How to make your garden awesome in 48 hours...

Are you ready for a DIY gardening marathon... We have listed 10 tasks which will transform your garden from drab to fab in the space of 48 hours.  Don't worry, if you haven't got 48 hours to donate to your garden, just tackle a few tasks at a time to spruce your garden up bit by bit.

Prune Shrubs:    Approx time: 2 hours

The aim of the game is to thin out your shrubs to make room for more sunlight and air.  It is strongly advised that you don't trim the tips of the branches, as this will promote thicker foliage cover which will smother the heart of your plant.  Follow these quick tips for successful pruning;

  1. Dead and aging branches should be removed and trim branches which rub against one another.
  2. Taper the sides of lower branches to allow them to reach sunlight
  3. Round the shrub to assist the shrubs winter survival - rounding the shrub will help your plant shed snow
  4. Remove up to one third of the plant, NO MORE.... If your plant requires more pruning, space the work over a few weeks.

Edging your Lawn:  Approx time 3 hours

This task defines the boundaries of everything in your garden.  You can make the edge of your lawn, pathways and flower beds more prominent.  Your edger blade should be adjusted to 11/2 inches deep.  Top tip!  Take your time... rushing will produce ragged borders.

Cleaning Concrete: Approx time 1 hour

Elbow grease will be your middle name after this task.... Apply a liberal amount of patio or pathway cleaner and spray with the hose.  One your pathway or patio area has been watered, it's time to start scrubbing with a thick bristled brush.  Finally, rinse and reward yourself with a cuppa or cold drink.

Paint Patio Furniture:  Approx time 21/2  hours

Before you start paining, it's a good idea to scrub your furniture and clean the surfaces.  If the furniture is metal, it is advisable to apply a high zinc-content primer (available from our Build Centre) to prevent corrosion.  Bear in mind that wooden products may require varnish after painting is complete.

Wash Windows:  Approx time 11/2  hours

The general look of your garden can be affected by the appearance of the house.  Dirty windows are a problem which is easy to resolve.  Depending on how many windows your home has, this could be a reasonably quick job.

Best practice is to use cleaning fluid on a damp cloth in wide circles, rinse then squeegee.

 

Clean any Exterior Lights:  Approx time 30 minutes

Exterior lights attract spider webs and dead bugs which look horrible.  By spending no more than 30 minutes cleaning this mess, it's a really worthwhile project.

Install Solar Lights:  Approx time 1 hour

This is a clever way to make your garden look magical in the evening, and even better... it's very inexpensive.  Another brilliant thing about solar lighting is that you can move it around as many times as you want to achieve the desired effect.

1. A spotlight can draw attention to a statue, fountain or favourite place in the garden

2. Amber LED bulbs are a great way to create accent/ mood lighting.  These are perfect for creating an ambiance around shrubs or a garden pond.

3. Path lighting is fantastic.  We have a wide range to choose from, but beware... if you intend to use quite a few on either side of your path, it's a good idea to space them out to avoid the runway effect.

4. Step lights can be purchased with a timer or sensors which automatically switch the lights on at dusk.

5. Deck lights to shed some light on evening entertaining.

Please note that solar cells and batteries in our solar products are designed to capture sunlight 365 day a year.

Spruce up the front door:  Approx time 30 minutes

A brass kick plate (available from our Build Centre) can be a great way to hide scuffs and avoid further damage from children, pets and general wear and tear.  It is a good idea to hold it in place with masking tape before screwing onto the door.

Install a Bird House:  Approx time 30 minutes

Wild birds make great neighbours and will happily share your garden, but before your choose a bird house, it's a good idea to research into where certain types of birds prefer to nest.  Our Garden Centre stock a wide range of Peckish products including bird tables, houses, wild bird foods and more...  See in-store for the full range.

Add Planters: Approx time 30 minutes

Adding planters to doorways are even better than a welcome mat.  It adds a bit of colour to an otherwise plain area.  Plus, they are very inexpensive to create.

 

Our Garden Centre and DIY Store are open 7 days, we can provide you with the right tools and materials for the projects listed above.  Not to mention, our friendly staff are always willing to help with advice on your current project.