20 cool garden projects for this year

With spring on its way, trees and bushes are beginning to grow new leaves again, bulbs sprout out of the earth and glorious sunshine starts to warm everything up. The beginning of the gardening season is almost upon us, so what better a time than now to start planning some nice projects for the year? Because what could be more enjoyable than being creative on sunny weekends in your own piece of nature?

1. Mini fountain

You can use two flower pots to make a relaxing, trickling fountain for a therapeutic and soothing atmosphere in your courtyard or garden. Place an electric fountain pump in the larger pot and then place a plastic bucket over it; this will serve as a pedestal for the smaller pot. Drill a hole in the bucket and the smaller pot to pass the pump tube through. All that's left to be done is fill the fountain with decorative river pebbles.

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2. Outdoor fire pit

Large, concrete bricks are most versatile and useful in a garden, but have you ever thought to make a cozy fire pit out of them? While a simple idea, it can make for a rather special highlight in your garden. Just imagine inviting friends over for a few drinks on a balmy summer evening. Remember to first dig a hole in the ground so you don't have to construct the wall so high.

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3. Spiral-shaped herb garden

It's a creative design that has been gaining popularity for several years now: a spiral-shaped herb garden. It not only looks great but your culinary herbs won't grow better anywhere else.

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4. Flower altar

Place your plants on a sunny terrace. With the help of some boards and concrete bricks, you can fashion a presentable framework to support them. Of course, you can always use old chairs, wagon wheels or suitcases as a base. Vintage is definitely a fitting look for the garden. 

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5. Stone columns

These unconventional columns made of wire mesh and filled with large pebbles or rocks can be used as a fence post or simply a decorative garden feature. You can experiment with columns of different heights and sizes, and then group them together to create something most effective.

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6. Flower candelabra

Making something new out of something old: for this flower candelabrum a discarded chandelier was converted into something quite extraordinary by gluing a small terracotta plant pot to each arm with mounting adhesive. The finishing touch is your choice of spray paint which really adds to the overall effect. 

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7. Pallet swing

Make your garden a cozy place of leisure. Even better if you have a tree close-by to your large, suspended couch — your own piece of paradise.

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8. Vertical pallet garden

This is a great idea for smaller gardens: cover the base and sides of the pallet with a firm, waterproof tarpaulin. You can then fill it with soil and plant almost any kind of greenery you want in it. Lean it up against a wall so that any excess water can drain away easily.

 

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9. Ring gardens

Ring gardens are inviting and impressive to look at, if they are well looked after. Use the same material to construct the brick wall enclosure as in other parts of your garden so that it all fits in harmoniously together. 

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10. Elevated flower bed

An elevated flower or vegetable bed is ideal as the plants thrive with the additional soil heat, fewer pests can make there way into it and it makes for easier harvesting. In this simple example, the planter box has been mounted onto two folding trestles. You'll be pleased to know that it takes less than half an hour to assemble something like this!

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11. Dandelion nets

Instead of your typical clay balls, these painted balls made out of rabbit wire are shaped using a child's ball. They are spray painted and mounted onto sticks, which are then decoratively placed in a flower bed.

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12. Ruin feature wall

Just like in a secret garden, this fairytale forest is set off by this fieldstone wall in a secluded spot. Don't use too much mortar to join the stones — you want the ruin to appear all the more authentic. It creates quite a romantic scene and is a great project for experienced bricklayers!

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13. Pergola

Pergolas are ideal for providing shade and shelter from all kinds of weather conditions without shutting off the beauty of the garden. This particular example shows how you can create a comfortable sitting area on your terrace. The fairy lights on the wooden beams form the perfect backdrop for long barbecues with friends. 

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14. Insect hotel

Although most of us aren't fans of insects, they do play an important role in pollination. At the same time, they are pest controllers and provide food for birds and hedgehogs. With any leftover bricks, you could make your insects a new home in your garden. So that it is bee-friendly, trying including plants such as blackthorn, thyme, honeysuckle or phacelia. 

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15. Bird bath

Become an avid birdwatcher by providing the birdies a place to drink and bathe. The bird bath should stand freely and quite high so that the birds can easily notice when cats approach. Replace the water regularly to prevent diseases. 

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16. Brick barbecue

A homemade brick barbecue can be personalized and adapted to meet your needs and they just look so impressive. Storage areas can be integrated so you have somewhere to put your meat and tongs and underneath your coal sack is protected from the rain.

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17. Pebble mosaics

Pebbles can create the most wonderful and individual features in a garden. For pebble mosaic work, first remove a layer of topsoil, then firmly stamp down a six-inch layer of gravel, followed by a base layer of fine gravel. Now you can apply screed concrete, upon which you'll creatively position your pebbles.

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18. Integrated bench

If your garden has slopes or slight rises, use this peculiarity to establish a windproof seating area.

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19. Straw bale patch

This recent trend of planting directly in bales of straw is effortless and effective. In fact, you won't even need soil in some cases as the plants get the nutrients they need through the decomposition process of the straw and additional fertilizer. When the straw decomposes, it creates heat and the bales themselves are naturally raised beds. Zero tillage and weeding has got to be a plus!

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20. Mini pond in a tub

You won't need to excavate or dig away to create that garden pond you've always wanted: all you'll need is an old tin tub or a large flowerpot. To prevent mosquitoes from laying their eggs on the surface of the water, you can put tiny fish in the pond. Here are some instructions you can follow.

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If these weren't enough ideas for you, here are some more suggestions to help get your creative juices flowing:

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As you can see, the world is your oyster when it comes to garden project possibilities. While some projects are more time-consuming and complex, others are implemented quite quickly. Time to start planning! 

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