With summer fast approaching, now is the ideal time to help your garden bloom. Whether you’re looking to host those special family barbeques, children’s birthday parties or simply want to spend more time relaxing outside, working on that picture-perfect lawn for Instagram should be at the top of your agenda.
If you’re wondering where to start, don’t worry. Our top tips have got you covered.
1: Start the transformation
When revamping your home, it’s easy to forget about the garden, particularly in colder, darker months. However, May is the perfect time to give the outside some much-needed TLC, particularly as you’ll likely use the space for entertaining more often.
Start by removing all of the weeds and only feeding the flowers that you still love. Fresh plants are a great way to inject some brightness into your garden – think hanging baskets or pots of hydrangeas. Or, if you’re looking for more cost-effective ways to spruce up your space, why not give some worn furniture a fresh lick of paint, creating a modern, shabby-chic effect.
2: Spend time outside
Like anything, the more time spent on a project, the better the result, so don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty (literally!) Spending more time planting, feeding and digging will lead to envious results that you can be proud of.
However, this doesn’t mean working every day. If you’re obsessed with a perfectly-mowed lawn, aim for a fortnightly cut. And if you’re lacking on time, own that overgrown look instead, creating a “wildflower meadow” in your back garden.
3: The latest design must-haves
If you’re renowned for being bang on trend with your interiors, try to keep this same momentum outside. A less-manicured planting style is in fashion this summer, with wild and perennial meadows taking centre stage. This naturalistic planting encourages wildlife and will help to create a rustic, lived-in feel that will echo in your home.
From air-purifying plants to plant protein, using your garden to improve wellness and wellbeing is another dominant trend in 2019. Garden therapy has become extremely popular, with more than 70% of people claiming that gardening makes them feel calm and relaxed.
4: Welcoming wildlife
Encouraging plant diversity is a win-win situation – it makes your garden a hub for wildlife and helps the environment. If you’re hoping to have a positive effect on nature, consider adding one of these to your home:
- Waterbaths: They provide a great place for birds to rest, hydrate and wash their feathers.
- Wildlife houses: Bees are pivotal to our environment, so adding a beehive to your garden can ensure they can pollinate your flowers. Butterfly and ladybird houses are also fantastic because they can provide shelter for many insects, including spiders, lacewings, beetles and mason bees.
- Garden ponds: These water features have tonnes of environmental benefits, providing a sanctuary for indigenous wildlife, such as dragonflies, frogs and birds.
4: Embrace your inner big kid
Don’t be afraid to use your space in new and innovative ways. This year, ‘adult treehouses’ are all the rage – why not consider adding one to your garden? It certainly makes for an interesting conversation starter.
Treehouses and summerhouses are a great way to let go and enjoy your leisure time outside, regardless of the weather. Constructing your own hideaway or investing in a pre-assembled structure is an ongoing commitment to spending more times outdoors, even on those inevitably rainy British summer days.
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