Planning is essential if you want to end up with the perfect garden come spring and summer; even though many people think there is nothing they can do to prepare while it is still winter, that is far from true. In fact, if some jobs are left until the first signs of spring then they will have been left too long.
Before the keen gardener can even think about what to plant this year, there are a few important and very basic checks to make; and there will inevitably be a few tasks to follow to ensure that the garden is in perfect shape before planting is even considered.
This winter has seen some pretty rough weather across the country so the first thing to check is that there has been no hidden damage to bushes, trees or even fences. Garden security is very important as an added precaution against burglars Make sure the fences around the garden have any loose planks replaced; not only does this deter potential intruders, and provide shelter and shade, but the garden will look nicer for it too
Family circumstances may have changed since the last time any major garden maintenance was done. The water feature or pond that was the focal point of the garden last year may now be seen as a hazard if there are going to be young children using the garden some the summer months.
Although gardening is a great hobby, the main reason so many people spend their weekends working hard to maintain their outside areas is so they can be used for barbecues and outdoor drinks with friends and neighbours once the evening start getting warmer. With this in mind, access to an from the house needs to be checked, and if a new barbecue is part of the plan for this year’s garden renovations, pick the spot carefully; too exposed and the smoke will blow everywhere, but too sheltered and it will hang like a cloud over your party.
Lighting is another important part of entertaining in your garden. Luckily there are dozens of options available in DIY stores when it comes to external lighting so it is easy to pick the perfect system for your situation.
Many gardeners are also environmentally aware and this winter is as good a time as any to make some green changes to your grounds. Set up a bird table to encourage feathered friends to visit and if the garden has a suitable out-of-the-way spot set up a compost area – though make sure it is well away from where the entertaining will take place.
Finally, now is not only a good time to get all those annoying maintenance jobs out of the way, but also the perfect opportunity to make some changes to cut down on the amount of repair work needed throughout the year. It is possible to introduce new landscaping features that will cut down on the hard work, such as mowing the lawn, that needs to be done all year round.
Take all these tasks into hand now and by the time spring arrives the garden will be in excellent shape for all the fun stuff to begin.
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