The Kärcher WD 6 P Premium wet and dry vacuum cleaner is a powerful beast of a machine that will soon become your best pal, particularly if you’re tackling a major renovation and/or are DIY mad. The Kärcher WD 6 is the newest iteration of this popular brand’s wet and dry collection, which also includes cordless models and more compact, albeit less powerful, designs.

It is designed for use inside and out, and for both wet and dry applications. Gardeners will love the blowing function for clearing leaves out of gravel, motorists can make quick work of valeting their vehicles and aquarists can even use it to change the water in their fish tanks. We tested the Kärcher WD 6 for three weeks and tackled various hardcore cleaning tasks to see how it performed.

Read on to discover what we thought of the Kärcher WD 6 and whether you really need this out-sized appliance in your vacuum collection. Speaking of vacuum cleaners… whilst you’re here, it may be worth you (also) checking out our best vacuum cleaners buyer’s guide to see some top picks for cleaning carpets and hard floors.

Ideal Home rated: 4 out of 5 stars

While it may resemble an overgrown Minion, its flexibility and power really does make it worth making room for a Kärcher WD 6 in your home (or preferably in the garage). To be clear, this machine is not designed to replace your domestic Dyson, but rather be the vacuum you reach for when you don’t want to break your Dyson! It will breezily remove renovating rubble, sawdust, muddy water and major dirt from your life, and the power tool function is a definite plus is you’re frequently found in DIY mode.

Reasons to buy:

• Powerful
• Heavy duty
• On-board tool storage
• Power socket
• Blower function

Reasons to avoid: 

• Heavy
• Static shock can be an issue

Kärcher WD 6 P Premium Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner

Image credit: Kärcher

Specs:

• Capacity: 30L
• Power type: mains
• Cord length: 8m
• Hose length: 2.2m
• Wattage: 1300W
• Dimensions: L41.8 x W38.2 x H69.3 cm
• Weight: 9.6kg
• Accessories included: Filter bag, Flat pleated filter, Accessory storage bar, Crevice nozzle, Flexible hose and adapter for attaching handheld tools like sanders.

Who will the Kärcher WD 6 suit?

Sold as the perfect vacuum to tackle all the hardcore jobs your indoor vacuum can’t handle, the Kärcher WD 6 will suit DIY enthusiasts, gardeners, and anyone with a car, especially if they also have a garage to put it in. Although it’s a bit too unwieldy and bulky to be used daily indoors, it will come into its own should your washing machine flood, when stripping wallpaper or for clearing up any pet-related disasters.

Testing the Kärcher WD 6

My husband and I are nearly at the end of our fourth (and hopefully final) renovation project – a detached Victorian house in Devon, where he has built his cabinetmaking workshop at the bottom of the garden. We used the Kärcher WD 6 to tackle a few clear-up jobs that had been building up over the winter, both indoors and out. Over three weeks, we burned through so much cleaning, including:

• Dirt and debris from the patio
• Sawdust in the workshop (by the tree-load)
• Yet more sawdust when using the hand-sander
• Two cars and a van
• Muck and hair from under three pet crates
• And emptied the pond

Unboxing

Image credits: Future Plc/Linda Clayton

The Kärcher WD 6 is neatly packaged in cardboard with a really satisfying absence of pointless plastic. I had a little moment when I feared the hose had been left behind, before I found it curled up inside the vacuum!

Setting up

Image credits: Future Plc/Linda Clayton

Setting up was fairly intuitive and I didn’t really need to look at the instructions as it was pretty obvious what went where. However, they are picture-based so if you’ve never seen a cylinder vacuum before you won’t struggle to follow how to connect the hose, floor nozzle and accessories holder. Opening the Kärcher WD 6 to put on the dust bag is a simple affair too; just pull the handle right down and the lid lifts off. I did struggle to get the wheels attached – they’re push-in – but with a bit of perseverance and brute force, they clicked into place.

What is the Kärcher WD 6 like to use?

