It’s fair to say that the cold weather doesn’t motivate you to get outside. You can find yourself longing for those warmer days. You may even daydream about sitting in the sunshine. Perhaps drinking a cold refreshing beverage and enjoying a good book in your garden.
However the reality is more likely to be that during the winter months, your garden won’t get that much attention, and that needs to change. Especially if you want to make the most of summer and spring when the weather does decide to warm up.
It may seem like a big task, but little and often could make all the difference. I thought I would share with you five ways to get your garden ready for summer in the new year.
Tidy up any flower beds
In the winter, it’s the ideal time to weed those flower beds, prune those bushes and tidy up those trees. You may be wondering why but growth tends to stop or slow down in the winter, so you can see exactly what needs to be done and when.
The icy or colder weather also means that you have a blank canvas to work with, so it could actually help you to tidy up these areas rather than hinder your chances of completing the job. It could also inspire you to think about what you might want to plant in the spring ready for those summer blooms.
During Autumn and winter leaves and branches will have gathered as they have fallen. Again this time of year is the ideal time to clear them all away. Just neatening those up and providing space for new plants to grow will make such a difference.
Invest in some new garden furniture
Purchasing garden furniture now won’t be a high priority for most people, especially when there are things and purchases to make in winter. But right now you have the ideal opportunity to think about what you want to get out of your garden next year, is it utilised as a family area? Is it an entertaining space for friends?
If your garden is used for a multitude of uses, then an outside dining experience wouldn’t be possible without a table and chairs set. You may also want to consider a few extra chairs and parasols to provide comfort and shade. Even a [amazon_textlink asin=’B00VTJHSJC’ text=’BBQ’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’mygardening411-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’54b8fde3-e77c-11e7-8e90-4f79c2989752′] shouldn’t be completely taken off your list.
There may be some real bargains out there at this time of year as not everyone is making these sorts of purchases so use it to your advantage.
Make areas in your garden useful
While the garden isn’t always deemed as the most useful area of your home, it can be put to good use in many different ways, and actually help you to use your garden more when the time strikes right.
During the warmer months, we should be regularly watering our lawns and flowerbeds to ensure the plants get some hydration, so instead of using the outside tap, why not get a plastic tanks in your garden to start collecting rainwater. We all know that the weather can be quite wet at this time of year so you could really end up with quite a lot ready for summer. Then it’s just a case of using it for garden chores.
You might also want to ensure that you install some storage into your garden like a shed, so that you can make sure things are tidied away when they are not needed. Not only does it keep your garden looking great, but it also protects furniture, the BBQ and garden tools during the bad weather.
Look after your lawn and patio
Whether it’s just a lawn you have, a patio or both, they will need some much-needed attention during the winter. A patio can get a little green around the edges so it would be recommended to give it a good steam clean to remove it all.
Your lawn may not have had any maintenance for some time; it would be a good idea to take advantage of the first rain-free day and get it cut. You could even add a lawn feed or treatment to help it along. Just edging your lawn to create a neater edge will make the world of difference.
Looking after your fences
It’s not the nicest or easiest job to do, but winter will have been harsh on any fencing you may have. During the colder winter months, when the days are cold and fresh, it would be an ideal time to creosote and treat your fences. During the summer, the clean finish will be a welcomed sight.
With a bit of preparation, you can enjoy your time in your outside space next year. That cold beverage will taste just that extra bit refreshing.
