We all know what a messy house looks like – cluttered shelves, busy surfaces, floors covered in things that shouldn't be there – but what about a messy garden?
For many of us, our top priority in the garden is ensuring our plants thrive. This could mean regular pruning, frequent planting, or watering our pots. In the midst of all this, however, it's easy to overlook how messy our gardens can get.
Clutter and chaos, sadly, are not just restricted to interiors. Our gardens can make a bad first impression too – particularly as the weather warms up and people start to spend more time outside.
To save you from any social awkwardness, we asked the experts for their insights into what features can make a garden feel messy — and what to do instead. Keep reading to find out...
1. Too much bulky furniture
'Particularly in small gardens, bulky furniture or multiple pieces of furniture can look a little messy, especially when paired with other essential garden items. It can overpower the space, making it look smaller than it actually is,' says Kris Manalo, head of design at Atkin and Thyme.
What to do instead...
When it comes to a solution, Kris recommends keeping things simple. 'Choosing neat, lightweight furniture that can be easily tucked away when it's not in use can make a big difference,' says Kris
'Multi-use pieces are another great option for saving on space and making your garden look tidier. Consider a low-slung set that can double up as a relaxed dining area, as well as a space to lounge and unwind.'
2. Patchy lawns
Much like an ugly stain on a beautiful cushion, patchy lawns are a surefire way to make your space look messy. 'Patchy lawns are also a big factor because a tired, uneven lawn instantly drags down the overall appearance of a garden,' says Hillary's garden expert Luke Newnes.
What to do instead...
'If regular maintenance isn't realistic, I often suggest reducing lawn size altogether,' says Luke. 'Replace problem areas with gravel, paving or low-maintenance ground cover planting like thyme or creeping sedum as these options look intentional and are much easier to keep neat.'
If you don't want to reduce the size of your lawn (we get it!), commit to making it full and healthy instead. Use lawn seed to reseed the troublesome area and get your lawn back to its usual healthy self.
3. Ill-defined planting
Sometimes a naturalistic look can be just what you're after, but is your garden starting to look a little unkempt?
'When borders blur into lawns or plants spill unpredictably over pathways, it can quickly feel untidy,' says Luke.
What to do instead...
'Sharp, clean edges make a huge difference. I'd recommend installing simple edging and choosing structured planting like shrubs, ornamental grasses or repeated perennials to bring rhythm and order,' says Luke.
Alternatively, use a half-moon edger to trim any grass that's grown onto your pathway. Here, keeping your garden tidy doesn't have to mean putting in hours of work. Just a small trim can keep your outdoor space looking neat and tidy.
4. Cluttered pots and planters
While an assortment of pots can look charming on a patio, it's easy to overdo it. Too many containers can overwhelm a space and create a cluttered, garden centre-like feel.
'An excess of pots, particularly different shapes, sizes and styles dotted around at random, creates visual noise that makes even a generous space feel cramped,' says Elliot Anderson-Evans, Co-Founder of design-led estate agency Elliot & Hill.
What to do instead...
'Editing down to a smaller number of statement pots in a consistent material or colour, grouped intentionally rather than scattered, creates a far cleaner look. Less is almost always more with container planting,' says Elliot.
5. Weeds poking through patios or gravel
For all the appeal of a beautifully paved patio, its charms are somewhat undermined when weeds start to pop through its cracks.
'Gravel with weeds coming through and patios with moss or plant growth between the slabs consistently read as the most neglected feature in a garden, and buyers notice it before almost anything else,' says Elliot.
What to do instead...
'Repointing patio joints with polymeric sand and using a quality weed membrane under any gravel areas prevents the problem long term. In the short term, a thorough weed and pressure wash makes an immediate and dramatic difference.'
Here's to maintaining a healthy and ordered garden – just in time for the sun to come out!
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