Read on for our guide to 'quick fixes' to get your outdoor space into shape in time for spring and summer, whilst ensuring you do your bit for the environment too.
Stop the rot
Worn out and battered wooden table and chairs need to be cleaned thoroughly and then sanded to remove any degraded wood fibres. This will restore the wood and remove the grey tones caused by UV bleaching. Remove sanding dust by wiping the surface with white spirit and finish with three coats of a garden furniture oil to give long lasting protection against the elements.
Spring clean your space
It's just as important to de-clutter the outside of your home as it is the inside. So stow any outdoor tools, toys, sports equipment or rubbish bins out of sight. If you don't have anywhere to put it all, consider investing in a quality wooden storage box, which can also double as seating - you can pick one up fairly cheaply. To ensure it continues to look as good as new, protect with a coloured wood stain. Choose a natural colour that is low in VOCs - Ronseal has just launched its new Woodland Trust Colours range of coloured wood stains, which are inspired by the UK woodland.
Having a good clean up everyday - sweeping away leaves and dirt - will make sure your decking or paving looks clean and tidy, however both should be cleaned thoroughly after winter. If it needs a more thorough clean, go for an easy to use garden cleaner. For decking, once clean, apply an eco decking stain, and this will transform old tired decking into a beautiful garden feature in no time - while also being kind to the environment.
Smart colour
Get your space looking great for spring by adding a splash of colour. This is a great way to be adventurous in a small garden. Colors such as red, orange and yellow are considered hot, and stand out best during the warmest summer months. They are also busy, stimulating colours, so for seating areas, or areas where you want to chill out, choose cooler pastel tones which will create a more relaxing feel.
Colour can also disguise the boundaries of a small space, or at least soften them. If a fence is the prominent feature in your garden area, it can emphasise how small the space is. Coating it with a coloured fence treatment will create the illusion that it is larger than it actually is. Coating wooden planters with a coloured wood stain will not only add interest, especially late in the season when fewer plants are flowering, but will help to protect the wood.
Grow flora, and fast
Now you've got the bones of your garden looking great, you need to think about what to plant. For quick colour choose summer blooming annuals which are the flashy sprinters of the plant world - they pack all their energy into a single season of glorious colour.
You can get a head start on summer by buying annuals in six packs or pots. If you're more patient or want even greater colour variety, you can buy seeds to start indoors or sow directly in the ground. But don't jump the gun; wait until all danger of frost is past before planting outdoors.
For year-round green, choose pre-potted perennials which will continue to breathe life into your garden long after the summer has gone.
And finally, don't forget to check your calendar and watch seasonal timeframes...
Try to get the biggest jobs out of the way in early Spring, then you'll have time to tend to flora and fauna as it starts to creep through. That way you'll be able to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour when the summertime finally arrives.
For more information visit www.ronseal.co.uk or www.WoodlandTrust.org.uk/Ronseal.
