Creating a summer garden to make the most of your outdoor space

From peaceful afternoons relaxing in the shade to balmy evenings under the stars with friends, spending time in our gardens over the summer can be wonderful. Perhaps you are planning a complete garden makeover or just want to spruce up your outdoor space. Whether it’s large or small and whatever your budget, putting in some work now means you can enjoy your garden over the summer. Spring is finally here, so now is the ideal time to get outdoors and start creating your summer garden.

Taking on a major landscaping project or garden redesign can be a daunting prospect. However, there is still time to upgrade your garden ahead of summer. Maybe you’ve been inspired to add an exciting new element, such as a garden building or children’s play equipment. Or perhaps you want to finally tackle a long overdue landscaping job, such as replacing your old paving or decking.

Any landscaping project, including creating a new deck, needs careful planning but upgrading your garden can seriously enhance your lifestyle. Creating a level space in your garden for seating and outdoor dining, for example, could give you more opportunities to spend quality time outside with friends and family. Installing a deck is usually the cheapest and most cost-effective way to achieve this.

While you’re probably picturing yourself enjoying your new deck on a perfect summer’s day, the British weather means this will not always be the reality. Non-slip decking stays safe when it’s wet. That means you can enjoy your garden between the showers.

A timber deck can completely transform any outdoor space. If you want a really simple way to install a garden deck, our decking kits give you everything you need.

If you’re a keen gardener, you’re probably already bursting with ideas for your summer garden plants. Those of you who are less green-fingered can still improve an outdoor space by growing plants that bring colour to your garden over the summer.

Most summer bulbs can be planted outside, in pots or directly in the soil, once the risk of frost has passed. Depending on where you live, April or May is usually the ideal time to plant bulbs, such as agapanthus, dahlias and cannas. That means that you can start researching and buying your bulbs now.

Bedding plants, including lobelia, marigolds and salvias, can usually be planted out from late May onwards. These plants, which you can usually buy fairly cheaply in bulk, are ideal for filling empty spaces in borders. They also work well in pots and hanging baskets. Just don’t forget to regularly water them if we have a dry spell.

Recent years have seen garden trends leaning towards simple colour pallets, with a focus on white and pastel shades. Garden designers and horticulturalists, including experts from the RHS, have predicted a return to colourful gardens in 2022. That could mean bold red, orange and pink summer flowers seeing a comeback. Whatever your taste, you’ll find flowering plants to suit your style and bring your summer garden to life.

Little touches can make a big difference in a garden. Picking out a few accessories, such as cushions, wall hangings, lamps and rugs, will turn your outdoor space into a welcoming and comfortable summer garden. Colourful accessories perfectly complement a timber deck. We love these stunning outdoor cushions from Gardenista, which come in a range of stylish colours and patterns. Like Gripsure, Gardenista has designed its products with the unpredictable British weather in mind. Their cushions are weather resistant. That means, although the fabric is beautifully soft, it can withstand a rain shower.

Brightly-coloured accessories look dramatic against dark timber decking, such as our Bamboo non-slip decking. Fresh pastels, on the other hand, complement light timber, like our anti-slip Contemporary decking.

If, like many people, you want to use your deck on summer evenings, you’ll need to consider lighting. Festoon lights and Moroccan style lamps can turn a deck into an enchanting night-time space to enjoy with friends and family.

Most of us are guilty of neglecting our gardens over winter. It’s likely that yours will need a tidy up to get it ready for summer. The days are now getting longer and temperatures are rising, so this is a great time to get outside and deal with any cleaning and maintenance jobs.

It’s much easier to fix trellises and repair and treat fences now, before the growing season gets underway. Some shrubs and larger plants need pruning to encourage growth over the summer. Before you get too enthusiastic with the secateurs, though, check that spring is the right time to prune your plants.

According to news reports, the shortage of garden furniture is set to continue this year. Rather than investing in a new set, you may instead want to restore your table and chairs. While all garden furniture will benefit from a good clean, you may also need to treat timber items to ensure they stay weatherproof. Alternatively, painting your old timber garden furniture could give it a completely new look.

Spring is a good time to clean your decking and get it ready for summer. We recommend using a good, stiff brush to clear away any debris before giving it an annual clean with a pressure washer. If you have had your timber decking for a few years, it may have faded into a silvery grey. Many people like this look, but you can treat your decking with paints, oils or stains to restore the original colour.

While summer may feel a long way off, warmer weather is just around the corner. Spending some time preparing your garden now will help you make the most of it over the summer.