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How to give your garden a makeover for summer BBQs

Is your garden ready for the summer months?

SUMMER IS UPON us at last, and there are few better ways to spend a sunny, summer weekend in Ireland than inviting your favourite people over for a barbecue. 

Over the wetter months of winter and spring, many of us tend to ignore our duties in the garden. Only once the clouds truly clear do we realise that we might have a bit of work to do before our yards are ready for us to enjoy. 

This week, we’ve got some tips for how you can give your garden a makeover so you can show it off proudly when you have people over for a BBQ, a picnic or just a chat in the sunshine. 

Don’t leave it any longer

Summer will be over before you know it, so make a plan to tackle the garden this weekend. Unless you’ve been very diligent throughout spring, the first thing you’ll probably have to do is clear away the fallen leaves, twigs, palm fronds and any other debris that might have accumulated over the last while. 

If you’re using a leafblower, be sure to wear safety goggles — safety goggles are actually a good idea either way, as you’ll be moving debris that can be small and bitty. After you’ve blown or raked all the debris into one pile, put on some thick safety gloves to move it all into a sturdy refuse sack. Leave as little of your skin exposed as possible and clean with care. Once you’ve gotten rid of the heavy mess, you can take stock of what needs to be pruned, what needs to be replanted and what needs to be dug up entirely.

While you might prefer to mow your lawn, do bear in mind that there are benefits to leaving at least some part of your garden to grow wild, such as helping biodiversity in your area. Birdbaths, wildflowers, and patches of wild grass can be aesthetically pleasing all while adding more life to your garden.

Apply some pressure

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If your garden design features a lot of paving, it’s always a good idea to give the slabs a blast of the pressure washer. Even if they look clean to you now, you might be amazed at how a good pressure wash can transform your paved areas.

Pressure washing doesn’t take long, and it’s a buzz to see your garden looking as good as new. The same is true if you have decking, but if you choose to powerwash your decking, remember to use sealant to reseal the wood afterwards to protect its lifespan. 

Furniture fun

Ideally, your garden furniture would spend the early months of the year underneath a protective covering… But let’s face it, we don’t always remember to do that, do we? 

If your garden furniture has been out in the elements for the last few months, it’s a good idea to give it a cleaning before putting it back to use again. This will mean using a specialised garden furniture cleaner, and if you’ve got wooden garden furniture, it’s no harm going over it with some exterior wood varnish to really make your garden pop. 

Decorating your garden

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Once you’ve cleaned up, you get to the fun part — the makeover itself. For a summer barbecue, you want to create a relaxed vibe with soft lighting, such as tiki torches, that will set the mood even after the sun has set. Hanging fairy lights on your garden walls can also create a nice, starry effect. If you’ve got the knack for it, you can even wrap your fairy lights around your trees and shrubs.

You can’t go amiss with thick, soft picnic blankets for your guests to sit on, creating a casual atmosphere if people want to chill out on the grass for chats as the evening winds down. Cushions and pillows are also options for seating that won’t take up too much space, and a nice outdoor rug will add to that cozy feeling.

Create some space for colour

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Decluttering is always essential but it can be difficult, especially if you’ve got a young family. Anyone with kids knows that the back garden is the perfect place for toys to pile up.

Having your space clear will help you decide exactly where needs to be spruced up — whether it’s with ornaments, planters, shrubbery or hanging baskets. To really create a curated vibe, you can choose flowers whose colours will match your lighting, focusing on reds, yellows and golds to create the perfect summer night.

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