How to make your outdoor space look its best

Whether it’s your own private garden or outdoor space area at your office, green spaces are extremely important to our wellbeing. Being outside for long periods of time has a host of benefits to your physical and mental health, yet, if your garden or outdoor space isn’t somewhere you want to spend time in, it’s likely you’ll ignore its huge potential.

That being said, if you’re not particularly green-thumbed, it can feel a little bit daunting to know how to transform your boring patch of land into a place perfect for your wants and needs. Luckily, making positive changes to your garden doesn’t have to be a stress-inducing, time-consuming nightmare.

Depending on what your needs are, incremental changes can make a huge difference, and with the help of a quality grounds maintenance contractor like Precision Facilities Management, turning your outdoor space into a place you can be proud of has never been easier.

However, if you’re completely stuck on where to start with your garden redesign, we’ve put together this handy guide to help you make positive changes to your outdoor space.

Why make changes?

It really can’t be understated how much of a positive impact a well-looked after outdoor space can have. As we’ve already mentioned, simply being outside for any length of time can have a multitude of health benefits, from helping to boost your immune system to improving mental health and  overall happiness. There is even scientific evidence arguing that a garden filled with pleasant smelling flowers can act as a form of natural aromatherapy, helping you to feel calmer and more relaxed.

These factors are even more beneficial at work, where stress levels are usually higher than at home. Aside from stress reduction, creating an outdoor space that your employees would enjoy can actually help to improve memory and concentration which could potentially lead to higher levels of productivity.

Starting out

While it may be tempting to jump into your garden project right away, shovel in hand, setting out a plan is essential before any work can begin. For starters, consider how you would like to utilise your outdoor space. For example, if your garden acts an outdoor break area for your employees, you’ll likely want to create an environment that promotes calm and relaxation. On the other hand, a family garden will need to consider making space for children to play.

Once you have an overarching idea of the type of garden you would like to create, it’s important to consider the dimensions of the plot you’re working with. Factors such as the direction your garden faces, the style of the building it will be framing and the surrounding area are also important in creating a consistent theme.

Finally, when it comes to garden design, patience really is a virtue. Any seasoned gardener worth their salt will agree that before making any large scale changes, you should spend a year observing your outdoor space cycle through the seasons. Seeing your garden change over the year will give you an idea of its best attributes and help you to decide what changes will have the biggest and most consistent impact.

DIY tips for the outdoor space

Turning your garden into a space that works for you doesn’t have to be a stressful endeavour as there are a host of things you can do on your own that transform your outdoor space. Starting with ‘easy wins’ is always best when redesigning your garden, and here are some of our top tips.

Promote accessibility

Whether you’re making changes to a private garden or an outdoor break space at work, accessibility is extremely important. Paths littered with overgrown plants can make walking through your garden difficult, especially for those who may struggle with movement. It can also make your space look much smaller than it actually is.

To rectify this problem, simply spend some time pruning back any overgrown flora blocking access to your garden. This will instantly create a more open feeling to your garden and is a great place to start.

Planting in threes

When taking a trip to the garden centre, don’t be afraid to buy plants and flowers in three’s rather than simply buying one of each style. Groups of plants have a much bigger impact and planting three along a tight border can create a bold display of continuous colours. This trick works especially well with herbaceous plants such as achilleas and geraniums due to their large size and spread.

Keep your plant pots clean

A simple yet effective tip, keeping on top of patio pot cleaning can make a huge difference and is pretty easy. All it takes is a bucket of warm water, detergent and a handy scrubbing brush to rejuvenate your patio pots and restore them to their former brilliance.

It can also be beneficial to top dress your pots in order to remove weeds, moss and dead leaves. Simply scrape the top 5cm of soil from the top of your plants and replace it with fresh compost or a decorative mulch.

Variety is key

As we’ve mentioned, spending time observing your garden through the seasons is essential, as it gives you an idea of what plants work best throughout the year. For example, spending all of your money on a set of herbaceous flowers can be short-sighted as, come winter time, you’ll be left with barren patches in your flower beds before reemergence in the spring.

With this in mind, look for a variety of flora that can compliment your garden even during the colder seasons. Consider planting foliage, fruit and bark in order to maintain colour well into autumn. It’s also good to remember that native plants are always going to be hardier than their exotic counterparts and are more likely to survive our cold winters, so keep this in mind when shopping around.

The benefits of working with professional landscaping contractors

Sometimes, designing and maintaining a good looking outdoor space can take time and effort that may not be available, especially if you’re running a business. With this in mind, it could be extremely beneficial getting in touch with a professional.

Rather than stressing that your outdoor space isn’t up to scratch, a quality landscaping contractor or grounds maintenance team can stay on top of your requirements and offer a bespoke and professional service for your space.

Businesses can really benefit from hiring a professional, as quality landscaping services can not only improve the look and feel of the garden, they can even promote energy efficiency and safety. For businesses, safety is an especially important aspect of a quality garden, as visitors and potential clients should feel completely safe when on your premises, and this includes your outdoor spaces.

Some landscapers also offer an on-going grounds maintenance service to customers in need of regular help.

Are you looking for a grounds maintenance company you can trust? Get in touch with Precision Facilities Management today

Gardens are an important part of any premises, especially for businesses looking to make a good impression. If you’re looking for an all in one facility management service including bespoke grounds maintenance, Precision is here to help.

Whether you own a large outdoor space that requires that odd maintenance check-up or a highly cultivated garden in need of regular professional attention, our team of garden specialists are here to help.

Working with countless clients from the tip of Cornwall to Northern Scotland, we have cemented ourselves as one of the best facilities management companies in the UK, our high-quality services can take the stress out of facilities management, giving you the time to focus on what’s important.

For more information on our range of facilities management services, including those that could help improve your outdoor space, visit our website or get in touch with a member of our team on 0843 289 9085.