How does your garden grow?

With the Election just a week away now and much deliberation about what the outcome will be let’s turn our attentions for a moment and forget about the tediousness of politics and concentrate on one of the things that really does make this country perfect – the quintessential country (or town) garden.  Many areas of England including Yorkshire and others have tried to stake a claim to the title “The Garden of England”, but there can be no denying that the green, rolling landscape of this corner of the South East with its miles of woodlands, fields and farmland brimming with orchards and hop gardens, dotted with pretty villages is the true Garden of England.

Spring is indeed one of the most joyous and uplifting seasons and with longer days and (hopefully) warmer evenings we all look forward in eager anticipation to the long overdue English summer ahead and being able to relax with a glass of something admiring the beauty of our precious patch whilst butterflies and bees busy themselves doing what they do best.  Traditionally Spring is also the time when restless folk decide it’s time to build a new nest and estate agents all over the country look forward to one of their busiest times of the year.  According to a recent article in The Times this week, two thirds of potential house buyers consider a garden as one of the important deciding factors when making an offer for a property and even if the house itself comes up to the mark, if the outside space is not right buyers are prepared to walk away and continue their pursuit of the dream formula.

Traditional cottage gardens are clear favourites with well tended lawns surrounded by herbaceous borders stocked with foxgloves, hollyhocks, dahlias, delphiniums and peonies which set the scene beautifully.  However, even the most bijoux town courtyard garden can be transformed into a plethora of colour and perfume with some imaginative planting, lighting and carefully selected hard landscaping.  With the annual Chelsea Flower Show just around the corner for inspiration now is the perfect time to consider how to make your garden grow and capture the imagination of eager new home owners.