As soon as the temperature warms up, we all head outside to soak up the sun – however short-lived it may be this time of year! If your garden is in need of some TLC after a neglectful winter, we’ve got some top tips for making it quicker and easier so you can spend more time on the sun lounger this year.
• Rather than blitz the garden in one big session, it’s much more manageable to tackle it bit by bit. We say, start from the ground up! The first sunny weekend, get a good path & patio cleaner and get a hard brush for some deep scrubbing to remove the moss, algae and weeds that build up over time. Use the ‘jet’ setting on your hose to wash it off after the time allotted on the product label.
• Clean off your garden furniture to get it fresh for al fresco dining this summertime. A cloth and some product will usually do the trick for soft cushions but for wooden furniture we stock specialist cleaner that gets the job done. This also means cleaning the BBQ and firepit/chiminea to prevent build-up and smoky fires. You can use a pressure washer if you have one but we do not recommend using this on gas barbecues. Use a wire brush to clean burnt-on food from metal racks then wash the whole thing with soapy water.
• To bring some colour back to your garden, you can purchase pack bedding for your borders in orange, yellows, pink, purples, and more and hanging basket plants to revive your wall planters and hanging displays. Remove any weeds and trim the edges of your beds for a neat finish. This is also the perfect time to enrich your soil with compost or fertiliser, before the growing season really gets underway.
• Give your gardening tools a stiff brush and sharpen any blades with a carborundum stone or sharpening steel. Clean out your lawnmower blades and check the cable for wear and tear. Get rid of any broken or damaged equipment and make a shopping list of things to replace.
• Now for the big job – the shed! Bring everything out and clear out the unwanted items that have no doubt collected dust and webs over Winter. Give the inside a good sweep and at the same time, check for loose panels or damage to the roof and windows. If your shed needs a new coat of paint then you can use this opportunity to really brighten up your outdoor space.