Image credits: Future Plc/Linda Clayton

With the machine all set up, it was time to start vacuuming. The first task I tackled was a good clean up in the workshop that my cabinetmaker husband has built at the bottom of our garden. There is a team of four makers working there, who use soft brooms to sweep away the bigger piles of sawdust and offcuts etc while they work, plus there are numerous hoses for sucking sawdust directly from the machinery and out to the wood-pellet maker. So, we’re not talking huge volumes of solid sawdust; this task was more about getting all the fine dirt and dust that a regular broom leaves behind. The guys were very happy to hand over the job to me!

Dry mode

To operate the Kärcher WD 6 in dry mode, you should first choose whether to use a dust bag. If you’ve got a huge area of debris to cover (e.g. a patio covered in autumn leaves), you’ll quickly fill a dust bag, which could wind up expensive. Replacement dust bags cost around £14.99 for four. In this instance you’d be wise to go bagless and enjoy the full 30L capacity without having to change bags.

However, as mentioned, our workshop floor (and probably most garage floors belonging to keen DIYers) contains fine sawdust, and general dirt-based dust, and the advice for cleaning any fine dust (including plaster and cement powder), is to use the dust bag to help prevent the filter from clogging up quickly and make the vacuum easier to empty and generally keep it clean inside. This is a standard style dust bag, albeit the biggest I’ve ever come across, that slots over the hose inlet inside the cylinder and self-seals with a thin rubber seal.

Image credits: Future Plc/Linda Clayton

Once the lid is back on, and the handle pointing up to lock the lid in place, simply turn the rotating on/off switch to max and feel the power! The advantage of using the Kärcher WD 6 over a broom (so retro) on our workshop floor was the results were much, much better. The vacuum is clearly powerful and made light work of getting into all the nooks and crannies, too.

I also used the blowing function to push sawdust out from under some of the bigger machines where I couldn’t get the vacuum hose far enough underneath. To do this, you just have to move the hose from the main outlet to the blowing outlet further up and turn it on. The blowing function would also be useful for airbeds and other inflatables, as well as blowing away leaves in Autumn. I didn’t clean the whole workshop, that would have taken all day and isn’t something anyone in a domestic setting would be likely to do (my excuse). But I did a good 1.5 hours, covering an area about the size of a double garage, and the dust bag was pretty much full by the time I lost my mojo. I think there was more sawdust lurking under the machines than I’d anticipated.

Image credit: Future Plc/Linda Clayton

Highlights worth mentioning include the impressive 8m-long cable which minimised the number of times I had to move sockets, and the super smooth castor wheels on the base (there are five) that make the Kärcher WD 6 so easy to pull along. It’s also very easy to switch between the crevice nozzle and floor attachment, without excessive tugging.

One slight downside for me was the number of static shocks I experienced. I’d guestimate about a dozen before I put on some gloves, took off my jumper and avoided touching any metal parts. In the Kärcher’s defence, I am especially prone to them and the dry, filtered air in the workshop, combined with my shaggy wool jumper probably didn’t help matters.

Wet mode

I tested two jobs to check out the performance in wet mode; vacuuming out the water after cleaning the car foot mats and emptying our small pond. Oh and also a fair few wee puddles, curtesy of the pup. The flat pleated filter is suitable for wet and dry use so there was no need to remove it before starting but I did check there was no dust bag inside. Once the dust bag was removed, I started with the car mats. Flipping the foot attachment to wet (rubber strips instead of brushes) using the rocker switch, I vacuumed them in the same way I would if they were dry. I was impressed by the suction, which felt seriously strong; a point proved by the impressive volume of muddy water in the cylinder when I was done with just the first mat.

Image credit: Future Plc/Linda Clayton

The pond, which I was emptying because our puppy was taking far too many baths (then running through the house) so we’d decided to plant a tree there instead, was next. Without the Kärcher WD 6 I would have had to bucket out as much as I could, then use a hose syphon that involved sucking the end and potentially ending up with a mouthful of stagnant pond water. Yuck. In less than 10 minutes I had cleared the pond, emptying the cylinder three or four times in the nearest storm drain. Given my shoulder injury I was very grateful for the handy drain screw in the base of the cylinder, which meant I didn’t have to lift it fully loaded to tip the water out.

