How to freshen up your garden for summer
Get your garden and outdoor spaces prepared for summer with a good tidy-up, cut your lawn, tackle any furniture repairs, and even consider picking up some new seasonal essentials as you begin to spend much more time outdoors.
Plus, with so much sporting action to enjoy this year, you might even be hosting a viewing party with family and friends. To help you get your outdoor spaces sorted, here are some of our top tips for refreshing your garden and creating the perfect summer space.
1. Tidy your garden
Declutter and organise
Gardens and outdoor spaces can become a bit of a dumping ground throughout the year, which then restricts the space that you have to host and have fun.
So, start by having a good tidy-up of your outdoor space:
- Organise any garden furniture (and give it a quick wipe-down if you haven’t used it recently).
- Sort through any clutter to work out what you want to keep.
- Clean your BBQ ready for when you have guests over.
Add storage solutions
If you don’t have a garage or the one you have is looking a little full, then it’s really worth considering a shed. They’re available in various shapes and sizes, so you can:
- Find one that suits the dimensions and angles of your garden.
- Instantly create additional storage for gardening tools, lawnmowers, bikes and more.
One of our top picks is the Yardmaster Shiplap Deluxe Metal Shed. It’s ideal for long-lasting, reliable storage all year round with:
- A sturdy steel construction.
- Two translucent roof panels for a brighter interior.
- Measuring 8 x 6 feet for plenty of space.
- Extra headroom for a more comfortable access.
- A pad-lockable double sliding door for extra security.
Plus, if you add some Halfords Boltless Shelving and you can create your own bespoke storage space.
2. Prepare your lawn
Our lawns can take a bit of a beating over winter, so some maintenance work now can go a long way to getting your garden ready for guests or days enjoying the sun.
Start preparing your lawn by:
- Lightly pruning any flowering plants or shrubs to set them up for the next flowering season – pruning early encourages stronger summer growth!
- Get the lawnmower out and give the grass a good trim.
- Tackle grass edges and hard-to-reach spots with a grass trimmer.
The Einhell Cordless Grass Trimmer is the ideal solution for awkward spots with its 180° rotatable motor head, 3 tiltable positions, and edging function for adaptability and precision. Run it along the sides of your lawn and you’ll have a neat and tidy edge in no time.
3. Clean your patio
Cleaning your patio prevents algae build-up and slipping hazards, and just makes your space look much more appealing. To get your patio feeling clean and fresh, we’d recommend following these steps for the easiest way to achieve your desired results:
- Sweep away any dirt or leaves with a stiff outdoor broom.
- Use a hand brush to remove grime from tight spots or awkward areas.
- For an easy clean up, get your pressure washer out and blast away the dirt, starting on the lowest setting.
- Rinse with a garden hose to remove any cleaning agents or soap, and allow to dry in the sun.
Pressure washers come with various settings, features and lances, so just make sure you choose one that’s suitable for the surface you’re planning to clean. Check out our Pressure Washers Buyer’s Guide for more advice.
4. Tackle some basic repairs
Leave anything outside for long enough and the weather’s going to take a toll. This means any garden furniture, play equipment, bird tables or even just your patio itself will probably benefit from a bit of TLC during the summer season.
You don’t need to be an expert to carry out a lot of basic repairs in your outdoor space. Equip yourself with some good quality hand tools and you should be able to tighten loose screws, file any rough edges and encourage any nails back into place without too much trouble, ready for some summer fun.
It’s also a great opportunity to tackle those annoying little issues that you’ve been putting off for months.
- Got a creaky gate that’s been driving you mad? Treat it to some WD40.
- How about a fence panel that keeps banging in the wind? Secure a spare piece of wood into the gap between the panel and the post.
Don’t forget that if you need to tackle any taller issues, you can give yourself a height advantage with one of our handy ladders or work platforms.
5. Set up a seating area
The time’s almost here to kick back with friends and family and enjoy the summer’s sport. But first, you need somewhere to sit!
We can definitely recommend some comfy camping chairs here. Opt for some premium folding chairs to keep everyone happy, or really indulge your loved ones (or yourself!) with a super comfy King Size Moonchair.
As well as being a useful addition to your garden or outdoor space, these chairs can also be folded up and taken with you on camping trips, visits to the seaside and more. Add in a table and picnic rug and you’ll have every avenue covered.
All that’s left to do is kick back, grab a cold drink from your coolbox and enjoy the rest of summer!
5. Add party essentials
To really go all out, and throw the best garden party of the summer, grab a few accessories to really entertain your guests.
Ideal for any sport watch parties, we’ve got plenty of activities to keep everyone feeling active and the kids entertained:
- Enjoy some family fun with the Milicamp Cricket Set – complete with wooden bat, stumps, and soft tennis ball.
- Test your sporting abilities with a new badminton set, easy to use and great fun (plus, its compact storage makes it seamless to bring along on your next summer holiday!).
- You’ll be the most popular house during a heatwave with an inflatable pool! Safe and durable, it can even transform into a ball pit, sand pit, or much more during cooler days.
- Music is an essential during summer parties, or connect it to your favourite sport channel to keep updated while you’re outside. The DAEWOO Wireless Speaker is ideal for this with built-in DAB and FM, and easy portability.
With a little preparation, your garden can become a clean, comfortable and welcoming space for the whole summer. By tidying up, refreshing your lawn and patio, making small repairs and setting up a relaxing seating area, you create an outdoor environment that’s ready for everyday use as well as gatherings with friends and family.
These simple steps help your garden look its best and make it a space you’ll genuinely enjoy spending time in throughout the warmer months. Head over to Halfords.com to check out our full range of garden and leisure products.
