Summer is the perfect time to give your garden a full makeover since this is when you are likely to be spending the most time there. Looking at your garden with fresh eyes is always a good thing to do once in a while. A lovely garden is a great place to entertain friends and family. It can also add value to your home if you decide to sell the place in the future.
Whether you have green thumbs or would like a super low-maintenance garden, we have some great ideas for a summer makeover.
Add Some Decking
It is a great idea to add an area where you can have an outside seating area, such as a sectional sofa or garden swing. Lawns are not good for this, as grass tends to die under anything solid and it also means you will need to move the items each time you get the lawnmower out. Imagine how annoying that will be!
Many homeowners like the idea of a patio, but this is something only the more experienced DIY enthusiast is capable of installing a patio. Decking is a much cheaper and easier option.
Decking is available in strips or smaller sectional pieces. With a bit of skill, installing a deck is very much a weekend project. Once your decking is in place, it can become a hub for outdoor entertaining or somewhere to sunbathe on a hot summer day.
Garden Lighting
Lighting is a quick and easy way to add some interest to a garden at night. The beauty of modern solar lights is that you don’t need any power outside. Solar lights work anywhere and come in many different forms. String lights are great for trees, hedges, and large shrubs whereas post lights are handy for pathways and along borders.
Create a lighting plan before you go crazy with the solar lights. Don’t mix and match colours and white tones unless you are planning on a crazy Mardis Gras vibe. Consider the plants you have in the garden when planning your lighting there. For example, blue lights will look cool among predominantly yellow flowers and red lights clash delightfully in a green hedge.
For a more tasteful approach, stick with white lights or one colour, e.g., blue.
Pots and Tubs
Planting up tubs and pots in varying shapes and sizes is a quick and easy way to add colour. Buy a selection and fill them with colourful annuals. Mix and match different types of annuals for a vibrant show of colour or stick with fewer colours if you have a colour scheme in mind.
Bear in mind that tubs and containers will need watering more often. In hot weather, it’s a good idea to water your containers at least once a day, preferably first thing in the morning or in the evening, when it isn’t so hot. If you don’t water plants in containers often enough, they tend to die, and dead plants are never a good look for a garden – not to mention a waste of money.
Invest in a Shed
Garden sheds are so adaptable. You can use a shed as a basic storage area for garden tools and equipment, which is ideal if you don’t have a garage. However, a shed can be used for so much more.
There are sheds to suit all budgets and requirements. A smaller shed is handy for storage whereas a large shed would make a lovely summer house or hobby room. Check out the most popular sheds for summer on the Buy Sheds Direct website. There are garden sheds of all different types, including plastic sheds, lean-to sheds, and metal sheds. You might even decide to upgrade to a log cabin.
Decide where best to place your shed based on what you plan to use it for. A storage shed is best suited in an unobtrusive corner whereas a shed intended as a summer house would look great under a shady tree or anywhere with a nice view.
Build an Outdoor Kitchen Area
Outdoor kitchens are becoming increasingly popular, as people take advantage of the nice weather and prepare meals outside. You don’t need to go all out and install an outdoor pizza oven complete with a small fridge and sink, but a small area with a built-in BBQ and food prep area makes a great addition to any garden.
Place an outdoor kitchen reasonably close to the house, so you don’t have to walk for miles carrying food and other items between the garden and house. Fit some lighting in this area, so you can cook in the evening more easily.
Try any or all of these tips and in no time at all, your garden will look amazing.
