Even with everything that’s going on in the world, there are still some things to look forward to. For example – we’re at the beginning of summer, which means the warmer weather is here to stay! And even if you are still cooped up indoor self-isolating, there is no reason you can’t enjoy the sunshine out in your garden. So if you’re furloughed, or bored at home and looking for something to do, why to take this time to get your garden ready for those evening BBQs, drinks on the patio and water fights on the grass? Even if you’re in a rental property, there are still some things you can do to get your garden sunshine-ready.
Clean Your Tools
Before you get started on anything, you need to make sure your tools are in good working order. So, open up the shed, pull out all of your tools and give them a good clean. If they’ve been sitting in the shed all winter, they might have gathered cobwebs, have the remnants of last year’s gardening on them, or worse, rust. Cleaning and sharpening metal blades (if you have the tools) and rubbing a little mineral oil into wood can stop any handles from splitting once you get to work, and means your blades stand a chance of cutting cleanly. You should also check that any lawnmowers or strimmer are in good working order, and that there’s no damage to any cables.
Clear the Debris
Just like cleaning a room should start with throwing away the rubbish, cleaning up your garden should start with clearing away any debris that’s built up since last summer. That means leaves, weeds, nettles, thistles and dandelions, along with any actual rubbish that’s made its way in there. If you have a big garden, you might want to split it into zones to make this a bit easier. You can also use this time to trim back any bushes and plants like roses before they start to really come into bloom.
Empty the Compost bin
Compost heaps are more than just a good way to reduce your household waste. They’re also a great way to create your own nutrient-rich soil for your garden. One a year, it’s a good idea to empty your compost bin out, sift it and add it to the soil around your plants and flowerbeds. Start by raking over your existing soil before adding the compost, and then rake again to make sure it mixes together. This will save you costly trips to the garden centre, and means you have more room in your compost bin for the rest of the year.
Cut the Grass
This is the simplest thing you can do to bring some life back into your garden. Just giving the lawn a trim can make the whole space look neat and more appealing. And since your grass will be growing at a rate of knots at the moment – it’s probably just as well! Think of it like the quarantine haircut for your garden – sorely needed after such a long period of neglect. And any grass clippings can go into the compost bin, ready for next year.
Revitalise Pots
If you’re anything like us, you’ll have a collection of pots around that once held vibrant flowers, but are now either full of soil or empty. This is a great chance to clean them up a little, upcycle them if you want to, and fill them with compost and flowers for a little colour. You should also check on any climbing plants you might have, as these have a tendency to get tangled, and may need cutting back.
Plan Your Planting
Of course, with lockdown not entirely eased yet, you might not be ready to start planting out your new garden just yet. And even if you are, a little planning can go a long way. Think about whether you want to just maintain your garden as it is, or if you want to add something new. Maybe you want to attract wildlife like birds, bees and butterflies, in which case you’ll need to plant various wildflower mixtures like poppies, marigolds and lavender. You can chat to a gardener, or do some research online to find the best options for your garden, and sketch out where you want to plant them out.
As lockdown eases and the sun comes out, gardens are becoming a more important part of our lives than ever before. We are now allowed to meet with family members out in the garden (while maintaining social distance of course), and so you might want to spend some time making it a nice place to be. Even if you’re in a rental property, you will likely have some level of free reign over the garden, provided it is in a good condition (though we do recommend you check your lease first). But whatever you choose to do, we hope you can enjoy your garden, and time with your family, in the coming months.
