With the whole summer lying ahead, and early predictions that we could be heading for a 2022-style scorcher, now is a great time to be thinking about planning your outdoor space for the season, whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out.
There are plenty of things you can do at this time of year, not least after a wet few months. (And if you’re faced with an overgrown lawn, weeds which protrude through your patio and unkept bushes, you’re not alone.)
- Weed and prune
If you do some general maintenance at this point in the year, you’ll be doing your garden a huge favour by allowing your flowers to thrive all summer long. Weeds can rob your plants of vital nutrients, so they need to be removed. Equally, it’s a good time to prune and remove old branches and leaves which may have accumulated over the autumn and winter. This allows new buds to grow.
- Lay on the mulch
Mulch typically comprises chopped leaves, straw, hay, bark, grass clippings and the like. Not only does it improve the look of your garden, it helps the soil to hold on to moisture, plus it stops weed growth. Apply to your flower beds and you’ll lose less water through evaporation during warmer weather, so you can water your plants less often.
- Give your tools a good clean
If tools left idle all winter have accumulated dirt, this could cause rust or make them more brittle, potentially even spreading disease to your plants. Thorough, regular cleaning will help ensure your tools last longer. Oiling and sharpening your tools can also help to improve their performance.
- Get composting
High-quality compost can enhance your soil by helping enhance its structure and nutrient retention, while also safeguarding against disease and drought. Making this stuff at home is easier than you may have realised; and you can either buy a composting bin or use wooden planks to make one yourself. All organic waste, from fruit and veg peelings to coffee grounds, eggshells and grass clippings and prunings can go straight in the bin.
Once it begin breaking down, you have a compost which will help ensure your plants and soil stay healthy.
- Look after your lawn
You may be cutting your lawn for the first time in a while around now. Leave the blades on the mower high for the development of deep root systems plus generally healthier grass. But you don’t have to rush for your sprinkler the minute you get a brown patch – it will quickly revert to green once there is more rain.
- Attract wildlife
You can draw hedgehogs, butterflies, birds and other species to your patch in myriad different ways. Adding a hole in the bottom of your fence, for example, will allow wildlife to come and go as it wants. Equally, you could put out food and build animal and insect shelters to create a wildlife-friendly haven. Clean any bird tables, and restock feeders.
- Fit a water butt
Installing a water butt to collect rainwater is an excellent way to prepare for warmer days. You can then use this water for your plants during dry spells, as well as for washing your patio and car.
Now is also a great time to clean bird tables and patio areas – and, by the way, it’s a good time to give your patio a thorough post-winter hose-down and tidy up, too. Ensure outdoor furniture is clean and in good working order while you’re about it.
- Plant summer flowering plants and bulbs
Create a riot of summer colour with attractive flowers and plants. Lilies, dahlias, crocuses and irises are all great options to try to give your space bursts of colour.
Gardening Services from AS Landscapes
At AS Landscapes, we offer a full landscape design service, covering everything from planting plans to patio installations. We also offer individual services including turf services, decking installation and driveway landscaping for those in Surrey, Ascot and Windsor and the surrounding area.
Get in touch today to see what we could do to transform your outdoor space.