Summer-ready Garden in 5 Simple Steps

With the summer months on the horizon, there's no better time to get your garden into shape. If, like most of us, you've neglected your outdoor space throughout the winter, now's the time to get rid of those unwanted weeds, tidy up unruly flowerbeds and restore your weather-beaten lawn to full health. Here's how to transform your garden in time for the warmer weather in five simple steps:

1. Lights

Adding a variety of lights to your back garden is the perfect way to make the most of the long summer evenings. Whether you’re lighting up walkways with spotlights or hanging a lantern over your patio to create a cosy setting for entertaining, outdoor illuminations will enable you to extend your time outside. As specialist suppliers The Lighting Superstore note, using an assortment of light fittings is a simple yet effective way to transform the look and feel of your outdoor space and to emphasise your favourite areas after the sun goes down.

2. Lawn

If your grass is looking messy, dry and generally lacklustre, now might be the time to give it a little TLC. Start by having a general tidy up and removing leaves and other debris that may have collected over the winter. You can then breathe new life into your lawn by using granular feed and watering it on a regular basis for lush results.

3. Plants

There’s no getting around the fact that the colder months can take their toll on your plants. To help your garden flourish, prune deadheads, thin out overgrown shrubbery and weed flower beds. You can also start to pot new summer plants and make sure your beds have a sufficient cover of rich compost to lock in moisture and prevent them from drying up in the summer heat.  If you want to enjoy a colourful display when the summertime comes around, try planting summer-flowering bulbs, such as Gladiolus, lilies and Ranunculus.

4. Patio

As the focal point of most gardens, the patio also needs some attention. Give your decking a much-needed facelift by taming unwanted weeds that are peeping through the cracks and getting rid of any grime that has built up. While scrubbing, brushing and weeding isn’t the most exciting task in the world, think of it as an investment for the months to come when you’ll no doubt be spending more of your time relaxing in the sunshine, having family barbeques and entertaining friends outdoors.

5. Garden furniture

When sprucing up your garden, don’t forget to pay attention to your furniture. To complete your patio makeover, invest in some padded furniture to create the perfect spot to sit and socialise under the sun. You may also want to consider adding shelter, such as an arbour or retractable awning, to ensure you don’t get caught in any unexpected showers.