As the summer months and longer days draw near, do you find yourself wanting to spend more days in your garden, with a gripping book and a glass of wine, or your favorite sports channel playing on the radio and a frosty glass of beer? We all love time outdoors, but what if your garden is looking shabby, tired, overgrown… or just plain lifeless? Don’t despair: here are some handy tips and tricks to help you bring your garden back to life…
Treat Yourself to Some New Landscaping
First things first, it’s time for shopping of course! Visit a garden center near you and treat yourself to some new features. That might be outdoor lighting, a new BBQ, some lawn furniture, a laundry airer, or even a swing set(from Swing Set Mall) or paddling pool for the kids. You’ll also find everything you need to keep your plants thriving so make a list of everything you need and set out on a shopping spree.
Make Sure You’re Growing Season-Appropriate Flora and Fauna
Whether you’re growing plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables, or herbs, you won’t be able to revive them if you’ve planted them in the wrong season or climate. For example, Orchids are indoor, ‘hothouse’ plants that require almost tropical temperatures and small, specific amounts of water – so you’ll have very little success planting them outside in the cold wind and the rain. This brings us to the next tip…
Do Some Research
If you want to try your hand at rearing your own beautiful jungle or allotment of delicious fruits and veg but are not exactly known for your green thumb, the key is research, research, research. The internet is absolutely flooded with helpful websites, forums, chatrooms, and how-to guides that will help you get started, and give you all the information you need. Alternatively, you will find a wealth of information at your local library. Keep an eye out, too, for local gardening groups – nothing beats the advice that old pros can pass on in person, and you’ll probably make some wonderful new like-minded friends with similar interests!
Spruce Up What You Already Have
It’s time to get your hands dirty and do what you need to do. That means pulling up weeds. Raking up leaves. Throwing away forgotten, rotten lawn furniture. Scrubbing the dirt and grime from your patios or decks until they shine again. If the grass has been worn away or dug up by pets, consider resodding it, or investing in an artificial lawn. If your old wooden fence is looking tired and moldy, sanding down and a fresh lick will fix it right up, and give it an amazing new freshness that will make you wonder why you didn’t do this sooner. Remember to look out for wildlife: you don’t want to get too carried away, and end up hurting any small birds or hedgehogs! If you find a habitat that isn’t burdensome to you, try to leave it in place. The animals will thank you.
The work you put in today will be worth it when you can kick back and soak up in the sun in your newly revived paradise.
