Sometimes it’s not just the inside of your home that needs a declutter and spring clean, but the garden can look like it needs some TLC too.  

Over the autumn and winter our abandoned gardens are frequently left and go neglected until the sun is ready to appear again in the warmer months.  Rejuvenating the garden can be a daunting task but by making some simple and small changes it can really make a difference to the overall look and feel.  Here are some of my own tips that helped me to spruce up my own garden this summer:

Mow the lawn

Surprisingly simple, but a manicured lawn can make all the difference.  We had neglected our garden throughout the colder months and Alfie wouldn’t let me near the lawn mower because I’m pregnant.  As we both got busier the grass grew and grew until it was reminiscent of the Australian outback.  The grass was 3ft high and looked awful.  After strimming it down and a good mowing it’s finally back to its best and it made an instantaneous difference to the garden. 

Lay down some gravel

You can actually get quite creative with gravel and stone chips these days as they come in lots of different shades.  A gravelled path can look very neat, yet stylish and it’s a good deterrent for those nasty weeds too. 

Add bursts of colour with flowers

I can’t sit in the garden in the summer if there are no flowers.  I love the bursts of bright colour that they bring.  Even if you are lacking in space and have no flower beds, you can easily get a pop of colour by filling a flower basket or pot or two with some of your favourite blooms. 

Create specific areas using decking or dividers

Larger, long gardens like ours can benefit from being divided into different areas, we have 3: a patio area directly out from the dinning area in the kitchen, a decked area with a lawn and a third area for the shed and Alfie’s big boys toys.  We spend most of our time in the decked part of the garden as it’s a bit of a sun trap.  The decking adds a definitive space that is both practical and functional, it’s great for BBQs. 

 Add a gazebo or summer-house

If you do have the space a gazebo or summer-house can look very lovely in a garden and acts as shade from the hot afternoon sun.  If the weather isn’t so great it gives you the chance to enjoy your garden whilst still being protected from the rain.   Also, if you have children I’m sure that they would love a wooden playhouse.

Illuminate the garden

Adding lights and laterns to the garden can really add a lot of character and it also means that you can enjoy the summer evenings in the garden.  Place them down the garden path or in a planter to add some lighting in specific areas to create a lovely atmosphere. 

Some of these changes can be as inexpensive as you like and even just a couple like mowing the lawn and adding some flowers can make all the difference. 

Did you neglect your garden over the winter?  How are you looking to rejuvenate some life back into it this summer?

*post is in partnership with Homebase, but all content and opinions are my own