So you’ve neglected your garden all winter and now there are thigh-high weeds worthy of a machete nestled in beside your rose bushes, your patio is mossy and your lawn is practically meadow-esque. Although all looks lush and green, it’s hardly the clean, tidy and inviting space you’re after for summer al fresco dining.
It’s true that us Brits have it harder than anyone when it comes to keeping on top of our gardens. The changeable British climate has a lot to answer for, and plants that thrive in one season will struggle in the next. In fact, I read an article the other day that claimed us Brits waste an estimated £672m per year on their gardens as a result of plants dying prematurely. This is hardly surprising if we consider we spend less than 30 mins per week in our garden in the colder months.
We can chalk the vast majority of this wasted money down to not knowing what we’re doing, or simply forgetting to get the watering can out. In fact, most of us will rely solely on instinct when tending to our garden, we’ll give a cursory glance to the plant label, then throw it away. Couple this with a few slug, snail and greenfly invasions and our efforts to become the next Charlie Dimmock are quickly thwarted.
Thankfully most of this waste is easily avoidable and there are plenty of simple tips for maintaining your garden all year round. Never is there a better time than the summer to get started, so here’s a few quick tricks to get your garden blooming in time for all those BBQs:
How to keep your lawn lush
Unsurprisingly, hot weather is your biggest adversary when it comes to keeping your lawn green and lush. Anything above 30°C will stunt growth, and prolonged exposure to anything above 26°C will result in unsightly yellow/brown patches. To curb this, avoid cutting the grass too short and leave it standing at about 5cm to prevent the soil from drying out.
Strangely enough, the optimum time to water the grass is between 4 and 8am. I’m not suggesting you drag the sprinklers out before dawn, instead consider investing in a sensor controller to do the hard work for you. Hozelock have some great affordable options around the £40 mark. Just be careful not to over-water (10 litres per square metre is ample) or you risk mould forming.
Keep trees tidy
Although it’s always good to have some permanently shady spots in your garden, particularly if you have children, crown lifting (the removal of soft growth and branches of a tree to create a desired vertical clearance above ground level) is recommended as an on-going management technique. Like any plant, your trees will thrive with regular pruning, and it’s an easy way to achieve a big visual transformation.
Protect fences and sheds
Another quick win is to treat your fence and shed panels to preserve and protect them against both heat exposure and wetter weather. One afternoon getting grubby with a paintbrush can last up to 5 years, and it really does liven up your garden. You needn’t stick to plain old brown either with specialist brands such as Cuprinol offering both warm and crisp shades to complement your summer garden.
Tackle those weeds
If there’s any job that’s going to give you a real sense of satisfaction and instantly improve the aesthetics of your garden, it’s weeding. If this is your first time out in the garden since July last year, chances are you’ve got a big job to do!
When culling an existing batch, remove the source by digging out the roots with a trowel. Be prepared to find a couple of communities of snails whilst clearing out particularly dense weeds - pop these in a bucket and release them well away from your garden to prevent them feasting on new plants.
When the space is cleared, prevent the growth of fresh weeds by turning over the top soil and planting new plants densely together to minimise the space available for weeds to develop. Depending on the plants chosen, you might also want to consider mulch to prevent weed seeds from sprouting.
Watering dos and don’ts
Just like your lawn, it’s best to water your beds early in the morning, or late at night. This is because the soil is cooler so less water will evaporate under the gaze of the sun. Try to keep the soil evenly moist and avoid watering leaves or plant heads to avoid damage - even the hardiest plant won’t appreciate you wading in and blasting them with a hose.
In fact, casual or inexperienced gardeners are just as likely to over-water as they are neglect their plants. To keep most plants happy you need only water just 1-2 times per week with plenty of water - maybe a little more if they are exposed to direct sunlight constantly throughout the day. You want soil to be lightly moist, not sodden, to avoid mould formation.
There you have it! Simple tricks to get your garden summer ready before it’s time to whip out your bikini. Remember that gardening is not rocket science, but practice does inch you a little closer to perfection. You needn’t stick a load of plants on your credit card at B&Q, just experiment with one or two varieties and nail them for truly stunning results.
