8 ways to get your garden ready for summer

With shorter nights and warmer days on the way, we’re all dreaming of spending more time outdoors. But how is your garden looking?

Ahh, springtime – sipping a drink in the sunshine and basking in the glory of your spruced up garden. Is there anything better? As the winter months wind down, now is the ideal time to plan both garden and home renovations.

If you’re thinking about selling, this is an especially good time to get your garden dressed to impress. You want the first impressions to fill the buyer with joy so that they can imagine themselves relaxing in the garden on a hot summer’s day. Getting your garden in shape could really give you an advantage over other sellers – and even boost your home's value.  

Spruce up what you already have

One of the most straightforward ways to get your garden ready for spring is by making sure it’s in a good condition. Before planning any bigger projects, take time to ensure any smaller repairs are sorted. Weeding, mowing the lawn, checking fences for damage, cutting back bushes, and power-washing patios and driveways are all great ways of making sure your garden is a nicer place to be when the better weather arrives.

Consider a herb garden

Now that you’ve done all the weeding, why not consider growing some of your own produce? Many herbs that grow in the UK are very hardy and it’s a great way of making your garden feel more like home, while also being a great addition to your cooking or even your cocktails. You only need to dedicate a small corner of your garden to growing herbs, like mint, basil and parsley, as they don’t need much space.

Make the most of the weather by adding more light

Adding more lighting to your garden is a great way to maximise the time you can spend outside and create an inviting and cosy atmosphere. Consider hanging fairy lights and installing solar panel lights to brighten up your garden to extend BBQs and get-togethers once the sun has gone down.

Get some shade

‘I like it hot, but this is too hot…’ We’ve all heard someone say it. This is why you should add some shade to your garden, whether it’s with a parasol or by fitting an awning. If, like us, you can’t get enough of plants, why not try a trellis or pergola? These take a little more time to develop than popping up a parasol, but combining a trellis with some climbing plants is a great way of adding some shade to your garden.

What’s more, adding taller plants and trees will help keep your home cooler. By strategically placing these plants around your home, cooler air can be trapped by the plant’s leaves. Additionally, growing plants against certain windows and walls can also help keep your place cooler thanks to their shade.

Add some colour with plants and pots

Spring is a bright and light time of year, so make sure your garden reflects this. Paint plant pots, use scatter cushions on outdoor furniture and get some bright flowers planted. If you have limited space, consider growing sunflowers – what they lack in width they more than make up for in height. Geraniums, pansies, tulips and daylilies are all low-maintenance plants that offer a high return in colour and vibrancy. Having a garden in full bloom is also a sure-fire way to impress anyone taking a tour of your home, so ensure this is on your to-do list.

Welcome wildlife

A great spring project, particularly if you have children, could be to entice more wildlife into your garden. You could install birdhouses, feeders or tables to encourage the local birds to come and visit, or how about digging gaps in the bottom of fences to allow hedgehogs to stop by on their travels?

Another benefit to sprucing up the green space around your property, is to increase its kerb appeal, which could increase its value. So, even if this spring is a total washout, you’ll be happy to know that you could have added some extra value to your property.

Sources:
*Japanese knotweed and the built environment: Government Response to the Committee’s Seventeenth Report
MKT/UKON/180324