The summer is fast approaching, and with it, the promise of long warm nights hanging out with friends. However, to do this, you need a space; for most people, this is their garden. Your garden should be seen as an extension of your indoor living space. It is an opportunity for you to express yourself and your aesthetic. There are a lot of things that you can do to ensure that your garden is ready for all of your summer plans, so let’s take a look.
The Lawn
A lot of people neglect their lawns in the winter, but as summer rolls around, it is time to get the mower out. Trim the grass nice and short. You might also want to consider resodding any withered patches and water the dry spots too. A lovely green lawn can make all the difference to your summer plans. Lawn games are a great way to add some fun to your garden parties this summer too. Remember to clean up the edges of your lawn, too, using a strimmer.
The Weeds
Dealing with the weeds in your garden can often seem like a never-ending task. Before you introduce any new plants to your garden, you should always give them a once over. Some plants attract weeds, and in introducing them to your garden, you run the risk of compromising the existing plants that you have. Ideally, you should be checking your garden regularly and dealing with weeds as they occur. Some forms are particularly pernicious, and they might require chemical intervention in order to neutralise them.
The Summer Essentials
There are a lot of things in your garden that doesn’t get much use over the winter but become important during the summer. For a lot of people cooking, dining, and hosting outdoors takes up a lot of their time in the summer. This means pulling out your garden furniture, cleaning it up and getting it ready. After you have done this, it is time to turn your attention to your barbecue. Some barbecues are hardier and can withstand adverse weather with little rust or damage. Clean them up if possible; if you can’t, it might be time to cut your losses. There are a number of other great options out there, like the Ooni Karu 16, which is a portable pizza oven that can transform your summer hangouts.
The Plants
It is easy to neglect the plants in your garden during the winter. As the summer approaches, it is time to get out there and assess the damage. Remove any plants that haven’t survived the cold weather. Prune and deadhead where necessary. You might also want to think about planting some new plants to inject some new life into your garden. Some plants are evergreen and will bloom year-round. Annuals die off after their life cycle is over, whereas perennials generally live longer.
The Lighting
While the nights are often lighter and milder in the summer, it obviously still gets dark out. You don’t want to have to cut your garden parties short because it gets dark out. There are a number of options that you can choose from when it comes to lighting your garden. Firstly, you can choose between battery-powered, solar-powered lighting or wiring your garden to the electric mains of your house. Your choice will largely depend on your budget and where you want the lights to be located. Stringing up fairy lights can make your garden look far more atmospheric. Tiki torches are cool, and they can help to keep the bugs away, but they are obviously also more hazardous too.
The Heating
The summer often signifies the return of nice weather; however, the nights do tend to turn cold. It might be worth thinking about investing in some form of heating for your garden. You can even make it into a feature in itself if you opt for something like a fire pit. Otherwise, your options are somewhat limited to standard patio heaters, which, while effective, tend to be bad for the environment, and they can also run up hefty bills. The heating needs to be near the seating area to keep your guests warm and comfortable. It might also be worth getting a few thick blankets to store in an outdoor storage bench.
The Bottom Line
Summer is the time of year when you get to kick back and enjoy the fruits of your labour. The experience that you have in your garden this year can be enhanced by the work that you have done to get it summer-ready. You can get your garden summer-ready pretty easily, and, in the process, you might even find yourself with a new hobby. By taking better care of your garden, you can enjoy it long into the colder weather too.
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