Using the power tool attachment function

Image credits: Future Plc/Linda Clayton

The power tool feature is another stroke of pure genius, which I tested with an orbital sander. I simply plugged the tool into the socket on the front of the Kärcher WD 6, then added the smaller tool hose onto the end of the main hose, using the adapter connection to fix it to the vent at the back of the sander. I didn’t need to look at the instruction book to do this as it’s not my first rodeo with this type of thing, but the instructions are again picture-based and easy to understand.

The especially clever part is that the suction automatically stops and starts when the tool is switched on and off, so you don’t need to activate two machines. If you do any sander or power saw-based DIY in the home, the Kärcher WD 6 would make a huge difference to the levels of dust in the air, and eventually covering every single surface. You can also buy a drill attachment that catches the dust that falls when you drill into a wall.

What else can you do with the Kärcher WD 6?

You can basically vacuum anything you like, wet or dry. I used it to clear the wet leaves from around the patio, clean the interiors of our cars (a loathsome job made much easier by the powerful suction and long-reach crevice nozzle) and even suctioned up poop from the crevices of the rabbit hutch. Inside, I cleaned beneath the dog crates, which were embarrassingly filthy, and then had a quick vacuum round the rest of the ground floor while I was on the case.

Image credit: Future Plc/Linda Clayton

I usually use a combination of cordless vacuum and robot vacuum downstairs and was surprised by how much the Kärcher WD 6 picked up given the robot had already done a full circuit before breakfast. Let’s not forget the many times I used the Kärcher WD 6’s wet suction powers to help clear up puppy accidents. In combination with an antibacterial cleaning spray of course!

Storage and maintenance

Image credits: Future Plc/Linda Clayton

Storage isn’t exactly the Kärcher WD 6’s forte. It’s a big beast, and with all the will in the world, you can’t get away from the fact it will take up a lot of space if you want to store it in the house. A garage is the best place for this bad boy, ideally an attached garage so you can grab it the minute you fail to let the puppy out again. There are plenty of hose, cord and accessories clips on the back, so it tucks together neatly but it’s still the size of your average toddler! I would also have appreciated a couple more nozzle tools, especially one with a brush, but the Kärcher WD 6 has standard 35mm suction tubes so will work with most vacuum attachments out, plus you can buy them as an extra.

Image credits: Future Plc/Linda Clayton

Maintenance is a dream. The Kärcher WD 6 has a filter cleaning system that sucks fine dust out of the flat pleated filter without having to remove it. This is particularly useful for quickly restoring full power if you’ve been vacuuming high levels of dust. Once the hose has been inserted in the hose-shape rings above the filter, you just press the large filter cleaning button two or three times. The filter is also very easy to remove for a more thorough clean, which can include washing it under running water (and fully drying before putting it back in) if it’s really congested.

Keeping the filter clean definitely makes a difference to the power levels so it’s worth cleaning regularly. Kärcher says after every use but I’d say that would be a significant use, like cleaning the entire garage or clearing up after wallpaper stripping. Once a week worked for me (plus a quick filter blast after the workshop job), but it was easy to tell when it needed doing due to loss in suction. Similarly, you could easily tell when the dust bag needed changing because of the change in motor tone – which became higher pitched – and of course reduced suction.

Ideal Home’s verdict: is the Kärcher WD 6 worth the money?

Image credit: Kärcher

The Kärcher WD 6 is a genuinely good buy, if you do a lot of DIY or other messy jobs, have outdoor space and a garage or garden shed to store it in. Puppy optional. It is not a great vacuum choice for a third-floor apartment that’s already beautifully decorated!

It is incredibly robust and offers impressive suction (and blowing) with a huge capacity cyclinder that’s easy to empty whether the contents are wet or dry I have never had use of a wet vacuum before, and I was surprised by how many jobs I found for it to do during my three-week test period. In terms of price, this is the top and most powerful model in the Wet & Dry range and well worth its £220 (approx.) price tag.

