MANY components make up the perfect garden – colourful beds and borders, an eye-catching specimen tree, or a pond that brings pleasure while sustaining wildlife.
There are inert, decorative elements too that add to the overall aesthetic, such as the patio, pathways, a pergola or greenhouse, parts whose sum is greater when they complement one another in well-planned space.
Then there’s the garden shed, ostensibly somewhere secure where we can safely store tools and the like, but it can evolve into so much more – and not just a place to escape domestic drudgery.
While often one of the first additions to a new garden, choosing a shed isn’t something you should rush into. It will hopefully last for the rest of your life, or at least as long as you garden in the space you currently call your own.
My shed and my greenhouse cost roughly the same but it’s definitely the latter of which I’m fondest and where I spend the greatest amount of time
Therefore, there are all sorts of considerations, many of which you may not think of in the early stages of your garden’s evolution.
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Initially, you may want a shed for solely for storage, for the likes of a lawnmower, saws, spades, etc, but as your passion develops, so too may your needs and expectations. Down the line, you may want a potting shed, an outside office or simply somewhere you can socialise with your mates.
Demarcating utility, usage and leisure is advisable.
Think carefully about your site, as while in theory a shed can be moved, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Avoid an exposed site or one prone to puddles and be sure not to erect the shed in the garden’s sunniest spot, where your seating area is best located.
Don’t be overly concerned about its initial appearance, as sheds are great hosts for climbers and other screening plants that’ll soften the hard edges. They also lend themselves to green roofs, planted with succulents and mosses
Budget is often the most obvious consideration and these days you can spend thousands of pounds on a structure that may well cost more than your parents’ first home.
At the lower end, you’re looking at a basic, self-assembly shed from the one of the big DIY retailers which can cost anything from around £300 – any cheaper and you’re venturing into Wendy house territory.
Windowless sheds tend are generally cheaper, sturdier and more secure. The quality of the material is reflected in the price, with more durable structures, such as those made from cedar, costing more.
Alternatives to wood include tin, plastic and composites made from recycled material.
Essentially, you get what you pay for, so I’d recommend keeping your business local and forking out that little bit extra for something bespoke. The price at the DIY centre may look attractive, but the after-sales service likely more hassle, especially if the store isn’t nearby.
The last thing you want to be doing is returning a shed to its seller.
From experience, I’d suggest paying as much as you can afford and thinking carefully about how you plan to utilise it.
My shed and my greenhouse cost roughly the same but it’s definitely the latter of which I’m fondest and where I spend the greatest amount of time.
However, ask me which one I’d miss most if it wasn’t there in the morning, and say the shed, as it holds a lot of stuff that simply can’t go anywhere else.
