March 29, 2019
If you want to unlock the potential of your garden so that it becomes the perfect chill-out spot during the summer months, it’s important to plan ahead to get your garden ready. Thinking about your garden design now, means when the warm weather arrives, you can sit back and relax in your stunning outdoor space.
There are plenty of ways to make your garden more inviting during the summer months to encourage you and your guests to venture outside and enjoy your haven. Planning and carrying out the work now will give you the longest amount of time to enjoy your refreshed outdoor space. It’s also easier to undertake big projects now, before your plants grow and the blueprint of your garden is hidden and the weather gets too hot so all you want to do is collapse in the shade.
The big picture
Now is the perfect time to take stock: before the leaves are back on the trees, you can see the bare bones of your garden and plan with clear vision how you would like it to work for you through the summer months. Is there a view that opens up in winter, when the leaves have fallen, that you lose in the summer? Would you like to preserve that view throughout the year to encourage you to enjoy your outdoor space more? Now is the time to make the changes that will open the view up for your enjoyment throughout the warmer months.
Your outdoor living space
If you treat your garden like an outdoor living-room, then now would be an excellent time to refresh the furnishings, as you would your lounge or snug. Your patio furniture may be in need of a refresh – now is the perfect time to give them a rub down and a new lick of paint or varnish – while new cushions and rugs can create a completely new feel to existing furniture. Adding planters gives character and finesse to your outdoor living space, and there’s a huge range of traditional and contemporary styles available to complement your garden theme. If you have existing planters, now is the time to clean them after the winter; remember to lift off the top inch of soil and replace it with fresh compost to give your plants a head start.
Planning for a social summer
Summer is the perfect time for long, lazy entertaining, so plan ahead now to make your garden the perfect social space. You may want to extend your patio space so you can host larger numbers. You could even think about turning your patio into a proper outside room, installing an outdoor kitchen with a barbecue, grill or pizza oven with a sink and worktop, or incorporate an outdoor chiller for the beers! The less you have to traipse indoors, the more use you will make of your outdoor space.
You also want to think about the comfort of your guests; last year we experienced a seemingly never-ending heatwave, so bear in mind the possibility of hot summer days. A garden gazebo or a pergola can provide much-needed shade. You could build your own for a rustic look or opt for a beautiful, elegant, modern design – you could choose a self-closing, rainproof, slatted roof for the ultimate in modern convenience.
To ensure you don’t end up beating a retreat indoors as the sun disappears, you could include an open fire, wood burner or firepit on your newly extended patio, using logs from sustainable sources or opt for bioethanol models. As the summer nights draw in and you’re still sat out on the decking on a Friday evening, cracking open the second bottle of wine, you may have need of outdoor lighting to create real outdoor magic. This can be so much more than a few fairy lights on the table; you can choose to illuminate the branches of your favourite tree, get softened light by bouncing uplighters off the wall of your house or fence or light up key features, such as steps or water features. You can even get LED lights that double as bluetooth speakers – perfect for setting the tone of your evening!
Making a splash
Many people love nothing more than to get their bikini, swimming costume or trunks on in the summer and go for a dip – or if you have kids, go for a splash! If that’s you, then you might want to clear an area to make room for an outdoor pool, hot tub or swim spa. If you’re put off by the idea of the maintenance involved, you could have a look at self-cleaning models.
Spring garden maintenance
Your beautiful summer garden starts now. As your garden begins to burst into life, there are essential maintenance jobs that you need to do to make sure your plants and your garden are ready for you to enjoy them at their best as the warmer weather arrives:
Look after existing plants:
Deal with pests:
Care for your lawn:
Maintain healthy trees:
Improvements:
When summer comes around, you want to make the most out of your garden. There are so many things you can do to enrich and enhance your garden experience that it can sometimes seem daunting to know what to do first. Engaging with Dewlands Garden Design makes everything so much simpler, helping you to home in on what you want, need and can budget for, to put together a garden that’s just right for you.
