Making the most of your garden

It’s at this time of year that gardens suddenly burst back into life and, if you are selling, buying or renting, they get considerably more attention than in the depths of winter. So, how can you maximise its value?

We are not talking about extending it here, because often that’s impossible. Nor are we going to suggest you to add expensive structures or outbuildings. No, this is about simple ways to add value to what you’ve already got.

A study by AXA found that a well-maintained garden can up to 20% to the value of your home. Using average values, that’s £54K for the UK and £110k in London.

That's probably a bit on the high side but is the kind of value boost that justifies allocating at least a half-decent budget for your spruce-up. Here are a few ideas on how to use it.

Make a space for entertaining

There’s nothing better than a dedicated spot in your garden for al-fresco dinners and it is one of those things that really catches the imagination of buyers and renters alike.

When you are choosing where to locate it, though, first think carefully about whether it will get the sun at the right times of the day.

If you have an uneven garden, decking would be a good choice, as you can build a platform to level it out. According to Checkatrade, prices will vary from £70/sqm for softwood to £120/sqm for hardwood or composite decking.

Another option would be paving. Using basic slabs, it would cost around £65/sqm but prices will rise considerably if you use more expensive stones. Prices for flagstones, for example, start from £120/sqm.

Once that’s done, it’s time to choose the furniture and a barbecue and, if you’ve got the space, a firepit.

Light it up

There are so many great outdoor lights around these days and they will enable you to extend the time you can use the garden, especially in any entertaining areas. Solar lights are quick and cost-effective to buy and install but don’t give off a huge amount of light and they tend to only last a couple of years.

If your budget can stretch a little further, mains-powered lighting can really bring your garden to life at night. They should be installed by a qualified electrician and you will need armoured cables, too. Checkatrade recommends you allocate around £400 for a 10-led light set-up.

Add a water feature

A pond or water feature can be a great way to add some character to your garden - big or small. And it will also be a haven for all sorts of wildlife from frogs to dragonflies.

However, you should be wary of adding one if you have a home that could appeal to young families when you’re trying to sell because it can be seen as a safety hazard. Ponds also need maintenance, so if you’re not keen on getting your hands dirty, this may not be for you.

Instead of a pond, you could opt for a modern, self-contained water feature (£100-£300 for a solar-powered one), which will bring the tranquil sound of trickling water into your garden. There are normally lots to choose from in your local garden centre but try and stick to the quality end of the market, as some of the cheaper, more gimmicky ones will not enhance the value of your garden.

Raise your levels

Varying the levels in your garden can make a big difference as it adds real visual interest and it doesn’t have to be expensive. The easiest way to do it is to use railway sleepers to create a raised flower bed. You can even stack them if you want a bit more height. You’ll need to provide a bit of a foundation, but then all you need do after that is to put them in place and add soil.

Railway sleepers typically cost between £20-£30 each.

Lots of pots

If you are planning on selling or renting out your property, one of the best things you can do is buy yourself some plant pots and fill them with lots of brightly coloured flowers. Not only will they really brighten up your garden, but you will also be able to take them with you when you go. Large pots start from around £30 but larger, designer ones can cost several hundred pounds.

Deal with those bare patches

If you’ve got any bare patches, it’s often because it’s somewhere that gets no light. Don’t fight it. Try and work with it, instead. If it’s the lawn, you can often just extend the flowerbed into the area or, sometimes, you can pave over it. If it’s a flowerbed, just do an online search for shade-loving plants and you will discover a whole host of them.

Lawns

The lawn is at the centre of your garden and if it looks good, so does the rest of it. One great tip to tidy it up is to make sure you cut a nice straight line on its edges.

If, however, your lawn is a disaster area, you are not alone, but there are lots of things you can do. Reseeding it can be slow and is a bit hit and miss but is by far the cheapest option. You could also just start again and re-turf it, but make sure you prepare it properly first or you could just call in an expert.

Turf costs between £2/m2 for basic quality up to £7/m2 for premium grass (Checkatrade).

If you are thinking of buying or selling a property, give us a call at Phillip Arnold Auctions - 020 8799 3880. Or, to see our latest properties visit our website.

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