The weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer, so you might be thinking of dusting off your barbecue and getting your garden ready for the summer. There can be a lot of work to do after the long winter, and it can mean a major overhaul of your lawn and your flowers. Here are some of the ways you can get your garden ready for the summer sun.
How is Your Grass Looking?
One of the things that can take a lot of damage over the winter is your grass, which is a shame as your lawn is one of the main features of your garden. The first thing you need to do is check for any moss or weeds that may be trying to spoil your grass. Moss especially, can be a problem for lawns that get waterlogged or get too dry. You can use a chemical weed killer on your grass to help clear the moss and weeds. You also need to add some liquid plant food as well to help the grass recover and grow over the moss patches. If you find that your lawn has suffered too much damage, then you may need to think about taking the lawn up and replacing it.
Borders
Your borders will have been looking rather shabby at this time of year. With dead flowers and the odd weed sticking up, you need to make a clean sweep and get them ready for the coming season. The first thing to do is clear away all the dead plants and remove the weeds that may be starting to raise their heads. Check the soil to see if it is still in good condition, it might be that you need to add some fertilizer or some compost to your soil to give it some much-needed minerals for your new plants. You then need to think about what plants you are going to add to your borders. Ideally, you want some perennials that will be around every year, but you can mix other flowers in with them to add some color.
Redesign Your Garden
As you are looking at clearing up your garden, perhaps you might also want to redesign certain areas. It is a great time to do it because you are replanting and perhaps repairing things that have been damaged. If you are thinking of changing the layout of your garden, then you should have some type of plan in mind before you start. It will make the job easier, and you can get all the materials you need in advance. If you are moving some of your borders, then you will need to think about the conditions on the new locations. Is it mainly a sunny area or is it shady? It will give you some idea of the plants you should be placing in the borders.
Think About Watering Schemes
If you live somewhere that gets a lot of sun, then you will need to keep your garden watered to keep it at its best. However, water can sometimes be restricted in some areas, so you also need to think sensibly about how you use water in your garden. One way that you can try to conserve water is to install a water butt. These are easy to install, and they will collect any rainwater from your gutters so that you can use it later. Another option is to add plants that don’t need a lot of water to survive, meaning you don’t need to water them as often. The same can be done with your lawn, there are hardy varieties that don’t require a lot of water, but still remain green. It is also this type of grass that fairs better in the winter because it isn’t easily damaged. As a further measure to saving water, you can also add pellets to your soil that store water and release it slowly for the plants to use. It can extend your watering cycle and save on your usage.
Spruce Up Your Seating Area
Now that the sun is here, and you are clearing up the garden, you also want to prepare your seating area for having friends over. One of the best parts of summer is sitting out in the warm evening air chatting with friends and enjoying a drink. If you have had your seating in storage, then you will need to clean it and perhaps inspect it for any damage. It is also a good time to clean the cushions and replace any that are looking faded or torn. It is also a good time to bring out the barbeque and get it ready for the coming outdoor cooking parties. Ideally, you should have cleaned your barbeque thoroughly before the winter, but if not, then you can give it a good clean now. Now might also be a good time to start adding some new components to your seating area. What about a fire pit or a chimenea? They are great for the evenings when the temperature starts to fall. You could also add some additional seating, there are companies such as www.moderndigsfurniture.com that have a range of outdoor furniture.
Shine a Light on the Evenings
Along with a nice fire pit to warm you up in the evenings, you also need some lighting to help you enjoy the outdoors that little bit longer. You don’t want to go for anything too bright such as a floodlight, you want to keep it low and warm but bright enough to see where you’re going. Rather than light up the whole garden, focus on the seating area and perhaps a few places around the garden as well. It will create a better atmosphere than blanket lighting.
With all of these things in place, you should soon have a garden that is ready for the summer months. Just remember to invite those friends around so they can share the garden with you.
