A well designed garden truly can act as another room of the house. It can be challenging, it can be hard graft but no other space can give you that sense of achievement once it is completed and looking its best.

Gardening serves as a hobby for many but for those less green fingered people it can appear daunting and cumbersome at first. Before you begin you decide what the primary use of the garden will be; is it purely for aesthetics, a place to socialise and entertain or maybe an area where the kids can be let loose?

Very few gardens can be left alone without care and attention whether it’s mowing the lawn, pulling up weeds or trimming a hedge but different designs require a varying level of engagement. The balance between flower beds, lawn, decking and vegetable plots will dictate how much time and effort will be needed to maintain a garden so choose wisely before you plough ahead because changing a garden is likely to be far harder than redecorating a room inside the home.

Gardens For Kids

When you have children their safety should be at the forefront of your garden design. Grass is a fairly safe bet where kids cannot do much harm so keep decking and paving to a minimum while features such as ponds will need to be properly fenced off especially when very young children are at play.

Greenhouses and garden sheds should be located towards the bottom of the garden and children should be educated as to the dangers that these structures entail. The last thing any parent wants is an accident involving glass or any one of the array of sharp garden implements. Fences to cordon off these structures are suggested wherever possible.

Should you have any trees in the garden you might want to consider pruning any low branches that kids may be tempted to climb up onto while washing lines should be put away when not in use.

Here are some more detailed guides giving advice on a variety of garden topics:

Garden Sheds

An essential structure for every green-fingered gardener, the humble shed comes in different shapes and sizes.

Garden Decking

Now easier to lay than ever but yet it still adds something special to any garden, decking offers somewhere to sit and enjoy your garden.

Trampoline Safety

Trampolines are often the scene of bumps, bruises and scrapes but if you learn the trampoline safety code these could be avoided.

Lawnmowers

Keeping the lawn in top condition for aesthetic and practical reasons is important so getting the right lawnmower for your needs is essential.

Pressure Washers

Useful when it comes to cleaning patios, decking or even the car, a pressure washer can cut through dirt that manual labour would struggle with.

Garden Fencing

Whether it is for privacy, décor or security purposes, garden fencing can be expensive but careful consideration can reduce your bill.

Gazebos

Often used throughout the summer months as a place to sit and enjoy the garden, eat in or entertain in, a gazebo makes full use of the garden even when the weather is not so bright.