Spring Garden SOS: 10 Practical Solutions to Revive your Plot

If your garden is looking more post-apocalyptic than picture-perfect right now, you’re not alone.

Some of us might be wafting through our gardens enjoying the burst of spring blooms, while other gardeners are despairing that they need a whole lot more than just a routine tidy up. In the UK there’s no denying that Spring has handbraked its way into our gardens rather suddenly, but sometimes, you wish you could put a hold on the new season’s arrival because your garden is a LITERAL disaster zone.

You might be dealing with construction chaos or facing garden devastation. My dear friend and MRG reader

Kat Kinch

saw her mature cedars and entire garden obliterated by a brutal ice storm last weekend. Melinda had her lawn and borders accidentally torn up by wayward workmen. Or perhaps you're simply looking at a neglected patch that needs revitalizing, wondering if you've the time or energy for a full-blown garden transformation.

The truth is, I've spent thirty years as a professional garden designer transforming gardens in various states of transition - some recovering from nature's wrath, others needing rescue from well-intentioned DIY gone awry, and quite a few requiring completion after being abandoned halfway through. Many more simply needed reimagining after home extensions or when new owners wanted to put their personal stamp on the space. Whatever the reasons I've been brought in, all of these projects have proved rewarding in the end - rather like having to prune back hard to encourage beautiful new growth.

The good news? You don’t need a Chelsea Flower Show budget to create something beautiful quickly, particularly if you want to carry out the work yourself. This week I’ve pulled together my top 10 tried-and-tested approaches to reviving any garden, with speed, sustainability and frugality as the guiding principles.

So, whilst there’s still time to get organised and take advantage of next weekend’s Easter bank holiday (here in the UK anyway), here are my strategies for creating a garden that brings joy rather than despair:

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Garden rescue strategies for even the most challenging outdoor spaces

If my inbox is anything to go by, it seems many of us are looking at sections of the garden and thinking ‘Where do I even begin?’

Fortunately, in my work, I've developed quite the toolkit of remedies that don't require enormous budgets or having a team of twenty gardeners at your disposal. I'd love to share some of what I've learned with you.

Below I’m sharing my first two garden rescue strategies, but the complete ten-step plan continues for my wonderful paid subscribers who make this newsletter possible. I’m enormously grateful to those supporters who support my writing here – I adore sharing what I’ve learned over the years and your encouragement helps My Real Gardens grow into something truly special.

Your paid subscription (less than the cost of a bag of compost a month) includes audio versions of the newsletter, perfect for listening while working in the garden, our community discussions where we share both garden triumphs and challenges, at least one monthly live session a month right here on Substack, and access to my complete archive of gardening articles all STACKED with links to my tried and tested suppliers.

In this week’s complete newsletter, I’m covering:

• Garden Rescue Kit: Ten down-to-earth ways to breathe life back into struggling spaces

• Making the Most of What's Already There: Spotting the diamonds in the rough in your garden

• Planted Privacy Screens: Creating shelter and seclusion when your garden suddenly feels exposed

• Hard Landscape Fixes: Simple ways to refresh paths, patios and boundaries without breaking the bank

• Plants That Hit the Ground Running: Getting impressive results without the wait

• Start by Making One Spot Gorgeous: Why creating a single lovely corner builds momentum for the whole garden

• Bringing Wildlife Back: Turning garden challenges into havens for birds, bees and butterflies

• Finding Garden Joy Again: Rekindling your garden love affair even when things look bleak

What I find most rewarding about reviving our own garden spaces is how it encourages us to be creative with what we already have. Some truly brilliant design solutions emerge from challenging situations – and there’s nothing I enjoy more than turning a garden problem into an unexpected opportunity.

So, if you’re looking at your outdoor space right now, scratching your head about where to begin, our supportive community of fellow gardeners completely understands both the challenges and rewards of bringing a garden back to life.

Come and find some inspiration by joining us in the MRG virtual potting shed!

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1. First Things First: Start with the View from the House

You don’t have to tackle the whole garden at once, in fact I urge you not to even try! Avoid overwhelm by focusing only on the spots you see the most – the view through your kitchen window, your patio or terrace, or the front garden next to the drive.

Do you actually need to take the slash and burn approach you’ve planned if your garden has become overgrown? Consider what is actually there already – some plants could be salvaged, or paving could be reconsidered, reused and upcycled?

Could the loss of garden trees that building work or a damaging storm put paid to become a positive rather than a negative? Perhaps you’ve gained more sun, a view has been opened up, or there’s more light in a wider section of the garden?

Put the garden tools (or your credit card!) down for a moment. Before you do anything else, can I urge you to make a list of your garden wants and needs, draw up a plan and organise your thoughts, all of which will help you avoid expensive mistakes?

Even a quick scribble can help you organise your thoughts, if you need more guidance, there are links to my previous ‘Plot Perfect’ newsletters below.

If you need inspiration or a further guiding hand on how to practically go about doing just this, here’s a link to a previous newsletter on how to think like a garden designer when considering your outdoor space:

Plot Perfect:

And here’s how to draw up your dream garden plan:

Plot Perfect Part Two: Drawing up Your Dream Garden Plan

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2. Create One Perfect Corner

Rather than trying to fix everything at once, focus your energy on creating one perfect seating area. This might be a garden dining set, a comfortable sofa, or a hammock on the patio, surrounded with pots of scented plants – wallflowers are perfect for immediate spring fragrance. Consider adding a simple water feature too; even a buried bucket with a small solar pump can create wonderful reflections and soothing sounds.

My own decked seating area close to the house, where the garden contemplation happens (probably too much of it if I’m honest!)

Give existing garden furniture new life by cleaning and oiling wooden pieces or treating rusty spots on metal items. Create a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere with homemade cushion covers using foam seat pads and vintage fabric for chair backs. For a coordinated look, paint dilapidated containers in complementary tones or varying shades of the same colour (please NO bright blue pots - maybe it’s just me but they remind me of ground force in the nineties!).

Add to the ambience with DIY lighting (simple jam jar lanterns work beautifully for evening atmosphere), or solar lights (which have come a long way in recent years) and place decorative obelisks (hazel poles or other long sticks are simple but effective) in nearby borders to lift the eye, add focus and new planting opportunities. In just one weekend, you can achieve a wonderful retreat where you can relax and contemplate the rest of your garden revival at your own pace.