6 easy ways to shape your garden

Chloe Hines Chloe Hines
Otoños que enamoran en la villa.. color, textura, sensaciones..., MARIELA DURA ARQUITECTURA PAISAJISTA MARIELA DURA ARQUITECTURA PAISAJISTA Classic style garden
Loading admin actions …

Having a nice garden with many varied plants and colours is one of the simplest pleasures of life. Taking care of it and watching it bloom requires care, however, this care is well-rewarded by the beauty of nature

You don't need too much space to have a beautiful garden: simply some soil and irrigation, plus some maintenance. If you already have a garden, but want to shape it up – that is another question. Do not be discouraged! With this wonderful and succinct article, homify advises you with six easy ways to shape up your garden to make it even cuter. With a few simple steps, you can organize and harmonise your plants and thus have a peaceful garden full of green space. Remember that a house with a garden has a certain element of nature and fresh air that's nearly impossible with store-bought accessories and decor. Plants never go out of style, so we promise that your investment will be well worth it!

1. Add natural fences

A good idea to shape your garden is to build a natural fence. The fence, of course, depends on the space that you have. A medium-sized garden looks great with yellow jasmine, Lambertian, thuyas, ligustrines, to name but a few

Alternatively, fences can be larger and more hedge-like, such as eucalyptus, pine or poplar. Furthermore, you could also create a trellis fence by using vines and creepers such as rain jasmine, ivy, Chinese jasmine, honeysuckle, to form a twisting, intriguing net of greenery.

2. Using water always works well

When you see a house with a garden as well, we think that whoever lives there is lucky and has been given a rather good life. When you see a clean, organised and well-designed garden, you think that this person understands the importance of living in harmony with nature.

Water is an excellent idea to shape-up your garden and to restrict its space. For this you have several options. One is to build a pond – but remember that it is very important to choose your location wisely. 

This is not a random choice: a pond should have four-to-six hours of direct sunlight a day. With less sun, water flowers will not flourish, and excessive sun runs the risk of algae formation. We also need to avoid having trees around so that their shadow does not interfere and block that crucial light.

3. Plant some shrubs

Remember that plants need some care (removing dead leaves, watering, placing them in appropriate places). All this requires a lot of work, but it is also a time to relax and enjoy a cool atmosphere. 

In the event that we decide to shape the garden, another good option (if somewhat laborious) is to put together bushes and shrubs nearby. Shrubs can be used for the areas of your garden where privacy is a concern. When designing, it is essential to consider your needs: what is your main objective, and what plant species have the ideal characteristics for your garden.?

4. Add variety in height

If you have a small garden area, or a balcony or terrace, you don't need to worry so much about growing trees. You will, however, have to be smart with your proportions and the types and sizes of trees and height you add.

Some very important considerations, besides the size, is to assess whether you  need them for location or functionality and to analyze whether it is appropriate to choose a deciduous or evergreen species. Most important of all, choose something that suits the requirements of the area! The height of the tree can serve as a fence to the garden, but you must be careful with the shadows so as not to entirely cover the rest of the plants and flowers and the house.

5. Chart a path of wild flowers

One of the key elements of larger gardens are the paths and walkways that we define. You can do this by means of man-made materials, but you can also choose natural elements, as seen here. 

You can easily construct paths with common bricks. In order to try something new, simply lay them in an interesting visual pattern! Another idea: use wooden sleepers, which are easily installed and adapt smoothly to the ground. One more option? The famous slabs that we have seen in many gardens. Simply place them on the ground to completely change your garden.

6. Place fences as partitions

A classic: this fence gives us more privacy in the garden and also protects the area by providing a sense of safety.

As for the material of the fence – stick with wood and metal. Wood panels are sold in various heights and in various forms, are practical to install and are economical. Metal fences, however, are more expensive and difficult to install, but they are not impossible.  As always, it depends on your taste and desire to work.

Hopefully some of these great tips will have you preparing for the summer and fall months to make your home's value increase greatly! If you're looking to shape-up your garden on a budget, we can help with that too.

Need help with your home project?
Get in touch!

Highlights from our magazine