5 Easy Ways To Refresh Your Garden This Weekend

It's been a long winter, but at last we're seeing longer days and with them comes some warmth in the sun. I've been busy planting seeds and potting up Dahlia tubers in the polytunnel, and I'm looking forward to planting out seedlings in the coming weeks, once the frost risk has passed (see below to check the date for your region).

I try to resist the urge to start tidying up the actual garden too early, for fear of damaging emerging plants and exposing tender plants to the elements, but as we approach the mid-way point in April, here are 5 easy ways to refresh your garden this weekend.

Start With A Tidy

We live next door to an amazing Beech tree, and whichever way the wind blows, the leaves gather in every corner. Removing these creates an instant freshen up.  If you have the space, use jute leaf mulch bags to store the leaves and leave them in a shaded area to decompose. The mulch is ideal for top dressing beds. In addition to the challenges provided by Mother Nature, I am also waging a one-woman battle against toys and sporting detritus! Space hoppers (remember those?), footballs, and cricket bats are a regular garden feature. I find myself torn between striving for the House & Garden aesthetic and wanting our kids to enjoy the outdoor space...Nevertheless, a quick gathering of such paraphernalia does instantly enhance the overall look!

Refresh your soil

I try very hard not to walk on beds to avoid compaction and to avoid disturbing the soil in general. Using a wide plank of wood to stand on, remove weeds, and then add mulch. I use a homemade mixture of rotted manure and compost. Ready-made mulch is available to buy, or for a more cost-effective option, try Facebook Marketplace for wood chippings. Local tree surgeons often offer this at very reasonable rates. The layer of mulch suppresses weeds, enriches the soil, and helps retain moisture.

Upgrade your pots

Remove dirt and green with a stiff brush and water, and remove old compost and replenish. Sweep under and around garden containers. It's also a good time of year to switch things around and reconfigure your containers. You'll be amazed at how effective this is in giving your garden a new look. This year, I'm trialling growing single varieties in containers, to create blocks of colour that I can change around as the season progresses.

Create A Focal Point

It's time to get out the garden furniture and create a space in which to enjoy your hard work. Whether a garden bench or a patio set, try adding a lantern or a potted tree to create an area of interest. Pelargoniums in a vintage terracotta pot make a wonderful centrepiece for a garden table, and a lantern lit by a citronella candle creates a pretty light and repels insects in the summer months.

Neaten edges

Edge the lawn for an instant tidy-up; take a plank of wood (that plank of wood is a handy thing!) and use an edging iron along the board to ensure a straight, crisp line... It's also a good idea to sharpen tools ahead of the summer; try your local ironmongers. Shears, secateurs, edging irons and spades all benefit from sharpening.

Not So Fast...

Resist planting out tender plants until the last risk of a frost has passed. Here is a rough guide, based on historical data, for the last date of spring air frost. 

Happy gardening! Alex x