With summer firmly on the way, it’s probably about time you started thinking about preparing your garden. Winter felt like a life sentence and admittedly garden maintenance may have taken a backseat. But it’s time to give the lawn a once over, dust off the sun loungers from the back of the shed and get ready for hours spent soaking up summer in the garden. Be ready for long, light evenings, exhausting the BBQ and drinking nothing but Pimms.
Prepare the Lawn
It’s likely the lawn has been all but abandoned over the winter months. With not much call for dining outside and a lot of soggy weather, there has likely barely been a moment where you could get the mower over the water saturated grass. So now, more than ever, it’s time to finally cut the grass and trim those edges. Start the summer off right and ensure you’ve tidied back the bushes as well to ensure it’s looking tidy and you may not have to worry about it again until mid to late summer. The first once over is always the worst, but once you’ve got through the dreaded lumps and bumps, every time after will be far easier.
Add Some Colour to Your Flower Beds
If you’re not much of a green finger, don’t worry. In less you love gardening, it’s likely you hadn’t thought far enough ahead to get those summer flowers blooming. But we’ve got a way you can reap the benefits of a colourful flowerbed and prepare little in advance. Simply buy potted flowers you can plant in your flowerbeds and choose breeds ideal for growing in spring and summer, so that next year you’re already set with a lively garden. Why not fill your flowerbeds with Marigolds or Pansies, both of which come in an array of colours? Sunflowers are also ideal for if you have children. Easy to grow and a hit with their sunshine petals and great heights.
Invest in a Pressure Washer
Never underestimate the transformation a pressure washer can give your garden. You’ll have likely forgot the original colour of your patio, but with a pressure washer it’ll get a new lease of life. Pressure washers are also ideal for dusting off your garden furniture or decking and cleaning away any stubborn dirt. It’ll be as good as new, freshening up and brightening your garden space. As a powerful garden tool, though, they can be expensive, ranging anywhere from £40 to £300. That said, hiring from places like Wickes, you’d be set back £87.51 for just one day of hire. With retailers like B&Q and Argos always offering regular discounts, you’ll likely find Promo Codes For seasonal goods right when you need them to buy outright. Consider what you want your pressure washer and determine between domestic to industrially designed models. It’s likely not worth spending loads just to give your patio a once over.
Clear Out Storage & Kid’s Toys
We’ve all been there. You’re packing away after experiencing the final slither of sunlight and you think you’ll organise it at a later date. Let’s face it, you never do. Rip the band aid off and clear out and clean the shed and any kid’s toys, including the Wendy House we all know you used as extra storage. You’ll likely unearth all the furniture and items you’ll want across the summer, like that long lost frisbee and the shuttlecock for the badminton set. Getting started before your children start winging about where their plastic cricket set is probably a good idea for everyone’s mental state.
Organise Your BBQ Station
Much like clearing out the shed, it’s a good idea to clean the BBQ now. Otherwise we all know what will happen. The first glorious day will come, the BBQ will still be riddled with dust and cobwebs and it’ll be a mad dash to clean and set up in time for the first BBQ of the season. Don’t risk missing a perfect day for it. Get on and clean the BBQ in advance and ensure you’re stocked up on coal and fire starters. Also consider planting some herbs in a bed nearby or even hanging from a wall. It’ll add a nice scent to waft through the garden and will be in the prime place for when you get barbecuing.
Check Your Furniture
From sun loungers to your garden dining set, it’s worth giving it a once over and checking it’s still in good nick. If it’s past its best, looking a little shabby, having not quite survived its time in storage, considering upcycling it. Could a little gloss give it a new lease of life? Does your sun lounger just need the cushion replacing? If it’s past helping, investing in new garden furniture is the way to go. And when we say ‘new’, we mean new to you. You can get some fabulous sets at charity shops like the British Heart Foundation, where you can pay a fraction of their original price. You’ll be surprised at the gems you can unearth in terms of furniture. Remember, one man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure.
Solar Lights & Other Garden Lighting
Lighting is key for creating the perfect hosting atmosphere. Although the arrival of summer means daylight sticks around for longer, for those garden shindigs that carry on late into the night, it’s important to add some lights in your garden to keep the party going. Solar lights are great for summer, gaining their charge from the sun and coming on at the optimal moment as it starts to get dark. You can buy solar lights in a range of styles, from fairy lights draped across your house exterior or along your garden fence, or posts that you can dot across the edges of the garden. Candles are also great for use in the garden and can be displayed in giant lanterns. You can also have mains lights hooked up to the house by your backdoor when you’re in need of that little bit of extra light.
Summer isn’t just about being beach ready, it’s about being garden ready, too. With these top tips, it’ll be hard not to be equipped for the good weather. Ensure your garden is looking its best and enjoy many a summer month spent enjoying the good weather.
