Great garden ideas for UK homes

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Not all gardens were created equal, especially here in the UK where temperamental weather, bad soil and awkward dimensions are frequently issues that need to be dealt with, which is why this guide has been curated, to show you the inherent potential that is lurking in the outdoor spaces of every UK home. Of course, professional gardeners have long been aware that there is a lot to be said to an English garden, located in the country or not, as they have been overseeing amazing backyard projects for years, but not everybody seems to share their optimistic appraisal.

Garden ideas, due to where they are going to be realised, really do need to be beautiful. Unlike other spaces in or around a home, practicality is not the driving force in a garden, which means that a functional installation can't be elevated by sheer usefulness alone; it actually needs to be as gorgeous as possible. That might sound superficial or like a lot of ongoing work will be needed, to maintain the aesthetic, but that's an entirely personal choice. From flora and fauna-free front garden ideas through to luscious plant-filled garden ideas, UK homeowners can decide not only how their outdoor spaces look and feel, but also how much time they will need to dedicate to keeping them looking perfect.

This guide is a showcase of some of the most popular garden design ideas being showcased in the UK right now, each of which has advantages and disadvantages to be aware of.

Traditional garden design ideas.

A shapely lawn, full to bursting borders and a lot of colour will never go out of style, in terms of being a perfect landscaping choice for rural UK homes. It's all about working with the aesthetic, age and location of a property, to get that ideal outdoor space and this steadfast yet simple look is lovely for older properties. 

The only disadvantages of a garden with a traditional touch are that regular pruning and dead-heading will be necessary, as will proper lawn mowing.

Modern garden ideas.

Modern gardens always seem to be a contemporary take on recognised motifs, such as Japanese zen installations or, as seen here, vegetable gardens. There will usually be neat and orderly plant beds, tucked in with chic gravel or stone chips and finished beautifully with a patio.

Disadvantages of modern gardens is that weeds really disrupt the look, meaning that regular weedkiller applications will be needed, as will mulch top-ups, to hide the pesky critters.

Courtyard garden patio ideas.

A lot of home sin the UK don't have much of a garden to speak of at all. In fact, with a huge number of terrace houses only having a courtyard space to play with, al fresco creativity has become essential, which is why so many pretty little courtyard patio designs have sprung up. Chic, fantastically urban by their very design handy as an extra dining space, they really hit the spot.

Disadvantages of a courtyard patio garden is that the surfaces will need to be kept clean, using a pressure-washer, otherwise wooden decking will get slimy and damaged and stone slabs will lose their lustre.

Garden design ideas on a budget.

Let's accept that not everybody in the UK has a huge amount of money to spend on finishing a garden. That's why simple, yet cost-effective landscaping has become really popular. Instead of 'wasting' money on a lot of plants, a well-maintained lawn is a priority, especially for family homes, alongside the erection of stylish fencing. Hedging tends to be a popular choice, as many styles are exceptionally cheap, in terms of how large they grow.

Disadvantages of budget gardens is that to keep them looking good, maintenance will be needed, so while money won't be an issue, time can be. Regular hedge trimming will be essential and fence panels should be painted every year, to keep up the façade of a more costly installation. 

Rustic garden ideas.

When it comes to pretty garden ideas, cheap isn't always a word that springs to mind, but in a rustic setting, it can absolutely be realised! Essentially, to create a charming rustic outdoor space, all that's needed is an appreciation of non-perfect materials, such as rugged stone and natural wood, plus a desire to let flowerbeds grow a little more rambunctiously than normal.

Wooden furniture usually plays a big part in a rustic garden, which means it will need staining and treating regularly, to prolong the lifespan. Other than this, there seems to be no disadvantages to the look, other than a lack of control over the flower heights!

Non-green garden ideas.

Not everybody wants to spend their weekends tending the garden and there's nothing wrong with admitting that a green thumb is not in effect, which is why a contemporary gabion garden could be the ideal solution for a lot of UK homes. Strikingly different, a doddle to maintain and very urban, this isn't an aesthetic for the fainthearted.

The main disadvantage of gabion garden designs is that getting all the materials in place can be difficult, especially if access is an issue. It's also a very definitive finished look, which will be hard to undo.

Small garden ideas

Small gardens aren't big problems for creative people, as everything a much larger piece of land offers can be enjoyed, just on a more modest scale. By making a list of everything that they want, homeowners can prioritise certain garden elements, to get a functional and stylish space. Outdoor seating, neat borders and somewhere to cook will usually be on the wishlist.

The disadvantages of a comprehensive small garden design is that without caution, the proportions can feel even more cramped. Objective help as to what can be left out proves very useful in these cases.

Mediterranean garden décor ideas.

With garden ideas, small yet stylish choices make a big difference and can help to really capture a desired aesthetic, such as a Mediterranean look. A couple of potted olive trees, some decorative railings and natural wood furniture have honed in on exactly that, here, even though the courtyard is small.

Disadvantages of trying to capture a Mediterranean garden design in the UK is that the weather will probably not play ball. In fact, there will most likely be not nearly enough heat o sun to sustain plants that tend to grow overseas.

Stone garden design.

Installing garden design ideas, low maintenance-inspired ones, is something that inexperienced or lazy gardeners naturally want and a good course of action is to invest in artificial grass and lots of gravel. Minimising the amount of living elements will cull the necessary maintenance schedule dramatically and still create a beautiful aesthetic/

Disadvantages of a low maintenance garden can be that artificial grasses tend to come with a big price tag and a substantial amount of levelling is needed, before any stones can be laid.

Hidden garden lighting ideas.

No garden is complete without some innovative lighting, but that goes double for UK spaces, thanks to the regularity of dark days and miserable weather conditions. Using shapely topiaries to distract from lighting set-ups is a fantastic idea and has been used in heritage gardens for a long time. By uplighting some unusual shapes, all eyes will be on the plants, rather than the useful illumination fixtures.

Disadvantages of a light-filled garden are focused around the fact that when you add technology to anything, the likelihood of an issue increases exponentially. Solar-powered options will need to be maintained, to ensure the panels are getting enough sunlight and mains-supplied lighting should always be installed and looked after by a qualified electrician, which can prove costly.

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