Here in the UK we just love our gardens. There’s not much better than getting some friends round in the summer to enjoy a barbecue or even just some drinks. And the experience is even nicer in a beautiful garden that you can be proud of!
Gardens are important for entertaining because they provide an outdoor space for people to enjoy during the warm months of the year when the weather is pleasant. We can typically have more people round in our garden than we could fit comfortably indoors, and we worry less about mess. A garden also provides an opportunity for people to get together outdoors and enjoy each other’s company, as well as nature’s beauty.
Here are some tips for how to get your garden ready for entertaining this summer!
What You Need to Know about Planning Your Outdoor Space for Entertaining
Planning an outdoor space for entertaining is a great way to enjoy the summer and create memories with friends and family.
If you don’t already have a landscaped garden and you’re starting with a blank slate, then the first step in planning your outdoor space is deciding on the design. Depending on your budget, you can either hire a professional designer or do it yourself with some help from online tutorials.
The next step is to decide where the patio will be located, whether it will be attached to the house or detached, what shape it should be, and how much space it should have. A patio (or decking) is a must for any garden where you plan to entertain, because you need a level space to put your garden furniture and barbecue!
The final step is deciding on what kind of furniture you want in your outdoor living area and what type of plants you want to add. This is where you can go wild and have some fun! You can really inject your own personality into the garden, and even give it a theme (monochromatic, English country garden, mediterranean?).
However, before you go too wild, it’s important to do a little research and think about factors such as the climate, the sunlight levels and soil type. There’s nothing worse than spending £100s on plants only to see them shrivel up because they don’t get enough light.
Top tips to Prepare Your Garden for Summer Entertaining
To ensure that you have the best experience this summer, here are some tips on how to prepare your garden for entertaining.
Freshen up your patio
Rent or buy a jet washer, or hire someone to do it for you. We often don’t notice how discoloured our patios can get but you’ll be amazed at the difference! Do this at the beginning of the summer season before you get all your furniture out.
Look after your lawn
A beautiful green lawn is the pride of any British garden, whether for laying our your picnic blanket or having a kick around with the kids. Ideally you need to mow at least once a week in summer, and you should consider periodic fertilising treatments to keep it looking green.
Scrub down your furniture
A beautiful patio lounge set is so inviting, but nobody wants to be brushing off spiders’ webs and dust before they sit down. Don’t forget to give your furniture a quick wipe daily if possible, and definitely before any guests are due.
Add flowers and herbs
Plant a variety of flowers so that you can enjoy their scent and colour throughout the season. As a bonus for your entertaining-ready patio, pot up some citrus-scented plants and other scented herbs to keep bugs away. Good choices include citronella, lemongrass, lavender and mint. Herbs tend to be very easy to grow in pots and your guests will be super impressed when you snip some home grown herbs to garnish the dinner you’ve whipped up!
Trees and shrubs
Add privacy and greenery to your outdoor space by planting trees or shrubs. They will provide shade in summer and help keep the air fresh during winter months.
Make an entrance
Create an inviting entrance by adding a trellis or arbor at the entrance of your garden, this will help you have a beautiful view from inside your house when you look out through windows or step outside onto your porch, and it will tell your guests that they are about to have a magical experience in your garden!
Ready to entertain?
We hope these tips gave you some good ideas and helped you to come up with an action plan to get your garden ready for summer entertaining! Now, go ahead and have fun 🙂
It’s really important to stay on top of your seasonal gardening jobs so don’t forget to check out these gardening jobs to get ready for winter once the weather starts to turn.
With a little TLC as the seasons change throughout the year, you’ll have a garden that’s a joy to relax in and a pleasure to entertain in, whatever the weather!
