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 do boring spring cleaning tasks like weeding, cleaning and removing leaves. Spring cleaning can be overwhelming due to not knowing where to begin, especially if the garden needs some TLC after a winter of neglect. So, our experts at JML have put together some tips on how to clean your garden effectively.
What Is Spring Cleaning?
Spring cleaning is known as a time for fresh beginnings and a method of preparing yourself and your home for warmer weather, especially with the summer months fast approaching. It usually involves deep cleaning and decluttering. This applies to your garden, if you prepare it beforehand, you can enjoy the benefits stress-free in peak warmer months.
Garden Spring Cleaning Checklist
Several tasks must be completed when spring cleaning your garden. Here are some general cleaning tasks to consider.
- 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
However, there are more time-consuming tasks to prioritise when cleaning your garden, such as cleaning the garden furniture, removing weeds, washing the patio, and painting fences.
Cleaning The Patio
Cleaning your patio is a spring staple for gardeners who want their gardens to look appealing. It removes and controls weeds, dirt, mould, and algae while preventing slipping hazards.
After winter, though, many gardens suffer from unsightly moss in their patio area. You will need to scrape this away. Once you do this, you can clean your patio. To do this, you can use a multipurpose cleaner or go with a bucket filled with warm, soapy water. Get yourself a stiff broom and start scrubbing. If your patio has been neglected, consider hiring a pressure washer, or you can try yourself with a garden hose attachment such as the Starlyf Power Washer.
Remove Weeds
Taking time to tend to the weeds in your garden is well worth the effort.
Make sure you pull up any dead plants, rake dead leaves, 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 some tips to help you. One of the best options is to use the Starlyf Root Digger Shovel to make the soil around the weeds much looser, making it easier to uproot and remove.
However, If you remove weeds by hand, ensure the soil is moist and damp before you start. This will make removing the plant via the root much easier, which is vital if you do not want the weeds to come back in the future. If you use a chemical weed remover, purchase an eco-friendly model to protect the environment and avoid damaging your garden.
Clean Garden Furniture
You may also have several pieces of garden furniture that need to be cleaned for the summer months. Your approach will depend on the furniture's material, 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 using some rust-resistant paint to touch up damaged areas. You should also hose the furniture to remove dust, cobwebs, or dirt. You may need to use a stiff brush to remove 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 warm, soapy water. Plastic can lose its colour, so keeping your furniture covered when it is not in use is ideal. You should also make sure you do not use any abrasive sponge, as this can scratch and damage the plastic. Use a Magic Eraser to remove 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 to clean off any accumulated dust and dirt. 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.
Paint Fences
If you plan on further enhancing your garden's aesthetic, you can repaint your fence panels. Fence panels can easily become faded and weathered over time. Therefore, painting them with the Elite Electric Paint Sprayer can help give your garden a fresh look.
Revive Your Lawn
Watering, mowing and fertiliser are key for a healthy garden lawn. Once you have cleaned your patio area and furniture, you need to revive your lawn. Spring is the ideal time to sow grass seeds on any bare patches on your lawn. After waiting for the grass to grow back, do not forget how important it is to mow your lawn regularly. This will help to encourage new growth. You can also use fertiliser to revive your lawn, ensuring the grass returns 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 short of time, perhaps you could get a sprinkler to do a quick once-over every so often.
Final Words On Spring Cleaning Your Garden
Hopefully, our guide to spring cleaning your garden has made it much easier for you to start. Once you keep on top of it all, you will find it an oasis of relaxation, whether entertaining guests or enjoying some peaceful time. However, if you want to be fully equipped for garden maintenance throughout spring and summer, discover our range of garden tools & accessories.