Here in GRUPO PAGÈS BCN, we are big fans of gardens and back yards. Therefore, we wanted to share some basic landscaping and gardening notions with you, and teach you about backyard elements such as pergolas, gazebos, and lighting that you can implement to make your backyard be anyone’s envy.
Regardless of what your garden is like, having an exterior space offers many usage possibilities as well as health benefits due to being in contact with nature. Despite that, putting this space together can be a daunting task though it is of great importance for its maintenance.
It is important to consider dimensions to generate an accurate perception of how much space we have. In addition to that, it is also important to keep the idea of balance in mind when putting a backyard together to avoid making it look messy, too crowded, or overdone. Despite that, we should also be careful not to fall into the other side of the spectrum where using too much symmetry makes it look boring.
We usually organize gardens by area. Plants and flowers will usually be grouped by similar types. It is very important to keep the idea of placement in mind for things such as a vegetable garden since, in this case, it is best to place it where there are more sun hours. When it comes to plants, they can be classified by type. This makes it much easier to maintain them. We will also do this with the vegetable garden since, in this case, it is best to place it where there are more sun hours.
Pergolas, gazebos, and awnings: ideal complements for your terrace or garden
It is hard to enjoy a terrace, a garden, or any other outdoor space as much as we would like to when nothing in it protects us from the sun. Pergolas and awnings are great functional solutions for that, and they can also improve the aesthetic of such spaces. They can even provide a touch of innovation, as do bioclimatic pergolas.
There are different types of pergolas, such as permanent pergolas (made of concrete or brick), canvas pergolas (which are built over wood or steel structures) wooden pergolas (where the whole structure is made of this material), cane pergolas (made with bamboo canes, for instance) and, as previously mentioned, bioclimatic pergolas, the most innovative option.
We can classify them into three main types:
Pergolas with a permanent cover
If you are looking for a solution to create a permanently shaded area the best choice is a pergola with an installed cover. These tend to have a rigid structure. You can find them in many materials depending on your preference. They can even be waterproof. This type of pergola works great if we want to install a grill or when wanting a permanently shaded spot to enjoy our backyard.
Pergolas with a movable cover
If, on the contrary, we are looking for something more practical in the sense that it can adapt to different situations, a pergola with a moving cover would be our best choice. The most common amongst the various types are awnings over rails that we can place wherever we see fit, which allow us to control the amount of shade at any given moment.
If you choose this option, we recommend for the cover to be the cover light-weighted and waterproof in order to make the most of it regardless of weather conditions.
Pergolas with a permeable cover
The most common of this kind are those made with beams. They need to be well-oriented since they are permanent to efficiently project a shadow during the hours with the most Sun but also allowing sun-light to go through during the morning and in the evening.
They can be built from different materials and covered with fabric, awnings, canes, or vegetable covers.
It is important to consider the material of any type of pergola as an aesthetic element since they are going to be the main feature of our outdoor area due to their size. Wooden pergolas don’t look the same as iron ones or the ones made of cane. The type of maintenance they will require depending on their material is another aspect to keep in mind.
You can also incorporate gazebos in your garden, generally, round constructions, hexagonal or octagonal that are not over 3 to 4 meters in diameters, destined mainly as a shelter of your garden décor. These are traditionally placed in the centre of the garden with the goal of both bettering the aesthetics of the property as well as providing a small and intimate space to enjoy mornings and afternoons of the sunny season.
Chill outs, game areas or swimming pools in your garden
In the case of having enough room, a backyard is also an opportunity for leisure. For instance, they can incorporate chill outs, swimming pools, or game areas. These can make us enjoy our garden even further and take it for the treasure it is.
In our May article, we talked about different types of pools and how to pick the best option for you. Not all pools are the same, different types serve different functions, tastes, and aesthetics. We encourage you to check out the article to find the one that will best suit your needs.
As mentioned before, gardens are separated into areas. Not only should we group plants or furniture, but it is also important to delimit such spaces, especially those of plants and flowers. We can do this with bushes, steel sheets, stones, or sand. Vertical gardens, for instance, are quite easy to keep clean and organized as well as being easy to personalize, and can even work in small spaces.
Garden lighting, key element
There are different lighting options for different areas of the garden such as paths or stairs where lighting can be useful to avoid tripping, for instance, but where it can also provide an elegant and modern ambiance.
There are many advantages to installing lamps or LED torches in your garden since these consume 80% less energy than regular light bulbs. Other advantages of LED lights are their warmth, variety of colours, turning on instantaneously, or protecting the environment.
Here are the main options of lighting we can think of for our garden:
- Wall sconces. Sconces are a very functional type of lighting that allows us to generate light without taking up ground space.
- Beacon lights. These are anchored to the ground. They are usually placed to mark a path or light up an area without vertical elements.
- Light projectors. If we are looking to light up a large area highlighting a specific element, light projectors will be extremely helpful.
- Led strips. Led strips can be found in different areas of a garden such as lighting up paths, around trees, or simply acting as mood lighting.
- Exterior lamps. These are usually placed in areas such as the “chill out” space under a pergola, increasing the feeling of a room despite being in the exterior.
Cleaning, always essential in our garden
Maintaining a garden in good conditions can be a daunting task.
Despite that, if you pick up leaves daily, water the necessary areas, and clean the areas that tend to deteriorate the most, your garden will surely become everyone’s envy.
Here are a few maintenance guidelines:
- The ground. Cleaning and good maintenance of the ground are basic to enjoy a garden in good conditions.
- Air. It is obvious that our garden should be a well-ventilated area so that plants can grow without a problem. Lack of ventilation can cause the appearance of fungi.
- Space. We should leave some room between our plants and bushes, otherwise, malformations can occur during their growing process and it also makes it easier for diseases or plagues to propagate between them.
- Insects. It is fundamental to control insect plagues and bacteria that attack plants. There is a wide range of products out there, such as repellents and bactericides, that can achieve that.
- Fertilizer is a basic aspect of gardening.
- Weeds. It is fundamental to get rid of weeds that grow where they shouldn’t.
- Watering. We should avoid an excess of humidity since it can cause that plants to rotten.
- Planting bulbs. Keep in mind the different seasons for blooming and cultivation.
- Pruning. As it happens with planting times, it is important to keep in mind that each plant, tree, or flower needs to be pruned during a specific season
- Plant combination. Combining geraniums with petunias and daisies with tulips are examples of options that will make your garden look great.
Benefits to having a garden at home
As we have previously seen, planting is a fantastic and healthy alternative that also adds beauty to your home. In addition to everything previously mentioned, it has been proven that it provides multiple benefits.
Having a garden and planting reduce cortisol levels, the stress hormone. Therefore, it reduces stress contributing to better humour. It provides room to be able to exercise at home, avoiding a sedentary lifestyle. It also oxygenates and reduces pollution in a home since plants are the best source of oxygen. This helps with sleep disorders and increases vitamin D levels thanks to sunlight.
We hope this article helped you start a garden and organizing it in the best possible way. Remember that planning is an essential task but also a very enjoyable one. From GRUPO PAGÈS BCN we encourage you to consult our experts in landscaping who will help give a personal touch to your home according to your preferences and needs.
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