Prepare your outdoor spaces for warmer weather with our spring-clean guide so you can spend those endless summer days relaxing al fresco
It seems so far away, when skies are grey and it rains continually, but the sunshine will arrive before you know it, heralding lazy days and relaxing barbecues on the lawn or balcony. But the outdoors is less enjoyable when the sun umbrella is covered in mould, the outdoor furniture is grubby and the lawn is full of weeds. If this sounds like your place, don’t worry. Just follow our spring-clean checklist and your outdoor areas will be in tip-top shape in time for summer.
1 Lawn and order
Lawns can look tired after a cold, wet winter. To get your grass growing strongly this spring, give lawns a good feed and dig out or spray competing weeds such as paspalum, dock and dandelion. Some lawn products will feed grass and kill broad-leaved weeds at the same time. Fill gaps with handfuls of grass seed mixed with topsoil or another suitable growing medium. Boggy lawns are another issue at this time of year. You can buy purpose-built aerators or make your own by attaching a sharp spike to a pole. Think about putting in a mowing strip to give lawns a crisp edge, or use a trimmer to keep them tidy.
2 Seat wise
Denne historien er fra October 2018-utgaven av Your Home and Garden.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 2018-utgaven av Your Home and Garden.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
GET MERRY
Everyone will go crackers about these festive dinner favourites and the delicious trimmings
A brief history of...The Lips sofa
How to straighten up and free yourself from negative behaviour patterns
BREAKING BAD HABITS
How to straighten up and free yourself from negative behaviour patterns
MOMENTS of JOY
Sue Pat's whimsical stationery cleverly captures the wonders of Christmas
GIFTS of the EARTH
An excerpt from garden and interior designer Michael Mansvelt's longawaited book Everyday Opulence
All WHITE NOW
A fresh, coastal take on the classic white Christmas starts with a backdrop of relaxed vintage style. On top, layer shades of white from rich cream to crisp snow, offset by foraged shells and coastal flora also spray painted in white, then worked into wreaths and other essential festive decor elements.
COASTAL CHRISTMAS
A writer is all about enjoying a cruisy, coastal celebration with family and friends
Happy place
A shed on the garden's edge became healing renovation project
ALL IS BRIGHT
Colour is key in Kip&Co co-founder Alex McCabe's vibrant home over the holidays
BOLD & ECLECTIC
In an excerpt from The Makers, writer Pandora Sykes' home is a cosy and chic statement in fearlessness with colour and patterns