With the hosting season almost here, it’s a race against the clock to get any garden ideas and transformations finished for summer BBQ’s and garden parties.
While we’ve seen flood alerts across the UK over the past week, it looks as though the British weather is set to take a more positive turn just in time for the bank holiday, paving the perfect opportunity for Brits to get started on project garden.
To help, garden gazebo experts at Gazeboshop have pulled together a spring gardening guide, detailing some low-effort jobs to tick off this weekend that are guaranteed to transform the look of your outdoor space.
- Plant colourful flowers – but avoid red-coloured plants
To keep your mood boosted during the unpredictable British weather, plants play an important role in lifting your garden.
Early bloomers – such as crocuses – come in a variety of pinks, oranges, yellows, blues and purples, which are ideal for adding brightness and warmth to your garden. These plants not only look beautiful in bloom, but are also perfect for attracting pollinators. Darker colours on the other hand – such as reds – will do the opposite and actually detract pollinators from your garden so avoid this shade if you want your space buzzing with wildlife.
Helleborus are another great addition to plant in your garden this time of year. With their green, pink and white blooms, these flowers will help brighten up any day – especially if you’re planning for a BBQ and get met with rainfall instead!
- Gravel your garden to add texture
If you’re trying to achieve an expensive-looking, stylish garden but are worried about spending a fortune, gravel is an ideal for being low maintenance, easy to lay and affordable.
Coming in a wide variety of colours, shapes and sizes, gravel helps to add texture and personality to an outdoor space. From marble and slate to pea and granite; whether you’re looking for something striking or a more subtle look, there’s something for every style.
While you may be required to dust the gravel and pebbles every now and then, and get stuck in with some weeding, that’s the extent of all maintenance with gravel.
- Use paint to refresh and open up your space
If you’re wanting to upgrade the look of your garden without breaking the bank, Samantha Richards, garden gazebo expert at Gazeboshop, explains how you can use certain paint colours for a great visual impact.
“Whether you’re adding a fresh lick of paint to upgrade a weathered look or you fancy a new colour to reflect the summer months ahead, paint is one of the most effective ways to completely transform a space.
“Before you decide on a colour, think about what mood you are aiming to achieve first. For instance, if you want to create a calming zone for reading and gardening, or instead a social hub fit for hosting friends and family, you can tailor your colour scheme to suit.
“As a general rule for this time of year, you can’t go wrong with colours like royal blue, pale green and sunshine yellow as these are ideal for reflecting the spring/summer months. Also, these pops of colour can look particularly striking when the natural light hits against it.
“If you’re wanting your garden to feel bigger, opt for off-white or neutral tones to give the illusion of the space opening out more. Where possible, avoid using ‘brilliant’ white as this can often appear quite stark and create harsh lines for the eye.”
- Shift to artificial grass if you struggle with lawn-care maintenance
As we all know, the weather in the UK can change at the drop of a hat which makes it very difficult to know when to mow, sacrifice and repair your lawn if it’s in a bad condition. If regular lawn-care is something you struggle with and your grass is constantly looking, it might be time to consider artificial grass instead.
Not only is artificial grass low maintenance, aesthetically pleasing and pet-friendly, it doesn’t have to be costly either. Make sure you are, however, taking into consideration garden size, the cost of fitting the grass and the type of grass you opt for, as all of these factors will influence the price point.
- Create a patio space fit for hosting with select decor
Before you start adding some decor, clean your patio thoroughly first by using a broom and strong detergent. You can also apply weed preventatives between the joints of your paving slabs and use a power wash to remove any more stubborn dirt and grime.
Once the cleaning is out the way, if you haven’t already, consider purchasing an outdoor table with chairs, some fairy lights, a rug, pillows and even bean bags to make your garden look welcoming and ready for hosting guests when the sun comes out.
If your garden is on the small side, as well as leaning on colour for a similar effect, using a mirror is another effective way to make the space appear bigger by capturing and reflecting the natural light.
