With March finally here, we're now very much in the midst of spring. While this winter of endless lockdown has proved difficult for many we can but dream of a better summer where, at the very least, we'll be able to spend time with family and friends again.
One benefit of the first lockdown was the good weather we had and, in the short term at least, our gardens might be our best refuge for getting outdoors if the weather Gods play ball.
While you can never quite plan for prolonged sunshine in Ireland, now is the time to get your garden ready for summer so that whenever the sun does shine, you can sit back and relax and maybe even fire up the barbecue.
Here's a few handy steps you can take to ensure you're reaching for the Spritzer rather than the shovel when the good weather arrives this summer.
Start with weeds
Yes, we know it’s by no means the fun part, but by spending just a few hours hoeing and handweeding, you’ll immediately make your garden look far more loved and cared-for. For speed, ease of use and ergonomic design, get your hands on an oscillating hoe, which will make very short work of clearing any weedy paths or borders. Don’t be tempted to take the chemical route of weed control, not only because it’s not good for you or the environment (although these are good enough reasons in themselves) but also because it will take many weeks to work, during which time you’ll have to endure the horrible sight of all of those weeds slowly shrivelling up and discolouring. Not a great look for a summer barbecue.
Tackle that lawn
Neatly-defined edges will work wonders in terms of making your lawn look shipshape so use a sharp spade or half-moon lawn edger to rework them. For straight edges, use a plank or a length of string held taught between two pegs as a guide. Then mow it, making sure the lawnmower’s blades aren’t set to the lowest setting as nothing looks sadder than a straw-coloured, overly-shaven lawn.
Cast an eye over your patio, deck or yard
Is it home to huddles of forlorn containers and pots, filled with half-dead, malnourished plants? Yes? Then empty them out and dump both plants and spent compost on the compost heap. Are the pots themselves a motley collection of weather-battered, chipped or rotting containers that have seen far better days? Then ditch them too. We promise that one large handsome, well-planted container is worth 100 ugly small ones that have seen better days. Powerhosing down your patio, deck or yard can also give it a renewed vibrant look - perfect for summer.
Get planting
The same sorts of quick-growing, hardworking, long-flowering plants you use to fill your pots can also be used to fill any ugly holes in borders. Cosmos, dahlias, salvias, and nicotiana are perfect for plugging a gap and are widely available from most good garden centres at this time of year.
It’s not too late to grow some greens
You’ll still find young container-grown plants in good garden centres along with other fast-growing annual climbers such as Thunbergia alata (black-eyed Susan), Ipomoea (Morning Glory vine) and the very pretty, fast-growing Rhodochiton atrosanguineus (purple bell vine). All are excellent for growing up a trellis or against a fence. As for the veg patch, play catch-up by sourcing young module-raised vegetable plants from good garden centres.
Whichever plants you plump for, make sure to prepare the ground before planting by working in some homemade compost and a scattering of organic pelleted manure and keep them well-watered and protected from slugs and snails until established.
Now deal with that tatty garden furniture
Spruce up garden furniture by using a scrubbing brush or power-washer to remove dirt, moss and algae. Wooden furniture, fencing and decking can also be given a dramatic face-lift with a couple of fresh coats of exterior wood paint or wood stain.
Not forgetting the path
To get rid of stubborn stains, moss and algae on paving, often all that’s required is a sturdy deck-scrubber and a bucket of hot water plus a squeeze of washing-up liquid and a little lemon juice. To get rid of weeds growing between slabs, use an old knife or patio knife.
