A small space can look messy very easily while urban views such as tower blocks or industrial estates, while appealing to some, can compromise our enjoyment of our gardens. With a few small changes you can make a huge visual improvement to your garden, here we share some top tips to overcome this.
1. Freshen up
Dirt and grime are synonymous with city living. As a result urban gardens can often look, and feel, grubby. So why not have a good clean up? A good starting point is to freshen up your fences, walls, paving or any grimy surfaces by using a garden cleaner. Look for one that is chemical free and safe around children, pets and plants, such as Ronseal’s High Performance Garden Cleaner. These are really easy to use; just dissolve the soluble tab in water and scrub away. For large surface areas, try applying with a power sprayer - this will make the job much quicker and give great results.
2. Urban sanctuary
Many urban gardens suffer due to their outlook. It may sound obvious but erecting high fence panels will help to disguise ugly views, as well as improving your privacy. Attach trellising so you can grow ivy and other climbing plants to help soften the look. Make sure your fence panels are protected with a quality fence product as this will help them keep their colour and prevent them from splitting or developing unsightly gaps and holes.
3. Cover and conceal
Whether it’s inside or outside the home, it’s easy for small areas to get cluttered, which can quickly lead to a messy, unsightly space. Try concealing your clutter with clever storage. A shed is a great way to do this if you’ve got the room - and you can even custom make some sheds to fit your space.
Alternatively, invest in a couple of deep hinged storage boxes, which are a versatile solution, and can also be used as seating. Opt for timber to blend with the natural environment - plastic can look unsightly. Make a feature of your storage by staining with a coloured wood stain. Go for natural colours that will enhance the organic beauty of your garden, such as Ronseal’s Woodland Trust Colours range. All of the stains have been inspired by British woodland.
4. Deck it out
Very small lawns are difficult to maintain and keep looking attractive, as the small surface area tends to mean they get worn and tired looking very easily. They can also suffer from a lack of sunlight. A great way to get around this problem and to achieve a polished contemporary look is to deck the area instead.
If you’re lucky enough to have a south facing spot use the elevation to create a sun trap and use as a space for entertaining. Just make sure you build the deck wide enough to fit garden furniture and leave enough space for you and your guests to manoeuvre around. Splintered, weathered decking will quickly become an eyesore so it’s important to protect it with a hard wearing decking stain, such as Ronseal High Traffic Decking Stain, which has been specifically designed for high footfall areas.
For more information visit www.ronseal.co.uk or www.WoodlandTrust.org.uk/Ronseal.
