the weeds after 2-3 weeks, as they hinder the growth of plants by consuming plants’ resources and suffocating their roots.

• Apply mulch to your lawn to prevent the growth of weeds.

After learning how to maintain your garden, let us now help you know what you should do and what not to do when it comes to gardening.

Do’s- Perennials, fertilization and mulching

• Perennials will ensure you have a blooming garden throughout the year. So, consider planting them in your backyard.

• Fertilization and mulching support the growth of plants and suppress weeds.

Do’s- Add compost and provide drainage

• Water logging damages the roots of the plants, so provide drainage to help prevent it.

• Compost improves the quality of your soil. Try to feed your plants compost for at least a month or a week.

Do’s- Treat plants and give supplements

• Consider pre-treating plants that are vulnerable to fungus. As per the landscapers in Newbury, plant prevention is easier than curing them from fungus damage.

• You can treat your evergreen that has turned yellow by applying an iron supplement.

Don’ts- Insecticides and Pruning

• Not every insect transmits diseases and decreases the yield. So, if you haven’t seen or identified insects in your yard, avoid spraying insecticides.

• Refrain from pruning a tree or a shrub when it is blooming.

Don’ts- Soil, container plants, weeding, fertilizers

• Avoid reusing the soil of the last season in the plant container. You can use the soil for composting or throw it in the flower bed. Add new soil in the containers along with organic compost to grow a healthy plant.

• Refrain from over-fertilizing your garden because it will hinder the growth of your plants in the long run.

• Use organic fertilizers as they are environment-friendly.

• Vegetables require direct sunlight, so avoid planting them in shady areas.

• Add compost and organic matter in the right amount.

Don’ts- Diseases, Overcrowding, planting

• If you see signs of disease, treat the plant as soon as possible or remove it to avoid spreading to other plants.

• Do not sow the seeds too close to each other- this will weaken the plants as they grow. Overcrowding also invites insects because it gives them nesting sites to grow and develop.

• Don't plant anything in your garden, even if you dream of creating a garden full of plants and vegetables. It is because some plants and vegetables don't grow well together. Also, don't forget sunlight when growing plants and vegetables in the garden.

PEOPLE ALSO ASK -

Do and don'ts of gardening?

Do’s: Watering the plants at the right time, adding mulch to your plants, planting native and perennial plants, etc.

Don’ts: Overdoing watering and fertilization, forgetting to leave space in between plants, leaving rocks in the soil, spraying insecticides without need, etc.

Continue Reading

What is the next big thing in landscaping 2023?

We started thinking more about our outdoors when the pandemic forced us to spend time at home. Though many of us made several changes in our front yards and backyards during that time, we need to know about the latest landscaping trends to make our outdoors more vibrant and inspirational. If you are looking for the latest outdoor designs, we have mentioned some great ones below.

1. An eco-friendly garden

An eco-friendly garden will be the garden of the future, and why not? It helps the environment and makes the outdoors look amazing. You can start creating a sustainable garden by adding edible plants to your existing landscape and using organic products.

The latest trend is nurturing the environment by planting bird-friendly plants, herbs, trees and shrubs all together in a space. You can consider growing plants such as superlicious blackberry and fresco in your backyard to give it a trendy and lively look.

2. A simple architecture

Simple architecture gives the feeling of elegance and tradition- you may have seen this in European wineries and luxury hotels. If you want to copy this trend, stick to only two colours, such as white and green. Some people who are interested in the simple architectural trend consider working with landscapers in Newbury to create a decent garden look. However, others design on their own with beautiful grass borders and boxwood hedges but with traditional plants such as roses.

3. A sanctuary

People have become more aware towards mindfulness and well-being; They want to create a space where they can connect with nature and relax with their families. And nothing is better than making a sanctuary at home.

You can create an outdoor space that gives the feeling of a sanctuary by including a water feature, using soothing colours such as white and creating enclosed spaces for doing yoga. Professionals recommend keeping green as the primary colour outdoors since it creates a calming and relaxing effect.

4. A vertical pocket garden

If you live in a city, think about creating a living wall or green wall, which is nothing but a vertical garden where plants are grown in a structure and then attached to the wall. The best thing about living walls is you can increase or decrease the plants as per your space and budget. Moreover, if you live in an apartment and looking for beautiful screen ideas for privacy- it is the best pick. They will also clean the air in your surroundings and attract wildlife which is ideal for city living.

5. A victorian garden

This new trend is gravitating towards traditional plants such as roses and lilac- Thanks to the Netflix series, “Blame it on Bridgerton”. The victorian garden features pink, purple and white colour flowers with brick pathways and birdbaths. To give your outdoors a victorian garden look, pick fragrant roses such as pink climbing roses and purple flowers such as Arctic falls campanula.

6. Greek-inspired garden

2023 is set to embrace the greek inspired gardens which feature stone garden walls and statues. Greeks predominantly use white and neutral colours in the garden to give an elegant outdoor look. If you want to create a greek inspired garden, use whitewashed walls and light-coloured statues; They will help reflect the sunlight and make your space more serene. You can also plant beautiful olive trees in your backyard or front yard to give it a greek garden vibe.

7. A garden sculpture

According to designers and landscapers at reading, there is growing interest in adding beautiful sculptures in outdoor spaces. The primary purpose of adding sculpture in the backyard is to make the eye absorb the whole place instead of looking at it quickly. A well-placed sculpture in the backyard elevates the mood and gives a sense of calm in this fast-moving world. Some designers add lights around them to create the right atmosphere at night.

8. A living room outdoors

This is another trend that will continue dominating landscaping designs in 2023. But you have to pick the furniture that suits your outdoors and does not look like an add-on. You can create a hotel-style outdoor living room by choosing a state of the art furniture and textiles such as rugs, throws and pillows.

9. A cheery and bright outdoor space

A garden full of vibrant colours can never go out of trend, so be more and more creative when it comes to picking different colours. During spring, mother nature opens a box of colours that can make your garden a beautiful valley of flowers. But while picking flowers, think about their colours and texture and combine them to create an attractive garden. For example, you can blend pink colour with red and softer pink in your garden and try different colour combinations to create a stunning outdoor space.

Continue Reading