I did struggle with static electricity in the workshop but nowhere else, so it was probably more an environmental issue than the Kärcher WD 6. Also, I didn’t find the floor head very good on interior carpets – no glide – but, to be very clear, this vacuum isn’t designed for normal everyday cleaning of the ‘quick-the-inlaws-are-coming’ variety. Finally, it could benefit from a few more accessories, but they can be bought separately. The Kärcher car interior cleaning kit set looks especially useful.

About this review, and the reviewer

Linda Clayton is a freelance interiors journalist specialising in kitchens, bathrooms and home tech. She is a serial renovator, currently on her fourth project, and has tested many home appliances, DIY tools, mowers and other garden power tools in the last 20 years, often with help from her cabinetmaker husband.

She was sent this product to test in a home setting, which is always our preference, but Linda was deemed a particularly good candidate to push it to the max because she always has plenty of decorating on the go, lots of outdoor space that needs tidying, and three mucky vehicles to clean. Oh, and there is a massive woodworking workshop at the bottom of her garden!

We are not given any compensation for our reviews, but may be allowed to keep the product, meaning we can test it over a greater length of time, and update if required.

The post Kärcher WD 6 P Premium Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner review appeared first on Ideal Home.

As the weather warms up, we’ll all want to spend more time in our gardens making now the perfect time to get things spic and span. First up is the deck! If you’re fortunate enough to have decking, Follow our easy step-by-step guide on how to clean decking to get your outdoor entertaining zone ready for the months ahead.

Whilst summer hasn’t quite set upon us, now is a good time to clean the decking. An annual wash during the winter months can breathe new life into any garden decking idea. Preserving the integrity of the wood and ultimately help to prevent costly repairs.

‘As decking is outdoors, it is constantly exposed to the elements, particularly in winter, which can take its toll,’ says Matthew Brown, Technical Consultant for Sadolin & Sandtex. ‘Exposure to the elements can lead to an accumulation of dirt, mould and algae. If maintenance isn’t carried out during the winter months, this of course creates a bigger job further down the line.’

So start now and follow our easy steps on how to clean decking with or without a pressure washer.

How to clean decking: Step-by-step guide

Image credit: Future

A decking area provides a dedicated entertaining area for any outdoor space – whether its attached to the house, at the end of the lawn or even in the form of a balcony, decking creates a welcoming spot to enjoy the company of friends, or relax on your own.

Unfortunately decking can end up being slippery (and quite dangerous) if it’s not taken care of. Algae and moss can grow and form over the surface of the decking, making it difficult to walk on. You can stop the growth getting this bad with regular maintenance. But if it’s already set in don’t fear, as there’s plenty you can do to get it looking clean and new again.

Moss or algae aside, a garden deck, wooden or composite, needs a good clean now and then. And how to clean decking and deck railing ideas is actually really easy when you follow some simple steps; it doesn’t require lots of expensive products, either.

1. Get prepared for how to clean decking

Start by removing everything from your decking – furniture, pots, your barbecue, ornaments, and everything else. Pop them somewhere where they won’t be in the way for a day or so.

Whilst the weather is unpredictable, it’s best to work when the day is clear, and the deck is totally dry; allow a few days to pass since a downpour. Give the complete decking a thorough sweep, using a brush to get debris from between the cracks as best you can.

There’s a smart ‘Decking Brush Set’ from Coopers of Stortford that boasts a wide, curved brush-head to first gather leaves and debris. Then a rugged flat brush-head to scrub away decking moss and a compact head with a steel hook to turf out tough weeds and moss from between grooves – nifty!

Buy now: Decking Brush Set, £29, Coopers of Stortford

2. Apply a cleaning solution

Image credit: Future / Polly Eltes

For a gentler clean to remove surface dirt and cobwebs, you can use a solution of washing up liquid in warm water. Be careful not to over scrub with anything harshly abrasive, and avoid rubbing against the grain, as that can leave marks.

