Summer is when the garden – if you’re lucky enough to have one – truly becomes an extension of the home. Whether you’re eating meals al fresco, hosting summer barbecues or simply relaxing on a swing-chair while the sun shines, a garden comes into its own over the next few months – so you want it looking ship-shape.
With the arrival of June marking the start of summer, now is a good time to do all those last-minute jobs that will ensure your garden is a relaxing, welcoming and beautiful space over the warm months ahead. Here Alex Peters, gardening expert at Checkatrade, reveals the jobs to do now that will pay off over the season ahead.
Stagger your planting
It is a good idea to stagger planting summer flowering bulbs, planting a few each week to give you a constant flow of blooms throughout summer. The clock is ticking, but there’s still time to plant favourites like dahlias and gladioli.
Dig up any eyesores
Spring is a good time to remove dead or unwanted plants, big or small, and tackle weeds, before they establish deeper roots in the hard ground. If you find the ground is too hard, consider installing a water butt and using collected rainwater to dampen the ground, making it easier to lift plants. Alternatively, a professional gardener can make this process much more efficient using specialist equipment, so it’s worth investigating this if you’re short on time.
Shape up overgrown plants
The late spring/early summer period means the risk of frosts has largely passed, making it a good time to prune plants such as hydrangeas and late flowering hibiscus.
Get your lawn ship-shape
A damaged lawn can make your entire garden look bad. It’s important to get your lawn care under control now, before the temperature rises in summer, to ensure it looks as good as possible during the warmest weather. Key things to do are feeding the grass, such as adding accredited products to make sure it has the necessary nutrients. Watering and cutting it regularly will also help ensure the grass is in good condition. It’s also important to rake up any dead leaves or other detritus as these can have an impact on the soil underneath.
Scrub the decks
Damaged or dirty decking can ruin the look of your outdoor space. Prepping your deck or patio can be as simple as giving them a good clean – opting for a professional clean if the dirt has particularly built up or even caused damage – before then applying a fresh stain or sun-resistant product. This will freshen up the space and protect the material from the summer weather.
If you need a job like this done quickly, Checkatrade Express enables you to instantly book a gardener, be it a one-off larger garden project or a quick fix up. You’ll be able to find someone with the knowledge and skills to effectively ‘clean slate’ the space, making it fresh and ready for the summer months.
Polish those borders
Never underestimate the power of a tidy edge. Using a spade or edger to create a sharp line between your lawn and flower beds provides an instant, professional-looking finish with very little effort. Similarly, adding a fresh layer of mulch or bark to your borders hides messy soil and keeps weeds at bay, making the garden look polished for the season.
Sharpen your shears
Before the summer heat sets in, take a moment to sharpen your tools – for example, dull shears can damage your plants and invite disease.
