Creating your garden sanctuary this winter

Creating a comfortable home, where you can relax and recharge is more important than ever.

With a lot more time at home over the last few months, for many, attention has turned to projects around the house.  Whether this be for maintenance or looking at ways to make your lives and homes more comfortable (and great to look at).

It is sometimes easy to focus on your garden in Spring and Summer when the weather is warm and we spend a lot more time outdoors. But good outdoor design and landscaping should consider all four seasons, allowing you to enjoy your garden year round.

These are a few of our tips for creating outdoor spaces that work throughout the year:

When planning your outdoor living spaces consider the elements across the year.

With the sun higher in summer and lower in winter and the length of the days this can really change the warmth and light in different areas. This is important for plants but also for seating and living spaces where we are attracted to a warm sunny spot to sit.

Wind movements also change through the seasons so shelter becomes an important consideration. Good lighting will help you enjoy your garden in the evenings in the shorter days. Less tends to be more with garden lighting – use inground background lighting to enhance feature plants or structures and make sure paths, any steps or level changes are lit for safe access.

An Outdoor Fire or Firepit is a great focal point for outdoor entertaining, creating atmosphere and helping extend the use of outdoor living spaces.

It’s important to remember that to benefit from the warmth these should be located in a relatively sheltered and partially enclosed space to retain the heat. In areas with long fire restrictions over the summer, it may be worth considering a gas fire rather than wood to extend its use.

A spa will really come into its own in the winter months.

We generally recommend these are either: close to the house or have a separate changing room close by to avoid long walks in the cold and dark. Spas with views can be amazing just remember to consider privacy also and again any protection from prevailing winds.

With planting, careful planning will allow for seasonal colour and texture.

Use a mixture of evergreen and deciduous plants to give you structure throughout the year, including plants that flower year around and ensuring your garden has good plant cover throughout the year.

We tend to use a palette of evergreen groundcovers and shrubs with deciduous trees. But if you need shelter and privacy make sure its evergreen so you don’t get a surprise come winter.

And if you are wanting to recreate your favourite tropical resort at home use warm colours, timber and some of the great subtropicals and native plants that do well in New Zealand to create a lush, informal garden style.