YOUR garden may have been neglected recently due to the cold and wet weather, but spring is now just around the corner.
With temperatures also starting to improve, this is the time to give it some love and attention.
Gardening expert Kendall Platt, who runs Adventures with Flowers, has shared her top tips
She recommended framing your front door with pots to improve your curb appeal
Another easy way to save time and money is to encourage wildlife in your garden
With household budgets still feeling very stretched by the cost-of-living crisis, you may be cautious about spending money on your outside space.
The good news is, there are lots of small adjustments you can make that won’t cost the earth.
We spoke to gardening expert, Kendall Platt, who runs Adventures with Flowers, to find out about some cheap tweaks to consider, which could also boost the value of your home.
The 36-year-old is mum to Arwen, four, and 11-month-old, Elora, and lives with husband, Dave, in Reading.
She told HOAR: “With some hard work and a relatively small initial outlay on carefully selected bits and pieces, you could bump up the value of your property by hundreds of pounds.
“Equally, if you were to create a really well thought out space, you could potentially boost your home’s value by thousands.”
1. Frame your front door with pots
One of the easiest ways to add value is by improving your property’s curb appeal.
“Think about framing your front door with pots filled with brightly-coloured flowers,” said Kendall.
“If you can include some scented blooms too, then so much the better.
“The sweet scent will welcome everyone who comes to visit, and immediately put a smile on their face.
“This could even apply to the estate agent coming to value your home.”
You can pick up pots for a few pounds at Wilko, including metal tin planters for £2.50, and charcoal hanging pots for £6.50.
While you’re there, grab a pack of peony bulbs for £2.50 or mixed begonia bulbs, also for £2.50.
Or get a bumper 50-pack of spring planting bulbs for £6.
Kendall added: “You should be able to brighten up the entrance to your home for less than £30 all in.”
2. Create an outdoor eating area
If you want your home to attract people who love hosting, then it’s worth investing in an eating area.
“For a property which is lean on space, an outdoor entertaining area will bump up the value,” said Kendall.
“If you’re not planning on selling until further down the line, but love socialising, this is a feature you can enjoy too.
“It’s a place to gather with loved ones and friends.”
It’s possible to create an eating area on a budget, according to Kendall.
“You can get your hands on this Tarno table and chairs patio set for £50 from Ikea,” she said.
3. Incorporate a relaxation area
Think about creating a peaceful space in your garden.
“Spending time in nature is proven to be good for our health,” said the green-fingered supremo.
“Surround a comfy seat with sensory plants. And, for maximum well-being benefits, add some running water if you can.
“B&M is a great shout for affordable garden furniture.”
At B&M, the Dakota relaxer deckchair is currently reduced from £30 to £25, while the Vancouver hanging chair is priced at £30.
Also at B&M, you can bag a triple-layer water feature for £75.
4. Add a kid’s zone
If your home is suitable for a family, Kendall recommends investing in a well thought out children’s zone.
“This will give frazzled parents a chance to actually use the relaxation area,” she said.
“At the same time, this will be sure to add some pounds to the price of your home.”
At Asda, you can get a water-and-sand table for £35, and a see-saw for £30.
And, if you’ve got space, the 8-foot Quad Lok trampoline is reduced from £129 to £103.
5. Encourage wildlife
Another good way to boost your home’s value is by making it a haven for flora and fauna.
“The more wildlife you have in your garden, the more nature will look after the garden for you,” said Kendall.
“Incorporating a bug house will hopefully mean that ladybirds and other insects will wait out the winter in your garden, and then wake up in the spring hungry, and ready to eat any pests on your plants.”
The horticultural whizz also suggests leaving a wild area at the bottom of your garden, and putting in a hedgehog house.
“This will encourage these slug-loving mammals to camp out in your garden and come to the rescue of your plants,” she said.
“This simple measure could save you, and any potential future owners, time, meaning you can sit back and relax in your green space.”
At Robert Dyas, the Vivo Insect House is down from £12.99 to £10.51, while a packet of Mr Fothergill’s flower seeds for wildlife, which should help attract all-important pollinators, is reduced from £6.69 to £4.39.
On Amazon, you can find a hedgehog house for £14.99.
6. Declutter your space
When looking to bump up the value of your home, it’s worth investing time and effort in making your garden look welcoming.
“Trim trees and bushes and weed paths,” said Kendall.
“Fallen leaves and weeds can crack pathways or cause mould, so work to clear them.”
Check your fences for any gaps or splits, and get these fixed. Treat the timber with a weather-proofer.
At Wilko, Ronseal one-coat exterior wood paint (5l) is down from £12 to £6.
7. Create zones
One further suggestion from Kendall is to think about taking people on a journey through your garden.
“Try building up different zones with clear uses,” she said.
“That way, when potential buyers come to look round, they can imagine themselves using them.”
One surefire way to add value is by setting up your garden as an additional ‘room’.
“This needn’t cost an arm and a leg,” added Kendall. “You can probably make a few low-cost changes yourself. “
But for bigger projects which could potentially add thousands to the cost of your home, it’s worth hiring a gardener.
While getting a professional to do more extensive redesign work can easily cost more than £5,000, a clever way to bring costs down is by working with a gardening coach.
This could come with a price tag of less than £1,000.
Kendall added: “A coach works more collaboratively, helping you create a design for your garden.
“They will then support you to bring it to fruition.”
