10 ways to improve your garden this summer
From landscaping to decorative features, get your outdoor space summer-ready with these inspiring updates.
1. Get green fingered
Growing your own is easier than you think. Even if you don't have a lot of time for gardening, it’s possible to have a productive vegetable garden - no matter the size - with a raised bed. They are an attractive feature and can be as big or as small as your space allows. More versatile than planting straight into the ground, raised beds also give you greater control over the soil type and start out completely weed-free, allowing plants to grow that otherwise would not thrive in your garden.
2. Illuminate the space
A balcony, patio or lawn area will all benefit from some carefully thought-out lighting. Anything with a warm, ambient glow will create a magical twilight atmosphere, allowing you to eke out al fresco summer evenings for as long as possible. Try a smattering of lanterns, a string of festoon bulbs or a subtle trail of floor lighting to mark out a path.
3. Maintain your borders
Boundaries are an often overlooked aspect of the garden, yet in many ways they are the backdrop for all other elements. Investing in your fencing design can completely transform your space, working as either an elegant focal point or a slick background against which other features will pop.
4. Be clever with mirrors
Adding a mirror to an outside wall is a really quirky but cool feature which, when used properly, will work wonders for your garden. Exactly as it does inside the home, a mirror will create the illusion of more space. When placed in specific points, a mirror can also be used to brighten the space, reflecting light back into north-facing gardens or into shady corners. Small, window-like designs will hint at portals to different corners, giving your garden a magical air.
5. Create an outdoor living room
If done right, a garden becomes the additional room you didn’t know you needed (weather dependent, of course). There are a number of design elements which, when combined, will transform the space into a peaceful sanctuary to sit back, relax and enjoy the surroundings. Try a seating arrangement beneath a pergola, a corner sofa built around a fire pit, a hammock that acts as a reading nook, or sophisticated wooden loungers complete with upholstery. Adding a conveniently placed coffee table and string lighting will create a wonderful setting to enjoy hot summer days and balmy evenings.
6. Add a water feature
Contrary to popular belief, a water feature doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Something as simple as an attractive bowl filled with water will make a real impact, reflecting light and neighbouring plants. Calming trickling sounds can be generated by a rill or fountain, while a pond will allow you to grow aquatic plants and provide a home for newts, frogs and dragonflies.
7. Furnish your decking
Investing in some soft furnishings for your decking or balcony will create a sense of continuity from the house. Adding a rug, cushions, lighting and table plants all make for a very enticing space. Go that extra mile by coordinating your throw pillows with the florals - switching them up every now and then is an easy and cost-effective way to upgrade your patio each season.
8. Create more storage
If you’ve got the space, a shed can be a real asset to your home, providing ample storage, while blending seamlessly into the rest of the garden.
9. Cook up a storm
Nothing says summer like the scent and sizzle of a BBQ. Putting some effort into your outdoor kitchen space will make al fresco cooking even more delightful. These days, BBQs come in all shapes and sizes (outdoor pizza oven anyone?) but having one built into the patio area will make for an enviable talking point. Shelving and storage, a sink and tiling are just some of additions that will make the space all the more impressive. But if the free-standing type is more your style, a stylish dining table will complete the space nicely. Take precaution against British summer showers by adding an awning to the seating area.
10. Care for your lawns
Your lawn requires regular care and attention to keep it looking gorgeous and green. Be consistent when it comes to removing weeds, leaves and moss. Rake up leaves as soon as they fall to prevent rot and remove weeds by hand or with chemical treatment. A spring-tine rake or scarifier will get rid of moss; it’s hard work but will prevent the moss from smothering the grass. Caring for the borders of your lawn will define the line between flower beds and grass, making the whole garden look instantly tidier. Spruce up the edges a couple of times a year if possible.
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