One of the joys of summer has to be spending time outdoors and eating outside. It’s the perfect time for picnics, barbecues, and even just snacks and ice cream breaks while you’re outside. But not every garden is created equally. Some are better designed than others for outdoor eating.
Many garden designers and landscapers recommend creating “zones” in your garden, especially if you have a lot of space. This allows you to break up your garden depending on how you use it. So, you might have an area for a vegetable garden, a playing area for children, a lawn, a place to relax alone, and finally an area where you can sit together and enjoy good food and company.
Creating a Flat Space
You have a few different options for eating outside. A picnic blanket can go on the lawn, and is better on short, soft grass. You can relax without getting covered in grass stains.
But if you want a more stable eating experience, you will need to put your garden furniture somewhere flat and solid. Decking is a fantastic option for this. It’s attractive, easy to put up, and provides a great base for garden furniture.
But decking has its limits. If you want to grill food outside on a BBQ, bear in mind that wooden decking isn’t fireproof. Falling embers can cause burns and potentially be a fire risk, especially if they fall between or under the slats. In this case, paved areas are a better option.
Elevation and Levels
Depending on your land, it might be beneficial to create different elevations in your backyard. Decking can create this very easily in any garden, because it’s usually raised off the ground regardless how flat or hilly your property is.
If you have a significant slope on your property, it can be hard to plan around it for landscaping purposes. Some landscapers can turn a hill into an area with different flat levels. This makes it easier to navigate your garden and to grow things comfortably, without worrying about a steep hill.
This kind of landscaping might take a lot of time, but it’s a great way to revamp your garden and make it look completely new. It’s functional and beautiful all at the same time.
Walkways and Borders
If you want a zoned garden, the best option is to create walkways and borders so you have a clear path through your garden.
The borders don’t have to be impassable walls, but can be a simple marking to let you know where you are in your garden. This is especially useful for vegetable and fruit gardens, because different borders can help you remember what’s growing where.
You can find stone for sale that helps you create these borders and pathways. Gravel pathways are attractive and easy to put down, especially because you can use different colours. You can also use larger rocks to mark paths through your garden.
