Get your Garden Ready for Summer
At last, it’s almost summer, and you can’t wait to get outside and enjoy your new build garden. But before you can chill out on the patio with a glass of something cold, watching the kids enjoy the paddling pool while the dog lies happily in the shade, you need to get your garden ready for the season.
Here are some top garden maintenance tips for the warmer weather, along with a few ways you can get your garden summer-ready.
Mowing your lawn in the summer
If we’re in for a hot summer (and we really hope so), the best thing you can do for your lawn is not to be too zealous with the mowing. Use a higher setting on your mower, aiming to keep the grass at least an inch high (higher if it’s a new lawn). This should help to keep the roots healthier and stronger during warmer weather.
Lawn care in summer
A good water once a week can be more effective than a light daily watering – just make sure the water soaks right down to the roots. Water in the early morning or evening so you don’t lose the moisture to evaporation. If you think your lawn needs a helping hand, you can use a special spring/summer feed; however, avoid this on a hot dry day as it can lead to fertiliser burn. Wait for a cooler day then water the feed in very well.
Install a water butt
Some of your plants will need regular watering over the summer, especially if they’re in pots. Keep your water use down by installing a water butt. You can buy complete kits at DIY stores, which are reasonably straightforward to attach onto a ground-floor gutter. It doesn’t take many rainy days to fill one of these efficient containers, and the sooner you start collecting rainfall, the more you’ll have ready if we get a dry spell.
Mulch your beds
You can save even more water by applying a good layer of mulch (such as wood chippings) to your flower beds and around shrubs and trees. This not only looks pretty, but helps to retain the moisture in the soil – perfect for warmer, drier weather. Mulch also helps to suppress weeds, so that’s a win-win-win!
Think about shade
If it’s your first summer in a new build home, you probably don’t have much natural shade yet. Create cool, shady areas for hot, sunny days with awnings, sails and parasols. If you have the space and the budget, a summer house or pergola makes a lovely addition to a new garden (and it’s also handy when it rains!).
Garden ideas for your family
When it comes to summer fun in the garden, the old toys are still the best. A paddling pool, a sand pit and a set of mini goals are the starter set for many hours spent in the garden. Boule, croquet and softball are always fun, and we love games like giant jenga. A pop-up beach tent is an easy way to create a den for creative play and “camping trips”.
Looking after garden wildlife in hot weather
You can also get the kids involved in making your garden a summer wildlife haven. Make a “pond in a pot” for drinking water and to help out amphibious visitors (good news for gardeners – toads eat a lot of slugs). A shallower container, such as a dog drinking bowl or plant saucer, becomes a refreshing bath for birds. Stones create lovely shaded habitats for all sorts of creatures, especially when you’re waiting for your new trees and shrubs to provide cover. Bird feeders, bat boxes, bug hotels… there are all sorts of fun things you can do to help out wildlife in your new garden.
Get your outdoor room ready
Finally, it’s time to get your garden furniture out of storage or take off the winter covers. A dust, a wipe down and maybe a cushion-launder later, and your patio is ready for summer again. If it‘s your first summer in your new build home, you might decide to invest in a new patio suite or outdoor dining table, which is always an exciting moment!
Give the barbecue a clean and burn off any winter dust and debris, and look forward to some summer feasting. Could this be the year you finally splash out on a proper outdoor kitchen…?
Those summer nights
Extend your time in the garden by introducing light and heat for the evenings. Solar-powered lanterns and string lights are an easy and effective way to bring a bit of sparkle to your summer-evening patio, while citronella candles add a pretty glow (while keeping the mozzies at bay). However, if you want something more permanent, hire a professional to install some inviting outdoor lighting ready for summer entertaining. If you really love being outdoors at night, a warming fire pit or chiminea creates a cosy space.
Practical garden tips for the summer
During the busy school summer holidays, the garden can become the dumping ground for all sorts of post-adventure kit. Muddy-wheeled bikes, sandy trainers, damp wetsuits – all signs of a good time, but they can easily take over the space. Use a corner of the garden as your “practical place” (preferably within reach of the hosepipe) where you can hang swimwear to dry and give things like bikes and boards a good clean.
It’s a shame to miss all that good drying weather by hanging your clothes indoors or using the tumble dryer. Save energy over the summer by installing a washing line or rotary line.
Your new Hopkins Home garden
Enjoy your garden this summer in your new Hopkins Home. All our new build houses have generous outdoor spaces – just perfect for long, sunny days.