Garden Tips

Get Your Garden Ready for Summer: Simple Tips for a Blooming Outdoor Space

As the days get longer and the sun starts to show its face more often, now is the perfect time to breathe new life into your garden. Whether you’ve got a small patio or a sprawling lawn, a little preparation now can turn your outdoor space into a relaxing summer retreat. Here’s how to get started and what to plant right now for colour, fragrance, and a healthy garden all season long.

1. Tidy Up and Refresh Your Space

Start by clearing away any dead leaves, broken branches, or weeds that have built up over spring. Give borders a quick reedge, sweep the patio, and wipe down furniture that’s been hiding under covers. If you’ve got wooden decking or fences, now’s also a good time to treat them with oil or paint to protect them through the summer.

2. Feed Your Soil

Healthy soil means happy plants. Dig in some compost or well rotted manure to boost nutrients, especially in beds that look tired. You can also sprinkle slow release fertiliser around established shrubs and perennials to give them a gentle kickstart.

3. Plant for Fragrance and Colour

Late spring is ideal for planting fast growing, summer loving favourites. Here are a few great choices that smell incredible and thrive with a bit of sunshine:

• Lavender – Hardy, low maintenance, and perfect for borders or pots. The bees love it too.

• Sweet peas – Sow them now for a colourful climbing plant with a powerful, nostalgic scent.

• Night scented stock – These tiny flowers don’t look like much but release an amazing scent in the evening.

• Jasmine – If you’ve got a wall or trellis, jasmine will quickly cover it and give you that rich, tropical smell on warm evenings.

• Herbs like mint, basil, thyme and rosemary – Great for cooking, and many of them double as fragrant ground cover or edging plants.

4. Don’t Forget the Containers

If you’re short on space or want a quick splash of colour, containers and hanging baskets are the way to go. Fill them with a mix of petunias, geraniums, trailing lobelia, and verbena for non-stop blooms all summer. Just remember: containers dry out fast, so water them regularly and feed once a week with liquid fertiliser.

5. Plan for Shade and Shelter

British weather can be unpredictable. If you’ve got a sun trap, consider adding a parasol or shade sail. For breezier spots, a tall planter or trellis with climbers like clematis can act as a natural windbreak.

6. Wildlife Friendly Touches

Add a bird bath, bee hotel, or a few native wildflowers (like foxgloves or cornflowers) to make your garden a haven for wildlife. Not only is it good for nature, but it adds life and movement to your outdoor space.

Final Tip: The key to a summer ready garden is starting now before the heat kicks in. A little effort in May means more time to relax, entertain, and enjoy the outdoors when summer hits full swing.

Got a garden transformation you'd like to share? We'd love to see it. Tag us or send us a photo and we might feature it.