Be it a dispassionate assessment or wild fantasising over what could be, before the garden dons its spring glories an appraisal may be in order. Starting a garden from scratch or wanting to tart up an existing one, there's a budget to consider but whatever the state of your wallet, there's plenty that can be bought to make your garden more beautiful.
SOW, SWAP & CUT
You don't get much for that little blue note. It will be a toss-up between a couple of packets of seeds or punnets of seedlings. Annual flowers are great for ready summer colour. Especially desirable are those like alyssum, poppies, lupins and nigella, which bloom for ages and self-seed readily so they'll be coming back year after year. Cheap and cheerful might spring to mind, but with a good eye and a touch of research the look can be moody, sophisticated, dreamy, exotic - whatever you desire.
While it pays to buy seeds of easy-to-germinate vegetables (we're thinking tomatoes, lettuce, radish), it is prudent to buy seedlings of those that are difficult to get started such as celery, eggplant, fennel and peppers.
Free or nearly free plants are, however, obtainable. Look out for seedling swaps. Visit your local community garden. Some have plants to give away, or in return for an hour or so of gardening.
A tub of rooting hormone will gobble up all your cash but cuttings can easily be taken without it. Especially on those plants that root readily, including geranium, pelargonium, succulents, fuchsia or many salvia. It's easier and more satisfying than you may imagine.
CHOOSE NATIVES
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Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Your Home and Garden.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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GET MERRY
Everyone will go crackers about these festive dinner favourites and the delicious trimmings
A brief history of...The Lips sofa
How to straighten up and free yourself from negative behaviour patterns
BREAKING BAD HABITS
How to straighten up and free yourself from negative behaviour patterns
MOMENTS of JOY
Sue Pat's whimsical stationery cleverly captures the wonders of Christmas
GIFTS of the EARTH
An excerpt from garden and interior designer Michael Mansvelt's longawaited book Everyday Opulence
All WHITE NOW
A fresh, coastal take on the classic white Christmas starts with a backdrop of relaxed vintage style. On top, layer shades of white from rich cream to crisp snow, offset by foraged shells and coastal flora also spray painted in white, then worked into wreaths and other essential festive decor elements.
COASTAL CHRISTMAS
A writer is all about enjoying a cruisy, coastal celebration with family and friends
Happy place
A shed on the garden's edge became healing renovation project
ALL IS BRIGHT
Colour is key in Kip&Co co-founder Alex McCabe's vibrant home over the holidays
BOLD & ECLECTIC
In an excerpt from The Makers, writer Pandora Sykes' home is a cosy and chic statement in fearlessness with colour and patterns