Proper planning and sound advice is the secret to great looking gardens

THE days might still bear all the hallmarks of winter but make no mistake about it, this is the time of year to get active in the garden. There’s a welcome stretch in the evenings, while the mornings are thankfully getting brighter and few places convey the onset of spring with such beauty as the garden.

The good thing about gardening is it’s not a question of scale. Your garden can consist of a large, open lawn with broad borders, or simply a patio or porch area. The good thing to know is there’s always a plant or shrub to suit every garden. It’s just a question of taste, creativity and practicality.

The overriding trend in recent years has been to focus on embellishing the interior of our home with fancy furniture and fittings. Nothing wrong with this as we all want our homes to look their best. But part of what makes a home truly stunning is the flowers, shrubs, even vegetables, that dot the exterior space.

These are usually the first thing a visitor will see on the approach to a home and when you apply some effort, it doesn’t pass unnoticed. Having a well-attended garden or lawn not only looks good but gives hours of pleasure, relaxation and quality time throughout the spring, summer and autumn months - often for nothing more than the price of a packet of seeds and plenty TLC.

But as with all projects, timing and preparation are essential to a successful outcome and gardening requires us to plan ahead and seek the best advice from professionals. The good news is that a casual visit to your local garden centre will ensure you get all the advice you need about what to plant and where and when to do so.

But gardening can soon turn into a tricky and expensive hobby leaving you frustrated which is why you need to get the proper advice. All too often we rush to the garden centre at the first sign of spring and buy what we think would look attractive in our gardens. The reality isn’t always the same, however, as we need to take the climate and conditions of our gardens into account. If you have an open garden that gets battered by chilly winds, then you don’t need shrubs that require lots of shade. Things like this need to be considered and this is where the staff at your local garden centre play a big part.

Remember to explain the nature of your garden and ask what plants are best suited. Also, being able to plant properly is the most important aspect of gardening. Pay attention to this as digging the right size hole, correct backfill, inserting a stake if planting trees, etc. are all very important. Gardening is one of life’s great joys and often all that’s required is a little planning and aftercare. Be sure to get out there and get started this spring.