How to create a garden you can enjoy all year round

During the summer months, you’ll probably find yourself rushing outside to enjoy the sunshine. Whether it’s cooking on a barbecue, reading a book or even just lying down and enjoying the feeling of the sun on your skin, many of us want to spend as much time as possible outdoors. The only problem is during the winter months most gardens are a lot less tempting. Whether it’s the rain that’s turned the grass into mud, the snow that’s made the paths slippery or even the extreme cold that makes it unbearable to sit outside, there are lots of reasons to avoid the garden when the weather changes.

While some people might just close the gates to their gardens for over half of the year, there are many ways you can make sure that extra space is usable from January to December. Here are some ways to transform your garden into a space you can enjoy all year round:

Choose artificial turf

The most important part of the majority of gardens is the lawn. Whether you use it to play sports on or just to relax on, it’s probably the biggest space you have in your garden to enjoy. The big problem is that as soon as it rains it transforms from soft green grass to a muddy brown mess. Nobody will want to lie down on it as it’ll soak through and stain their clothes. It can also be difficult to play on the grass when it’s muddy, as it becomes harder to keep your balance when sliding along an unstable surface.

Luckily there is a way to keep your lawn looking healthy all through the year. By installing artificial grass, you’re creating a lawn that looks like it’s had the benefits of the summer sun all year round. As there is no soil at the surface of the lawn, there is no chance of any mud appearing and spoiling your lawn. While all grass might seem the same, there are a lot of big differences between different types of artificial lawns. Make sure you choose a high-quality synthetic turf that will last for many years. For example, SYNLawn Texas make their own artificial grass in their own manufacturing facility, meaning they can have a high level of quality control over the whole process. They state that they are the only company to supply USDA-certified, plant-based synthetic turf products in the industry. Not only do all of their products look good, but the processes used to make these products are a lot more sustainable and environmentally friendly than those used by some other companies.

The great news is that these lawns are very easy to maintain, which means you won’t have to fill in any patches or even mow the grass at any point during the year.

Install some shelter

The big problem about being outside in the winter months is that you’re open to all of the elements. Nobody wants to feel rain, snow, or even hailstones, falling down on them. While it might be tempting to run back inside your home as soon as it rains, you’ll miss out on the many benefits of being outside. Whether it’s the fresh air, the night sky or even the sound of the rain hitting the floor, there are still a lot of relaxing things for your senses to enjoy in your garden even if rain, snow or hail is falling from the sky.

To stop yourself wanting to hide indoors, you simply need to install a roof over part of your garden. Whether it’s a permanent feature like a covered deck or a pergola, or a more temporary solution like a gazebo, purchase something with a big enough roof to comfortably cover you and your friends and family. As well as protecting you in the winter months, it’ll also give you a place to enjoy some shade when the sun is too intense during the summer.

Heat up

Even if you are under a roof, there is one type of weather that you’ll still feel – the extreme cold. While you could try and wear lots of jumpers and a big coat, or even hide under a blanket, these often do very little to protect you from the cold. Instead, install a heater in your garden to raise the temperature even when mother nature tries to make it feel cooler. There are lots of different types of heater you can buy for your garden. You could try a simple wood burner that you light and burn logs on throughout the night. The main disadvantage is that these can cause a lot of smoke and end up making your clothes smell. An alternative is to buy a patio heater that is powered by electricity or gas. While these can be expensive to run, they provide constant heat with very little effort.