We know that first impressions count and it is often your garden that potential purchasers experience before they actually enter your home. So be sure not to neglect this important component of the selling strategy. In this ‘FREE Expert Advice’ blog entry our favourite Professional Gardener, Mary Gilchrist who runs Reviving and Rejuvenating Gardens alongside business partner Sophie Martin, offers her take on where to invest whatever time you have.
“At this time of year planting is a little limited.. So here are some top tips to help you improve the appearance of your garden during the autumn and winter months.
First things first, if you are struggling to find time then work on the obvious things such as keeping paths swept and weed free, remove algae or mold from timber decking and patios, cut the lawn with your mower on a high setting and ensure that leaves are raked. To give instant smartness edge the lawn using sharp edging shears. You will be amazed at the difference this will make!
If you have slightly more time available or can recruit some help from friends or family, remove any encroaching ivy from walls and fences as it saps the light. Empty old summer pots and replant. Visiting your garden centre every month is a great way to find plants in flower, they can be added to pots or dotted around borders for instant seasonal colour and interest.
If you have plenty of time and have the inclination then tidy borders, cut back perennials and weed thoroughly. Empty any ready compost onto your borders to really finish the look. Adding a mulch of around 25-50mm also helps save weeding, improves the soil and makes up for some of the nutrients lost during heavy rain.
Take a long hard look at every part of your external space and complete any outstanding jobs along with tidying any greenhouses, potting sheds or tool sheds. Also, if you’ve not yet planted bulbs then its not too late, many garden centres have bulbs growing in pots, just sink the pot into the soil and cover. This is an incredibly quick way to add life and vibrancy that might otherwise be lacking.
At this time of year the choice of flowering plants is a bit limited but look for shrubs which have bright foliage or will flower in early spring.
Here are some suggestions for planting now:
- Hellebores ( Christmas Rose)
- Hemamalis ( Witch Hazel)
- Cornus  (Dogwood) for colourful stems
- Viburnum tinus and Viburnum Bodnantense ‘dawn’ for spring flowers
- Forsythia for vibrant early spring colour
- Skimmia
- Euonymus ‘emerald n gold’
Plants for borders and pots:
- Cyclamen
- Heuchera for colourful leaves
- Variegated Ivy
- Winter flowering Pansies
- Look out for Muscari ( grape hyacinth), Aconites and Crocus as they always look cheery in mid winter.
Happy gardening!â€
If you would like to give your garden the revive and rejuvenate treatment, and you have invited us to undertake a FREE Property Marketing Review and Valuation, you can raise the matter with us then. Alternatively you can contact Mary directly via rosa2rags@yahoo.co.uk
