Remember that brightly coloured flowers are an appealing view from your window so keep these close and visible whilst hedge screens can blank out colour and make the garden feel small and shaded.

Well placed, trees, and perennials blend decking into a landscape creating an attractive composition.

Firstly, evaluate any decking and surrounding area before deciding upon deckscaping possibilities.

Find where your garden is shaded and where you may want privacy and shelter before selecting the plants that will best suit your needs.

Observe and consider the right shape for your planting bed. Bear in mind that the perimeters of your garden bed will shape the adjoining lawn areas. Write and sketch ideas down onto paper.

Another tip is that curved lines even when the planting bed is bordering a square deck will give the landscape a professionally designed look.

Before shaping your planting bed, mark on the lawn with spray paint before cutting the contour.

Plant your beds in tiers, placing smaller species near the front and increasing the height of plants toward the back of the bed. Any plants placed next to the deck should be no higher than eye level with anyone seated on the deck unless you are looking at screening the view for privacy.

When choosing trees decide between deciduous and evergreen species considering the rate of growth, take into consideration how much the tree may shed its leaves or seeds if you do not like sweeping up.

When choosing shrubs take into consideration how much maintenance will be required, will you have time to trim and prune?  Look at the height and width of the shrub at maturity leaving enough space when planting.

The ideal decking plants are those which are both aesthetically attractive and easy to care for.

Decking plants that last for a long time throughout the season means you get the best out of your plants so annuals and perennials that have foliage remain attractive throughout the season.

Shrubs and trees will last a minimum of two seasons, pick the type that give plentiful flowers in the summer and a colourful foliage in the autumn.

For decking plants if you are looking at trees stick to small ones because larger trees will need regular pruning and probably replanting.

If your decking is close to the house decking plants with beautiful fragrance are a great idea, so as soon as you step outside into your garden who immediately get a lovely aroma.  Lavender, when it is low maintenance is a good idea to frame edges and provides a wonderful aroma to your garden.

Plants that attract wildlife and butterflies will bring natural beauty and atmosphere to your garden, attracting beautiful wildlife can be very satisfying and therapeutic to watch.

If your decking is in a shaded area you can’t go for perennials or shrubs that require sun, ensure that your decking plants get the light they require, don’t buy anything that you are going to have problems in growing, it is a waste of money.  When plants are clearly marked that they need full sunlight, then that is exactly what they need.

As long as you take into consideration all the aforementioned factors go for the plants in your favorite colours, another good way to pick your plants is to run the colour scheme or pick some of the colours that run within your property (as they say view your garden as an extension of your home), use some of the colour scheme from inside your home for your decking plants or even the decking surface.

The backbone of every garden is the foliage and is the key to keeping your garden interesting and attractive throughout all seasons so don’t get too hung up on the colour of flowers alone. Mix plants so shapes, colours, textures and leaf sizes differ to keep it interesting.

There are so many varieties of roses to choose from now and some are easier to cultivate in your own garden than others.  Keep a few important factors in mind when making your choice because a rose tree should last you for many years and give you and your garden a pleasurable view.

Colour

Flick through magazines, keep your eye on other people’s gardens and look on the internet to get a good idea of what colours look good and where.  You need colours that compliment your garden and the other plants you already have in it.

Size

Consider how the rose trees will look in your garden when they have fully grown.  Some rose trees can grow as high as 22 feet whilst others may only grow to 8 feet.  Measure the space you will want to plant your tree before you choose your rose tree and remember you will need enough room around the tree as well as above the tree.  Choose a place in your garden that gets the best sunlight because roses love the sun.  If you have limited space in your garden you may need to consider a miniature rose tree rather than a full size tree.  Miniature rose trees are easier to maintain than their full size equivalents.

Climate

If you live in an area that is notorious for freezing winters you will need to look at hardier rose trees that can survive ground frost and snow in winter months.

Maintenance

If you are a busy individual and don’t have time to dedicate to hours of maintenance then the ‘Modern Rose’ is probably not for you.  The ‘Modern Rose’ is probably one of the most beautiful trees with beautiful roses and fabulous aromas but they are prone to diseases if they are not cared for properly.

‘Old Garden Roses’ are a better type of tree for people with less time on their hands, they are still a beautiful tree but maybe not quite as breathtaking as the ‘Modern Rose,’ however, they are bread in such a way that they require minimal maintenance and are not as disease prone and bloom for a few months at a time.  The fragrances from these trees are known for being particularly strong and if you do not like strong aromas then you need to consider ‘Shrub Roses.’

Shrub Roses bloom for a longer time and are very resistant to disease, they do not have a strong fragrance.

If you are a novice when it comes to roses it may be best to start with Landscape Roses which are the easiest of the lot to care for and extremely disease resistant.  If you have trellises then Climbing Roses are a stunning compliment to your garden, Climbing Roses are similar to Landscape Roses but they grow upwards like a vine.

Block planting of a particular type of plant in an area where you want to draw people’s eyes can make a beautiful focal point in your garden; equally, areas of variegated foliage will have the same dramatic effect.

Something that not many people realize that actually works well in a garden well is mirrors.  If mirrors are placed strategically around your garden specifically in darker corners it can give a positive reflection of a brighter more spacious area.  Angling mirrors can make things a little more funky and interesting and will draw your eye to the area in front and either side of the mirror helping you to emphasis that special rose tree or unusual foliage.

Hedges are the perfect way to give your garden much needed privacy whilst also neatly framing your garden and its contents and adding more interest than perhaps a wooden surrounding of fencing will which sometimes also makes a garden feel a little enclosed.

If you love birds a water feature or pond would be a great addition to the garden, it attracts birds and other wildlife and if you include a fountain the sound of running water is extremely therapeutic and peaceful with a similar affect to that of wind chimes, these are equally a pleasant relaxing addition to your garden.

Adding shells and pebbles near and around pathways makes the area look attractive and different.

Buying brightly coloured plant pots or even painting them yourself in water resistant colours will add personality to decking and patios. Change the colours to reflect a summer or spring feel using pastel shades in spring and bright funky colours in summer.

Don’t think of gardening as a chore, its’ fun and is a very rewarding way of expressing your personality!

If you take great pride in your garden and the chances are if you are reading this you probably do then you should consider aesthetically pleasing and comfortable garden furniture that will compliment the hard work you have spent making your garden look like a flowery haven.

In terms of garden furniture, I always go for the best most hardwearing and beautiful looking pieces that compliment my garden year upon year in those much welcome summer months.

I have teak garden furniture because it is made from some of the best materials on earth. As long as you carefully choose your manufacturer, you should be able to choose furniture that, literally, last a lifetime.

Known for its beauty, teak garden furniture it creates elegance and luxury especially if you are interested in turning your garden into a private, luxurious getaway. I find that this type of furniture can transform an average or traditional garden, into a picture of breathtaking beauty. In fact it is the natural beauty of teak that makes such a perfect fit for your garden because it can never look out of place and never looks cheap.

Why ruin the beauty of your garden with metal or plastic equivalents?