How to Spruce Up Your Garden in Time for Summer: Part 1 - Make the Most of the Space You’ve Got
We have never spent as much time at home as we are at the moment. With the sunny weather making an appearance, it’s the perfect time to get some fresh air and spruce up your outdoor space. During this unusual time, it can be tricky to get your hands on paint and furniture with DIY shops closed and websites limiting their orders. However, there are some things you can do without having to max your credit card out.
Whether you’re lucky enough to have a big lawn with an abundance of greenery, a patio area or balcony, you can make it your own and spend time catching those rays. Even if you don’t have a garden, you can create the perfect window sill nook to curl up with a good book and a glass of vino.
WINDOW SILLS
If you live in a flat without any outdoor space, you might feel like you’re missing out, especially when your Instagram feed is filled with celebrities showing off their acres of land and hot tubs. But you don’t need to worry about FOMOG (fear of missing out on gardens - I’m sure it will catch on).
Make the most of what you do have and give a sunny spot in your home a mini makeover. A window seat is a great way to feel connected to the outside. You can style the window sill with a few houseplants, fresh flowers and some cushions (we love this set of 4 covers below for £12.89!) You don’t have to build a custom made window seat, popping a chair by the window will work just as well.
Top tip: Aloe vera loves the sun, so it will do well in a window and is easy to keep alive if you’ve not got the best track record when it comes to plant parenting! Just treat Vera to a big drink once a week during the summer months.
BALCONIES
Size doesn’t matter. Balconies come in all shapes and sizes and even if you’ve got a small space you can add some simple pieces of furniture and decoration to create an extra room in your home.
Give your balcony an instant refresh in 3 simple steps by using what you already have and through buying a few purse-friendly pieces online.
A rug will transform unsightly concrete. You can either pop your favourite rug outside (but remember to bring it back indoors every night) or use a waterproof rug designed for outdoor use. IKEA, Primrose and Amazon (check out a great outdoor rug we love below!) have some great selections but bear in mind some items are unavailable at the moment and delivery times might be longer.
Whilst plants can be hard to get your hands on right now, why not create your own herb garden using supermarket potted herbs. Rosemary is easy to look after and smells great! Keep them in a planter and water once a week.
If you’re strapped for space, make the most of the walls. Try hanging a trio of plant pots or add some artwork - print a design at home and pop in a waterproof plastic frame.
PATIOS AND FULLY FLEDGED GARDENS
If you’re lucky enough to have a bigger outdoor space then you’ll have a greater project to tackle.
As well as the fun bits of your garden makeover, now is the perfect opportunity to tidy up your jungle. Pull up weeds and clip back overgrown bushes and plants. If you have a pressure washer you’ll have the satisfaction of seeing moss covered walls and stained patio slabs transform from dirty to sparkling new. (And if you don’t, this is one of the most useful and underrated gardening tools- grab one from amazon below!)
Why not use paint from previous upcycles to touch up old pieces of furniture that might need a new lick of colour. But remember to only use exterior paint otherwise it will peel and fade and you’ll have to do it again soon.
You’ll find more tips and tricks to refresh your garden throughout this series, but a key element is lighting.
Everyone loves fairy lights (apart from untangling them) and they’re definitely no longer just for Christmas! With so many options from string to solar, you can pick the best for your space. Outdoor Solar Lights are a friend to the environment, but they do need a good 4-5 hours of direct sunlight every day in order to light up. So if, like mine, your garden is north facing then battery powered is the best bet.
Stay tuned for the next blog post in the series, where we’ll be looking at what to buy during lockdown and what to put on your wishlist for the future.
NB. We understand buying items for your garden is not essential shopping at the moment and some people may choose to hold off on these purchases. However it’s a great opportunity to support local businesses and buy a few bits and bobs to put a smile on your face.
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Written by Sophie Ebeling
