Gorgeous gardens

Gardening is the work of a lifetime: you never finish.
So said Oscar de la Renta, and he was so right.

Gardening is a hobby for some, a passion for others, and it can even be a chore. The health benefits are well recorded, with studies having shown it is good physical activity for all ages, boosts your mental well-being, and can help stimulate your sense of touch, smell and sight.

Let’s not forget that gardens add appeal to a property.

Keeping a garden looking good is an ongoing occupation, yet it can be made easier with proper landscaping right from the start.

Landscaping can cost from $5000 to more than $100,000, depending on your budget. Experts recommend setting aside 10 percent of the value of your home for landscaping to be carried out at the time of the build.

Having proper landscaping done will add value to your property, let you enjoy your outdoor space sooner, and create something nice to look at, during all four seasons with the proper plants and trees in place. Some property owners have a landscaping plan drawn up and work on it bit by bit, to create a beautiful space. Others sit back and watch the professionals develop it for them.

There’s no right or wrong, but if you want a garden that works for you, and the climatic conditions of the area you live in, than seeing a professional is well worthwhile.

Selecting the right shrubs, grasses and flowers is important depending on the style of garden you want, so a wander around your neighbourhood looking at what is thriving in other gardens will help.

As will deciding on a style of garden that suits the property and the gardener-to-be. A cottage garden full of pretty blooms might look lovely, however they are a lot of hard work. By comparison, plants that multiply, such as hostas, usually look good, need less care and help fill spaces.

If you’re short on ideas, head to your local nurseries and plant suppliers. They will be able to tell you what works where.