As we get closer to the summer, it presents us with the perfect opportunity to get our garden ready for the warm weather that – hopefully – lies ahead. After all, none of us want to miss out on the opportunity to relax in the sunshine because we need to spend time weeding, cleaning and getting rid of leaves. We know it can be difficult to know where to begin, and you may be feeling a little bit overwhelmed. This is especially true if the garden really needs some TLC after a winter of neglect. So, we’ve put together some tips on how to clean your garden effectively.
CHECKLIST ON HOW TO CLEAN YOUR GARDEN
There are a number of different tasks that you’ll need to complete in order to spring clean your garden effectively. So, let’s take a look at the main steps to follow:
- Prune the shrubs in your garden
- Remove any mulch from the winter period
- Brush back leaves that are lying on top of your plants
- Get rid of any dead annuals
- Remove any dead growth from your perennials
- Pull the weeds away
- Clean up your vegetable beds
- Edge your garden beds
CLEANING YOUR GARDEN FURNITURE
You may well have a number of garden furniture pieces that need to be cleaned for the summer months. The approach you use is going to depend on the material of the furniture, so here are our tips.
- Metal – Metal is a popular choice when it comes to garden furniture, yet it has one big problem, and this is the fact that it can rust with ease. Combat this rust by sanding it off and then using some rust-resistant paint to touch up any of the areas that are damaged. You should also hose the furniture down so you can get rid of any dust, cobwebs, or dirt. You may need to use a hard brush in order to get rid of any stubborn dirt that is hard to remove. To stop rust from becoming a continual problem, we advise keeping your metal furniture covered whenever it rains outside.
- Plastic – You can easily clean your plastic furniture with a bucket of warm soapy water. Plastic can lose its colour, so it is ideal to keep your furniture covered when it is not in use. You should also make sure you do not use any abrasive type of sponge, as this can scratch and damage the plastic. Use a Magic Eraser to get rid of marks, and your garden chairs will soon look garden party ready.
- Wood – If you have wooden furniture in your garden, you should use a bristle brush so you can clean off any excess dust and dirt that has accumulated. Once you have rinsed the wood off, you can sand down the wood in any areas that have become weathered. You can leave your wooden furniture outside throughout the entire year. However, do not forget that it needs to be protected from the elements. Giving the wood a coat of teak oil can be highly beneficial.
TACKLE WEEDS IN YOUR GARDEN
Make sure you pull up any dead plants, rake dead leads, and remove twigs. Once you have done this, you can start to tackle the weeds. Weeds are not easy to remove successfully, so we have a couple of tips to help you out. One of the best options is to use a hoe so you can make the soil around the weed a lot looser, which should help make it easier to remove.
If you are removing weeds by hand, make sure the soil is moist and damp before you get started. This will mean it is going to be much easier for you to remove the plant via the root, which is vital if you do not want the weeds to come back in the future. If you do decide to use a chemical weed remover, you should purchase an eco-friendly model so that you can protect the environment and avoid damaging your garden.
POWER WASH YOUR PATIO AND PAINT YOUR FENCE
You’re sure to want to enjoy some time socialising and eating good food with friends and family members during the summer months. Naturally, you’ll want to create a beautiful and inviting patio area. After winter, though, lot of gardens suffer from unsightly moss in their patio area. You will need to scrape this away. Once you have done this, you can give your patio a good clean. To do this, you can use a multipurpose cleaner or you can simply go with a bucket that is filled with warm, soapy water. Get yourself a stiff broom and start scrubbing. If your patio really has been neglected, you may want to consider hiring a pressure washer. If your fence panels are looking a bit faded and weathered, consider respraying them. You could even opt to change the colour for a fresh new look!
REVIVE YOUR LAWN
Once you have cleaned your patio area and furniture, you need to revive your lawn. Spring is the ideal time for you to sow grass seeds on any bare patches on your lawn. After you have waited for the grass to grow back, do not forget how important it is to mow your lawn on a regular basis. This will help to encourage new growth. You can also use fertiliser to revive your lawn, ensuring the grass returns back to the vibrant shade it used to be. Of course, when it gets warm outside, don’t forget about the importance of watering your garden. If you’re really short of time, perhaps you could get a sprinkler to do a quick once over every so often.
FINAL WORDS ON HOW TO SPRING CLEAN YOUR GARDEN
Hopefully, our guide on how to spring clean your garden effectively have made it a lot easier for you to get started with refreshing your garden for summer. We know it can feel overwhelming to get on top of your garden, especially if you have a lot of furniture to clean and plenty of weeds to get rid of. However, once you keep on top of it all, you will find it an oasis of relaxation, whether you’re entertaining, or enjoying some peaceful time on your own.
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