Thinking About a Garden Makeover? Start With These 7 Questions

Sep 24

4 min read

If your garden has become overgrown, outdated or simply doesn't work for the way you use your home, a garden makeover can completely transform your outdoor space.

But where do you start?

Before choosing plants or looking at landscaping ideas online, it's worth taking a step back and thinking about what you actually want from your garden. A good garden makeover isn't just about making the space look better — it should make your outdoor area more useful, enjoyable and practical for years to come.

If you're considering a garden makeover this spring, start by asking yourself these seven questions.

1. How do I actually want to use my garden?

This is one of the most important questions to answer before starting any landscaping project.

Do you want somewhere to entertain friends? A safe space for children to play? A quiet garden to relax in? More room for pets? Space to grow vegetables and fruit? Or simply an attractive garden that is easy to look after?

Your answer will influence almost every other decision.

For example, a family garden might need a good-sized lawn and durable planting, while someone who loves entertaining might get more benefit from a deck, patio or outdoor seating area.

Good garden design starts with how you want to live in the space.

2. What isn't working with my current garden?

Before ripping everything out, work out what you actually dislike about your existing garden.

Perhaps the garden feels:

Overgrown or cluttered
Difficult to maintain
Short on privacy
Lacking in colour
Too exposed
Difficult to access
Unusable in certain areas
Disconnected from the house
Too lawn-heavy
Lacking a defined outdoor entertaining area

You may not need a completely new garden. Sometimes changing the layout, removing a few problem plants, adding new planting and improving pathways or outdoor areas can make a dramatic difference.

On the other hand, if several aspects of the garden aren't working, starting again with a proper plan may be more cost-effective in the long run.

3. What garden style do I like?

With so many landscaping ideas available online, it can be difficult to know where to start.

Do you prefer a modern garden with clean lines and simple planting? A lush, natural-looking garden? A native garden that attracts birds? A relaxed cottage-style garden? Or something designed primarily for outdoor entertaining?

Look at gardens you like and try to work out why you like them.

Is it the plants? The colours? The materials? The shape of the garden beds? The way the lawn and planting areas are balanced?

Collecting a few ideas before starting can help you identify a style that suits both your property and your taste.

4. How much garden maintenance am I prepared to do?

This is a question that's often overlooked during a garden makeover.

A garden can look fantastic when it's first completed, but if it requires more maintenance than you're prepared to do, it can quickly become frustrating.

Think honestly about how much time you want to spend:

Mowing
Weeding
Pruning
Watering
Feeding plants
Maintaining hedges
Cleaning paths and outdoor areas

If you'd prefer to spend your weekends enjoying the garden rather than maintaining it, there are plenty of ways to create a low-maintenance garden through thoughtful plant selection, garden layout and the right balance of planting, lawn and hard landscaping.

Low maintenance doesn't have to mean boring. A well-designed garden can be simple to look after while still having plenty of character.

5. What will work in my Northland garden?

A garden that looks fantastic in a magazine or on Pinterest won't necessarily work on your property.

The conditions of your site need to be considered before choosing plants or materials.

Think about:

Sun: Which areas receive morning or afternoon sun?

Wind: Are there exposed areas that need shelter?

Soil: What type of soil do you have?

Space: How large will plants become as they mature?

Climate: Which plants are suited to your local conditions?

For homeowners in Kerikeri, understanding the local climate and conditions is particularly important when choosing plants. The right plant in the right place will generally require less intervention and have a much better chance of thriving.

6. Where should I spend my landscaping budget?

You don't necessarily need to change everything to achieve a significant transformation.

If your budget is limited, think about which changes will have the biggest impact.

That might mean:

Creating a defined entrance garden
Replacing an old lawn
Building new garden beds
Adding a pathway
Creating an outdoor entertaining area
Improving privacy
Adding a feature tree
Reworking an awkward section of the garden
Updating tired retaining or edging
Connecting the garden more effectively with the house

It's also worth considering the order in which work needs to happen. Some landscaping elements, such as retaining, levels, paths and structures, are much easier to complete before planting.

A good plan can help make sure you aren't spending money twice.

7. What do I want my garden to look like in five years?

Finally, don't design your garden just for the day it is finished.

Plants grow. Families change. Gardens mature. Your needs may change too.

Consider how large your plants will become, whether you'll still want the same amount of lawn, whether you might want more entertaining space and how much maintenance you'll realistically want to do in the future.

A successful garden makeover should look good when it's first completed and become better as it matures.

Ready to start your garden makeover?

Once you've answered these questions, you'll have a much clearer idea of what you want from your outdoor space.

The next step is turning those ideas into a practical plan — one that considers the layout of your property, planting, hard landscaping, materials, access and how everything will work together.

At Kererū Development, we can help turn an outdated or underused garden into a space that works for your home and your lifestyle. From garden makeovers and planting to pathways, retaining, lawns and outdoor living areas, thoughtful landscaping can transform the way you use your property.

For homeowners in the Bay of Islands, spring is a great time to start thinking about the outdoor space you'd like to enjoy over the coming years.

Don't know where to start? Start with these seven questions — then let us help with the rest.