‘Whilst you can use soap water, a specialist product such as Jeyes Patio and Decking Power is likely to be more effective to get rid of stubborn moss and algae,’ says Sophie Herrmann, spokesperson for Jeyes Fluid. ‘Mix it with water, pour it on and leave it to do its work.’

Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to apply, timings and how to rinse away.

3. Blast away grime with a pressure washer

Depending how much moss and algae has built up will determine whether or not you need the addition of a pressure washer. You could use the cleaning solution alone, or use a power washer as well.

‘Tackling your decking with a pressure washer will spray away any moss and grime that might have built up,’ says Sophie Hermann. ‘Ensure that the setting on the pressure washer is suitable for your decking. Otherwise, it could potentially damage the surface of the decking’

4. For an even deeper clean, use a stripper

If your decking is particularly dirty, then a more stringent cleaning may be required. Ronseal Decking Stripper will leave your decking pristine. ‘For this, you’ll need to wear some gloves and give the tin a shake before use,’ says Jimmy Englezos, Senior Product Manager for Ronseal.

‘Apply the stripper to your decking with a decent sized brush – don’t be shy and ensure you apply a thick layer. It takes around 30 minutes to work. However, if it’s a hot day you’ll need to keep an eye of patches that are drying out and re-apply a layer where needed. Keep scrubbing with warm water and then wash it all off with a hose, and you’re done!’.

Buy now: Ronseal Decking Stripper, £51.65, Amazon

How do I clean the decking without a pressure washer?

Image credit: Future

If you don’t have a pressure washer, it’s not the end of the world. For a start, if you have a composite deck, you shouldn’t really be using a pressure washer anyway – read on below to find out why. And for a wooden deck you can still get it looking sharp with some regular household cleaning products and some elbow grease.

Depending on the dirtiness of your decking and how much mould and mildew has formed, you could do just as good a job with washing liquid detergent. Pour four litres of warm water into a bucket and stir in 250ml of laundry detergent. Apply the warm solution liberally onto the already cleared and swept deck. Work it into the surface with a broom. Allow the solution to sit on the decking for ten to fifteen minutes and then rinse thoroughly using your garden hose.

Or you could try Cuprinol Decking Cleaner which is a powerful detergent specifically formulated to remove dirt, grease, algae and mould.

How do I clean composite decking?

Unlike wooden decking, composite alternatives actually require less regular maintenance so the task isn’t an unduly difficult one. According to composite decking experts, NeoTimber, decking of this kind can actually be cleaned using general everyday household products. In most cases, a light soapy solution applied and then rinsed with a garden hose on a light setting is adequate for a composite deck.

‘There aren’t any magic solutions or treatments that we’d recommend for treating your composite decking,’ the NeoTimber experts say. ‘In fact, with a bit of elbow grease, household cleaning items will be sure to do the trick and get your composite deck clean and tidy ready for the summer months.’

Image credit: Future PLC

Start by clearing the deck of all items. Brush away any debris from nooks and crannies by giving the surface a thorough sweep. Next, mix a bucket of warm water with washing up liquid to create a warm soapy solution. Apply directly onto the deck and clean with a soft bristled brush – a clean, dry broom will do the trick. Use a soft cloth or sponge in hard-to-reach areas, then rinse and allow to dry.

One thing you should definitely not do is use a pressure washer on a composite deck. It’s softer than natural wood and can be marked and damaged more easily as a result. ‘Depending on the material, a power washer can scar boards if the pressure is too high,’ reveal experts at Trex.

‘If the power washing becomes too intense, it can even chip the material. If you damage your composite deck with a vigorous power wash, it can affect the warranty, which is generally not covered.’

They recommend a routine clean of your decking every three to six months to clear away dirt, mud and soil that can accumulate and sit on your composite decking over the course of time.

How do I keep my decking looking good for longer?

Once you’ve spent the time cleaning, scrubbing and painting your decking, you’ll want to ensure it stays looking great for as long as possible. Whilst your decking will naturally take some general wear and tear from use, there are things you can do to limit damage.

