Top tips for sprucing up your garden

Now it seems that spring has finally sprung in the UK, many of us are turning our attention to the possibility that it might be possible to get the barbeque out in the next few weeks. But this winter’s heavy snows, frosts and general wet weather have taken their toll on the appearance of Britain’s gardens. Now’s the perfect time to get your gardening gloves on and start getting your outdoor space ready for relaxing and entertaining your friends and family this summer.

Photo courtesey of USDAgov

Below are some of our top tips for good places to start.

1. If your outside space is more small patio than expansive green lawns, try planting a few brightly coloured pots full of beautiful summer bedding plants in a variety of colours.
2. Make tired looking wooden garden furniture look good as new by painting it with some teak oil – there’s no need to splash out on an expensive new set.
3. If moss has been ruining the look of your lawn, simply rake it out. Reseed your lawn to fill in any patchy bits.
4. Invest in a pressure washer (or hire one from your local garden centre) to give dirty patios and decking areas a good scrub, creating a more appealing space in which to relax this summer.
5. Place some solar lights around the garden to keep your al fresco entertaining spot well lit until long after the sun goes down.
6. Make sure your flowerbeds are full of perennials that come back year after year, then simply fill in any gaps with summer bedding plants to add a spot of colour straight away.
7. Focus on fragrance too – plant some jasmine, roses or gardenia near your patio to treat you and your guests to a heavenly aroma – you’ll be surprised what a difference it can make.
8. Invest in a shed to house your garden tools, soil etc to avoid untidy areas. If you’re worried about theft or damage to your new equipment, switch to the AA’s home contents insurance, which includes up to £1,000 garden cover and £3,000 for the contents of your shed.
9. Create some further points of interest in your landscape by adding some personality, whether it’s through wind chimes, driftwood, boulders, stones, or even lanterns – this will make a real difference and create a really stylish look.
10. Finally, to keep your lawn looking good all summer long, with minimal fuss, make sure you have got a decent sprinkler system on the go, so you can kick back, relax and make the most of any good weather that comes our way.