THE WEEKEND GARDEN

By Gerco & Hilly · 4Seasons4u

Somewhere in your garden, there may be a corner you walk past every day without quite knowing what to do with it. Perhaps it sits at the far end of the lawn, or it is an empty edge of the patio waiting for a purpose.

Imagine taking your morning coffee there. A book rests on your lap, birds move through the branches, and the day can begin at a gentler pace. By evening, the same space could welcome a quiet drink or dinner beneath the stars.

That is the starting point for this first edition of The Weekend Garden: creating a peaceful corner that gives you a reason to spend more time outside.

Begin by deciding how you would most enjoy using the space. A comfortable chair and a small table may be all you need for reading. If you picture long conversations or meals with people you love, allow for a patio or dining set that brings everyone together.

Spend a little time in the corner at the hours you expect to use it. Notice where the sun reaches, how exposed it feels and which direction offers the loveliest view. In our South African gardens, planning for the warmer part of the day matters as much as imagining a beautiful sunset.

An elegant wrought iron pergola can give that setting a clear shape. In a far garden corner, it creates a destination to walk towards. On a patio, it can define a place to sit and unwind, with a framework for suitable climbing plants. Plan the shade you need as part of the design, allowing for the time plants will take to grow.

We added a personalised pergola over our own patio to help create shade in summer and give our favourite creepers somewhere to grow. Bougainvillea brings the colour, while jasmine adds fragrance.

Hanging baskets and flower racks gave us more places for pots, flowers and greenery. Each addition helped us make the space our own.

It is a useful reminder when planning a corner of your own: start with something that improves how the space works, then add the details you love. Colour and scent can be as much a part of the experience as the furniture.

Measure the area before choosing your main pieces, and consider the space around them. Dining chairs need room to pull out. A reading chair needs somewhere convenient for a cup, and the route into your corner should stay comfortable to use.

Marking the proposed layout on the ground can help you picture what will fit. Allow for the pots and plants you hope to add, too.

Be honest about your budget. Decide which part will make the greatest difference first, whether that is the pergola, a seating set or a comfortable place for two. Planning the whole area now can help you make smaller purchases with a clear direction.

One of the pleasures of creating an outdoor space is seeing how it develops. A new pot may find its way in. You might discover that a chair belongs a little further from the afternoon sun, or that the view is better from the other side.

Give yourself permission to adjust things. Leave some room for future ideas, and for additions when your budget allows. Noticing what could work better is part of learning how you enjoy your garden.

Take a chair and your coffee to the corner you have in mind. Sit there for a while. Listen to the birds, look at the view and imagine who you would like to share it with.

You may find that your favourite place to unwind has been waiting close to home all along.

If a pergola or a new seating arrangement is part of that picture, explore our garden pergolas and outdoor furniture at 4Seasons4u. We would love to hear what you have in mind.