‘To minimise damage, we recommend using rubber feet for any deck furniture,’ advice experts at Gripsure. ‘In addition, any planters, tubs or plant pots should be raised on blocks to allow air circulation and avoid mould growth. We also recommend using metal or plastic trays to catch and retain any excess liquid when watering plants.’

For hot tub decking ideas consider the same principle, be mindful of water spills – perhaps seeking an underlay to protect the decking below.

Image credit: Future PLC

The final flourish to perk up tired decking is to give it a lick of fresh paint or use a stain. You might like to leave the decking untreated, but a coating of a protective product will keep it looking fresh for longer. A layer of protection means it’ll be able to withstand mould, algae and mildew. Ensure the decking is totally dry from its cleaning before you start, and brush away any leaves or debris that might’ve found its way there since cleaning.

You can find garden paint ideas and stains in a range of colours, which will totally transform the decking. ‘Sadolin’s new Garden Colours Range consists of eight beautifully subtle shades, that can be divided into four on-trend colour families – green, blue, grey and neutral – meaning there really is a palette to suit every style’, says Matthew Brown, Technical Consultant for Sadolin.

Ronseal also has a great palette of colours available in its Ultimate Protection Decking Paint. We particularly loves Sage, which will achieve a very on-trend look.

The post How to clean decking with or without a pressure washer appeared first on Ideal Home.

Sometimes we spend so much time getting the inside of our homes looking good, that our gardens are often last to get any attention! But how to plan a garden we hear you ask? There are so many great garden ideas to incorporate. We’re a going to talk you through how to plan a garden layout.

Whether you want a child-friendly outdoor space, a garden with beautiful borders, or a low-maintenance design that looks good all year round, there are plenty of ways to get your garden looking amazing. One of the main things is to take your time, explains Guy Barter, chief horticulturist at the RHS: ‘Don’t be in too much of a hurry, see what grows and flowers (and what doesn’t) over the year. Put in temporary paths, perhaps of bark, until you decide where the main paths should run.’

When it’s time to plan a garden – whether it’s at the back or a front garden – follow our ten steps to get it right.

How to plan a garden – step by step

1. Make a garden wish list

Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole

Before you go reaching for a shovel, think carefully about how to plan a garden and the things that are most important to you. ‘When planning your garden the first question to ask yourself is how do you want to use the space?’ explains garden designer Pollyana Wilkinson.

‘Draw up a list of must-haves,’ Pollyana continues. ‘Be realistic on what you can fit in the space. In large spaces you can designate a use per “zone” but in smaller spaces try and designate a limit of 1-2 or uses, rather than throwing the kitchen sink at it, which can make the space cluttered.’

2. Find out your garden’s aspect

Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole

Another key point to consider when planning your garden layout is how much sun or shade your garden gets and at what times of the day. Find out what aspect it is, south-facing gardens get a lot more sun than north-facing gardens for example.

‘If you are a sun lover, then plan your garden seating to follow the sun,’ says Pollyanna. ‘Perhaps include a morning coffee spot in an east facing space, and a chill out space in a south/west facing space for afternoon and early evening sun. Equally, if you prefer shade, include a dining space which sits in a shadier spot.’

3. Draw up a plan

Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles

Now you have an understanding about what you want, take a piece of paper and sketch out a rough plan for your garden, working out what you want and where. Alternatively, there are many apps, which can show you how to plan a garden layout.

Be practical in your design and choose easy garden ideas. If you’re going to spend a lot of time dining outside, for example, keep the seating area close to the house so you don’t have to walk all the way to the end of the garden when serving food.

4. Set a budget

Image credit: Future PLC/Claire Lloyd Davis

Like any project, set a budget early on so you can keep track of spending. Think carefully about what you want to spend your money on. If you want the best garden furniture you can afford, set aside a high proportion for that.

Also look at using reclaimed or second-hand materials for things like paving to bring those costs down. There are some great DIY pallet ideas for gardens that will keep costs down.

5. Check boundaries

Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole

Before you start creating your garden ensure your boundary fences or walls are in good condition as it’s easier to install new ones before you start any landscaping. If they are in good condition, freshen them up with a lick of paint. Remember to let your neighbours know if you need to install new fencing to prevent any disputes.

