37 garden, terrace and patio designs
Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Surround a water feature with tropical shrubbery to create an exotic jungle effect.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Nothing says English summer like a daisied lawn.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Pick a variation of leaf sizes (they could be edible if you like!) in a container to create striking contrasts.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Crowd your pathway with colourful flowers and shrubs for a wild garden feel.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Get creative with mismatched pots and ornaments.
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Saving water
Gardening can use up lots of water, especially if the months have been dry. But there are ways to save on depleting supplies, not to mention your water bill!Save valuable water on patio gardens by investing in water-retaining gel for potted plants and flowers and hanging baskets. You could also add decorative mulch to help prevent moisture loss.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg, for more tips on saving water in the garden, visit www.bbc.co.uk.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
So the garden's sorted, but don't forget to make the outside of the house pretty too!
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Get back to nature with leafy shrubs and abundance of green.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
A small water feature will add interest to a compact space.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
A bordered flower section can be a good way of creating some order in your outside space.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Summertime means roses and you can't get much more romantic than a red rose bush climbing up banisters and brick walls of your home.
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Waste not, want not
Composting not only reduces your house waste, but it also provides valuable nutrients for your plants and flowers. All you need is a compost bin and food scraps. Get started now at www.bbc.co.uk/gardening.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Healthy shrubs create texture and layers to a variety of outside spaces.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Create an impactful purple punch with wisteria.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Use ivy and trailing plants to create a romantic frame for the focal point of your garden or patio.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Morning glory for a splash of bright green and pink.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Hanging baskets are a great way to decorate a fence.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Densely packed flora create a pretty pebble-dash effect.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Get experimental with containers.
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Don’t bin it, recycle it
The green fingered amongst us know how much waste gardening can produce – whether it’s from weeding, dead-heading or trimming – it can really pile up. But it needn’t contribute to landfill.
Some local authorities will have a garden waste collection scheme, but failing that, take it along to your nearest recycling centre.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Hedges can be a great way of creating shaped segments in your outside space.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
What to do with an obsolete bath? Put flowers in it of course!
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
If you're lucky enough to have a large garden, pull all the elements together with a uniform colour.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
A leafy shady patio for a real mediterranean feel.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Experiment with different shapes and textures.
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Create a herb garden
We’ve all bought shop-packaged herbs for a meal and inevitably half of it ends up in the bin. So why not grow your own never-ending supply?
Tailor your herb garden to your specific needs and tastes – do a bit of research and find what kinds of conditions are required for your favourite herbs and before you know it you’ll have a pretty, aromatic and waste-saving addition to your outside space.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
With hanging baskets and containers there's no end to the decorative effect of plants and flowers.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
A landscaped garden with pond - ultra exotic!
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Decorate the entrance to your garden with coloural flora, a taste of what lies beyond.
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A unique take on the flower bed.
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Experiment with angles and shapes to create a unique space.
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Embellish a slope with leafy plants.
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A pebbled path leads the way in this pretty collection of flowers .
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A string quartet's the only thing missing in this picturesque summer scene.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Every colour of the rainbow in this gorgeous explosion of border shrubs and ornamental grasses.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Create a secret hideaway in your outside space for some quality 'me time'.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Go contemporary with exotic foliage in a paved area.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Create your own sexy lounging space. Luxe, ultra-comfy white chairs provide the perfect space for entertaining. Hanging yellow curtains help highlight the citrus-hued floral selections.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
If you're lucky to have a tree in your garden, why not decorate it? This encompassing bench provides plenty of space for a potted garden, while hanging planters add a unique element to this space.
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Inspiration for gardens, balconies and terraces
Use flowers in a similar colour family to create a dynamic garden. Here, sunny oranges, deep reds and cheery yellows punctuate an otherwise-simple plot.
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Make the most of a large backyard by using cut-in planting areas to break up a large grassy space.
See also: Must-have picnic productsNext Up: 28 must-have green gadgets
Be kind to the planet and your pocket with these top eco friendly gadgets.
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With all the demands of a busy lifestyle, balancing work, family and a social life can mean that living a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle is likely to be the last item on a long lis...
