By Lana Bingham
This summer, occupy your green thumb by creating an outdoor garden. Gardening Exercise Day falls on June 6th and it’s no secret that spending a few days a week working in your garden will contribute to a fit and healthy lifestyle. When designing your outdoor oasis, be sure to follow these helpful tips.
Select Your Style: What makes a garden so appealing is the effect that it can have on a home. A garden can take on any form – “Zen” with tranquil fountains and Feng Shui elements, “Tropical” with bright-colored flowers and Florida-friendly fruit trees, or “English” with thick hedges, hidden passageways and antique benches for sitting down to sip a cup of Earl Grey.
Pick Your Plants: A garden can be built for both vegetation and beauty. Vibrant flowers and lush green plants can be rooted into the ground and scattered throughout the garden in decorative pots. Select fruits and vegetables according to the current season and climate. Squash, tomatoes, okra and peppers are warm season selections that can grow well in tropical environments. A small herb garden can liven up your cooking, as well as your cocktails. Try a Watermelon Basil Mojito or add a spring of fresh rosemary to your Gin and Tonic. Can’t decide what to plant? Check out these delicious garden inspired recipes!
Save Your Space: Space is one of the trickiest elements to work with when designing a garden. Both vertical and horizontal space is available to you, so use it! Take your garden off of the ground by building a terrace and adding climbing plants and hanging flowers. Raised beds will add depth to your garden and can be built from wood, metal or stone. Design plant beds in different shapes and place them on varying levels of elevation.
Enhance Your Environment: Besides greenery, there are many outdoor elements that can be added to a garden. Build a small pond with a walking bridge that runs across it, or add a colored arbor with an attached trellis. Play around with pavers and add a natural pathway of flat stepping stones to guide you around the garden. The addition of clay-colored Terra Cotta pots will compliment your green garden.
Custom home builders Tampa know that a beautiful home should be surrounded by beautiful landscape. Whether your garden is edible or aesthetic, it is a great outdoor addition for new homes in Tampa Bay. Remember that your garden will need lots of attention. All the planting, trimming, weed pulling, harvesting, fertilizing and watering will sure keep you busy. For those who may be lacking the time or energy it takes to care for a garden, an electronic flowerpot may be a better option. Not only are gardens visually pleasing, but gardening is good exercise!
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