6. Choose garden materials

Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole

While paving materials can be expensive there are some cheaper alternatives. ‘Materials come down to personal choice and preference,’ says Colin Gray, managing director at Lavender Green Gardens. ‘Whether it’s a country garden or a paired back contemporary space, there are materials to suit all needs. Natural stones are always favoured but there are some incredible porcelain tiles now that can give a phenomenal look at a fraction of the price.’

Gravel is a cheap alternative for using on pathways and reclamation yards are great for finding second-hand pavers, decorative stones and other materials, while railway sleepers are popular for creating borders or vegetable patches.

7. Smarten up with lighting

Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles

Hanging festoon lights across a pergola, along a fence or wall creates a welcoming atmosphere as the sun starts to set. You can also light up pathways with solar lighting or ask your electrician to install a more permanent set up.

Installing garden lighting at the base of trees of prominent planting is a great way to add interest. ‘In the dark of night, garden lighting can create a dramatic and inviting scene outside your windows,’ explains Peter Legg, lead designer, där lighting. ‘Lighting foliage from below and illuminating favourite outdoor features and areas can create a living picturescape to enjoy from a patio or indoors.’

8. Create seating zones

Image credit: Future PLC/Tim Young

Plan what type of garden furniture or garden seating would work best in your garden. A bespoke built-in design is great for creating a sociable seating area, ideal along a wall or boundary, whereas a freestanding table and chairs gives you the option to easily move seating from one area to another (handy if it’s a hot day and you want to move it to a shadier part of the garden).

Also, think about creating different seating zones, a hanging egg chair or swing seat makes a relaxing spot to read, while a small bistro set is perfect for a compact patio area.

9. Think about storage

Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles

Every outdoor space needs garden storage and if you don’t have a garage you’ll need a good-quality shed for storing garden tools, furniture, kids toys and DIY materials. Consider what you will use it to store and if you have any bulky items like lawn mowers, measure the size before ordering your shed to make sure it fits.

10. Pick your plants

Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole

Once you’ve figured out all your landscaping needs, the fun part is planting! Check your soil type with a testing kit (available from garden centres) and think about the types of plants you want. Do you want plants that are easy maintenance? Is colour important? Do you want bright, modern style planting or something more traditional?

Visit your local garden centre or RHS garden for ideas and remember buying plants at the end of a season is often a good way to save money. Where you plant is also important as some prefer shade to sun or vice versa.

How do you plan a garden layout?

Draw your garden to scale on a piece of paper in pencil and sketch out some ideas from your garden wish list and get inspiration from current garden trends. There are also plenty of garden design apps, to make a digital version or you could ask a garden designer to draw up plans for you.

‘Anyone can design a garden,’ says garden designer Kate Gould. ‘But using a designer who has a wealth of experience in terms of hard landscaping and planting materials/furniture will generally achieve a much more polished finish.’

Which way does my garden face and what does this mean?

If you go out into your garden with a compass (try your smartphone – most have one!) and face towards your garden. This will show you the direction your garden faces.

Garden aspects:

• North facing Your garden is shaded for most of the day.
• East facing Gardens will be sunny in the morning and shaded in the afternoon.
• West facing Gardens will be shaded at the start of the day, and sunny in the afternoon.
• South facing Your garden will get plenty of sun during the day.

The aspect of your garden is key when choosing plants to make sure they’ll grow happily and healthily. It also makes it easier to plan your garden as you can zone different areas depending on the type of light they get during the day.

How much does a garden designer cost?

If you find it difficult to plan your garden and want some expert advice, calling in a garden designer is a good idea but it does come at a price. Speak to several local garden designers to get an idea of their fees but Getagardener.co.uk suggests that costs can start upwards from £5,000 for a small simple design covering design fees, materials, plants and contractors.

Ask around locally for recommendations or check out the Society of Garden Designers whose members have trained to the highest professional standards.

The post How to plan a garden: everything you need to know appeared first on Ideal Home.