How to Prepare for Summer in the Garden

Gardening in summer is a happy time as you enjoy the warm weather, see the beautiful blooms, and get away from the computer. You’re also getting exercise! To make it even more satisfying, here are some things to plan and do before the hot weather comes.

Consider Whether You Want to Expand the Garden (And How)

Perhaps you want a bigger garden, which means removing some of the grass and getting new soil. That is not a last-minute decision, as it is smart to plan for how you want it to look, draw out your vision, or ask others for opinions before starting to make changes. That can prevent making mistakes or creating a garden layout that is not what you wanted.

Also, get things in advance to make the gardening project less stressful and avoid missing out on the best blooms. Conveniently shop from home rather than going to stores and find summer flowering bulbs for sale that will fill your newly expanded garden with bright colours and beauty. Ordering ahead ensures you get the ones you want before they sell out.

Sharpen Garden Tools Beforehand

When the warm weather comes, you will want to be outside enjoying it rather than stuck attending to tasks like sharpening your essential garden tools. Thankfully, this task is one you can do ahead of time. It can keep you busy during rainy days and help you feel productive.

While it may not be the most fun task, it is one that you will be glad you did when June and July comes around. Dull blades on hand tools like shears, as well as pruners and loppers, make gardening more difficult as you must use more energy to cut things and they are not as precise as they could be. Maintaining sharp tools helps them last longer. Then, when the season is over, store them properly, and don’t store certain items there to help prevent damage in the colder weather.

Organise the Shed so It is Ready for Summer

Your newly-sharpened tools likely go in the shed, and it may not be as tidy as you wish it were. Perhaps you have a lot of items in there that create clutter and that makes it difficult to find what you want, such as planters. That is frustrating and wastes time on a lovely summer afternoon. In the months before summer, start to clear away what you no longer use or gardening supplies that have expired.

Once you decide what to remove, the next step is to sort it and take it to the dumpster or skip. You may have room now for bins of tools or even things from the house. Rather than trying to declutter the shed in one day, spend 30 minutes once a week doing so in the months before summer. This approach prevents overwhelm and also is a great use of time as you stay focused during the cleaning.

Gather Inspiration Now In Books, Online, and In-Person

If you are looking for something different in the garden, want to arrange more flowers in planters this year, and are unsure what to change, now is the time to gather ideas to inspire you. In the months leading up to June, go online to find examples of what other people have done in the areas of interest.

Go to the library to look at gardening books, too, if you have none of your own. As the weather warms up, visit local gardens to see if they offer tours and, if so, walk around to see what you like and might be able to do in your back garden.

As you think of what to do now, you might also look at improving lighting in certain areas of the garden or adding seating for you to enjoy the time there. These garden additions can enhance the look and feel of the area.

Put Mulch on the Garden

Before the warm days come, spread mulch in the garden around the flowers, trees, and bushes. This layer over the dirt will protect the plants from the heat of the sun that is coming soon. Along with helping them stay cool, this activity also helps keep away weeds and improves water retention.

Did you know that you can create garden mulch? To save money, one option is to buy a small amount of mulch and add bulk to it with leaves from the yard. Or, you can start a compost bin now, and by summer, it will be full of mulch to spread on the garden beds that add nutrients to flowers and shrubs. You can even create your own bin if you want.

Take Steps to Attract More Birds

While you may not realize it, the UK has many bird species in winter. Along with attracting them, you can also prepare to welcome others in the coming months. Birds, butterflies, and bees can make a garden look even more beautiful. You can also feel good about feeding them with the things you will prepare ahead of time, such as a bird feeder. The pollinating plants that will bloom soon will feed butterflies and bees.

Starting to attract birds now with a feeder means they will be very comfortable with your garden area when summer arrives. You may put the feeder in your garden or close by it on a balcony; the choice is up to you. Popular choices are seed, nut, and suet feeders.

Concluding Words on Preparing Your Garden Ahead

You will surely feel better about the cold weather as you can plan for the fun garden time ahead. Starting now can help you enjoy the days more in the dirt with your flowers when the time comes to be outside.

With some effort now, you can create a wonderful garden when the time of year arrives for flowers to bloom. Everything will look wonderful against the sunny sky! This vision of the future make you smile and look forward to what is to come.