Revamping your Garden Ready for Summer
Are your days spent dreaming of warm summer evenings, relaxing in the garden with a glass of wine in hand waiting for the food to cook on the barbecue? If so, you are not alone. However, there is nothing worse than dreading the state of the garden. If it is far from being fit for purpose, you will feel uncomfortable to invite people over and you will be preoccupied with what needs to be done rather than enjoying yourself. Revamping your garden in preparation for the sunny summer months will be easy with our advice.
Make Things Easy
The more complicated a garden is, the more jobs you have to carry out to ensure it is looking good and is safe for inviting visitors over in which to socialise. Taking the easy option does not have to look as though you have gone for simplistic however and you may find yourself much preferring the simple life. Flower beds or in pots are a great idea. Remove all dead leaves and any weeds that may have accumulated over the winter months. Be sure to trim all around the edges and turn the soil to get the maximum from it. Cutting back overgrown bushes should be done as soon as possible before they start to become even more unmanageable. Likewise, if you are considering getting rid of a tree, do so before birds start to create their nests.
Dig Out Your Tools
The chances are that you haven’t touched a spade, trowel or lawn mower since last autumn, so get them out as soon as you can. Check that the electrical appliances are still working and get them serviced too. Doing so now means that you will have a shorter wait time by beating the crowds. You could also prevent a serious problem from building up by catching it early. Ensure you clean your tools in preparation for their spring time use. Dirty tools are much more prone to problems. Using a bit of oil after cleaning can also help to prevent them rusting and thus needing to be replaced prematurely.
Sort the Decking/Patio
The winter weather does decking and patio areas no favours. They can look really quite tired by the start of spring, so do something about it sooner rather than later. First of all, remove any debris that might have made its way over there. Next, remove any excess dirt and moss using a pressure washer if you can. If you have paving slabs, weeds tend to grow in the gaps. Your pressure washer can help to solve this, but there is also a long tool you can use to allow you to remove the weeds whilst standing. Be sure to sprinkle plenty of sand down after the weed removal to ensure that they do not immediately regrow. If this is an area in which you are going to be entertaining, you’ll want to ensure that it is looking its best. It will need re-staining and oiling periodically, so check if it is time. Many people choose to apply a treatment after cleaning in an effort to prolong its life.
Clean Your Garden Furniture
Not long now until your garden will become the focal point for family gatherings and fun with friends. Ensuring that your garden furniture is both clean and looking attractive is important. It does not need to be time consuming, but carrying out the work as soon as you can will make it that little bit easier and thus less stressful. Whether it has been stored inside or out, no doubt dust and grime will have built up, so wipe it down thoroughly. For wooden furniture, consider using a treatment to protect it against any bad weather and also spillages which can often occur when you’re hosting.
Consider Added Extras
Although some people may prefer a plain and simple garden design, others may wish to inject a little something special into their outdoor space. A rockery can look stunning and does not have to cost much nor make excess work. Outdoor water features can also add a touch of class and interest to a green area. As well as looking great, they can also have a calming effect. Solar lighting can look really effective. Choose from ones to push into the ground (stake lights) placed around the border of your garden or ones that can be hung from trees like small lanterns. They can all add a bit of sparkle to an otherwise standard outdoor area.
