With this warm spell of weather we’ve been having recently we’ve luckily been able to continue working on our garden throughout October.  Ben has been laying a patio at the very bottom and will be building his workshop on top of it next week.  We also recently installed a veranda to the back of the house.  We still need to add decking underneath it and create some furniture.  Our chicken coop needs extending, we need a toy storage shed and we’d like to build a garden room.  Once all this is complete we can start to think about plants and flowers to pretty up the rest of the space between all our garden buildings!  Ben certainly has his work cut out for the next few months and we hope it won’t get too cold this winter so we can complete as much as possible before the lovely weather in the spring.  Then we can enjoy the garden finally, instead of working on it all the time!

I’ve been browsing the web for inspiration for prettying up our garden and I’m full of ideas.  Here are 9 easy ways you can update your garden without much effort:

Add a fountain

A water feature or wall fountain from Outdoor Fountain Pros can improve the look of your garden in an instant.  Plus the sound of the trickling water makes a great place to relax or even medidate.

Paint the fences

Give your fences a new lease of life with a lick of paint, or why not go wild and change the colour altogether?  You’ll be surprised at how brand new your fences will look with a bit of paint.

Create a veg garden

Turn growing veg into a talking point with a freestanding vegetable trug.  Not only will you be able to eat your very own home grown produce, but the trugs look great too.

Hang flower baskets

Save time by buying ready-made baskets from your local garden centre or get creative and create your own.  Buy a basket, soil and plenty of overflowing plants to spill over the edge.

Upcycle your furniture

If your garden furniture is looking a little worse for wear, sand it down and stain it to protect it from the elements and make it look new again.

Add a swing seat

Add a garden swing chair for adults and children alike.  It’s the perfect way to create a cosy corner in the garden to relax and read your favourite book.

Light it up

Pretty up a veranda with festoon lighting draped underneath.  Illuminate paths with solar light stakes or wrap trees in solar powered fairy lights to bring the garden to life when darkness falls.

Add textiles

Soft furnishings are not just for indoors.  Brighten up your garden bench with a padded seat and colourful outdoor cushions.  Add an outdoor rug and floor cushions to sheltered areas.

Welcome wildlife

Add a bird bath, house and feeders to encourage birds into the garden and to add some interesting features.  Bug houses and bee hotels look great and will entertain children too.

Final word

These are my 9 quick and easy tips to update your garden as well as making it more interesting.