Preparing your garden for summer can mean moving furniture, clearing equipment and making room while work takes place. Plan what stays accessible and what could be stored temporarily. Clean and dry equipment before packing, and check permitted contents: fuels, chemicals and other hazardous materials need separate arrangements.
Aussie is Bath’s favourite removals and storage company, but we’re also on hand to assist with home improvements. This can be anything, from advice on your garden to supplying a storage unit to help you create more space. From working with many associates in the housing market, we also understand how important gardens are now. This is our short guide on upgrading your garden in time for sunshine and more pleasant days.
Contents
- Get Ready for Summer with a Garden Upgrade
- Spruce Up Furniture and Fences
- Decking and Add an Awning or Gazebo
- Cheap and Cheerful Lighting Options
- Reseeding the Grass or Replace with Decorative Pebbles
- Store Seasonal Garden Furniture & Equipment for More Space
- Keep DIY & Landscaping Materials Secure in Storage
- Hassle-Free Collection & Delivery with Man & Van Services
Get Ready for Summer with a Garden Upgrade
We’re having some interesting weather in the UK, but nothing new there. With a bit of luck, the pitch-black mornings and 4 pm sunsets will be a thing of the past. Those welcoming evening summer nights are so close you can touch them. So, let’s look at ways to prepare your garden and outdoor spaces in anticipation of the summer.
The first thing you’ll need to do is evaluate the current state of play. Is your grass in poor condition with balding spots? Do you have any plants or flowers in need of TLC? What sort of garden furniture are you using? Is there any outside lighting? More importantly, are you ready to put your thinking cap on to create an inviting exterior space?
Most people dream about having a beautiful garden, but the upkeep is too demanding. Furthermore, it’s expensive to create an idyllic back garden. The good news is there are ways of producing a tranquil space if that’s your goal. Plenty of other options exist for busy families who need something more robust.
Spruce Up Furniture and Fences
Let’s begin by assessing the current state of wooden furniture and fencing. Our focus throughout this blog will be on affordability and improvements in tandem. While durable, wood is also prone to bloating from water absorption. That’s why you must treat your fencing with creosote and mend or replace broken slats. Please give them the same treatment as any wooden furniture to ensure it lasts without any rot setting in.
Prepare Wooden Surfaces
Sand rough edges on your fence and garden furniture to avoid cuts or spelts. You can easily add furniture by utilising old pallets, which has been an ever-present trend that doesn’t seem to be fading. Click here to see an instructional article on creating pallet outdoor furniture. It’s an easy fix; you can make charming pieces with minimal investment.
Sustainable Repurposing
You can also assemble wooden flower or plant boxes for your garden or patio. Many people are turning their hand to growing vegetables as well. Some repurposing can go a long way for cheap and cheerful improvements. All you need is a few spare hours, elbow grease, good information and a few basic tools.
Decking and Add an Awning or Gazebo
This is for people looking for a slightly more involved garden overhaul with some moderate or major updates. Installing some outside decking will transform your patio or outdoor area. Doing this will reduce maintenance and make your back garden more accessible. You’ll enjoy many a barbeque and summer evening on your brand-new deck.
Benefits of Shaded Items
Unlike the pallet garden furniture, we recommend working with a professional to install it unless you have building experience. You can also think of additional features to complement your deck. An awning or gazebo will help protect against harmful UV rays and provide shade for hot days. Plus, your drinks will stay cool when the sun’s out.
Research DIY Techniques
Awnings and gazebos also fold away when not in use so that they won’t get in the way. If you’re considering trying this yourself, there are some online tips for laying decking and assembling a gazebo. Aussie will happily assist with collections and deliveries of materials with our Man & Van service. Furthermore, self storage units are available to store any wood and tools for the job.
Cheap and Cheerful Lighting Options
There are some excellent ideas for affordable outside lights, and they’re the perfect addition to your new garden. You can read up here if you’re feeling thrifty and creative and need some ideas. But there are bound to be issues with electrical points and wiring. You’ll need to ensure the lights are powered by a battery, which still causes a few headaches due to bad weather.
Using Solar Lights
We will stick with solar lights and show you how you can apply other methods to present them. The first suggestion is to buy some affordable solar lights and place them strategically around your garden. There are more options regarding design, and some even have colour filters as an excellent addition. However, you can also let your creative juices flow to see what you can do with this light source.
Creative Touches
You can hang solar lights using mason jars and rope handles—remember to charge the lights throughout the day. Another method is to cut out a stencil to go into the mason jar, creating new effects and shapes. You can also experiment with plant holders and furniture to attach solar lights. Using smaller lights, install several wooden posts and make a string-light effect.
Inviting Outdoor Spaces
Before you know it, you’ll have some tasteful illuminations for your back garden, which are inviting and comforting. The ideal way to continue enjoying the evening as the sun gradually sets. If you fancy keeping things going for the colder months, it’s possible to introduce an outside heat lamp and/or a wood burner.
Reseeding the Grass or Replace with Decorative Pebbles
Depending on your circumstances, you might need some grass for the little ones. This will affect whether you can have flowers or plants, as they might get damaged. You can uproot any problem weeds and use some child-friendly grass seeds. Remember to assess the quality of the soil, prepare it with fertiliser where necessary, and water regularly.
Consider Replacing Grass with Pebbles
If you don’t need grass, it might be worth replacing it with decorative pebbles and stones. Maintenance is much less expensive, but you must remove any weeds first. They can add a lot of character, and you can add outdoor pot plants for greenery. You can also add different colour schemes to create an outdoor mosaic effect.
Mix and Match
There’s also an option to mix and match grass and pebbles. The latter is an excellent way of bordering a garden for both style and upkeep. Just remember to spray weed killer regularly to prevent any unseemly sprouts. The best thing about using stones is they’re affordable and straightforward to place in your garden. As long as you plan and do your homework, there shouldn’t be any issues with weeds.
Store Seasonal Garden Furniture & Equipment for More Space
Let’s make more space to realise your summer ambitions for your outdoor areas fully. While the garden shed and garage are the usual suspects for this purpose, neither guarantees the protection of your garden furniture and equipment from rust. On the other hand, storage units are purpose-built for this purpose and reduce opportunist theft.
Free Up Space for Summer Gatherings
Large furniture (patio sets, loungers, gazebos) takes up valuable space, but you may not be ready to get rid of them. You can store unused items to maximise your garden area while keeping them for future use. Then, you have more room for outdoor dining, BBQ setups, or kids’ play areas.
Protect Furniture from Weather Damage
You may dream of summer and sunshine, but that’s still some way off. Store it during colder months or the unpredictable English weather to prevent weather wear on delicate or expensive furniture. Insulated storage keeps items safe from dampness, mould, and rust.
Checklist: What to Store Off-Season
If you’re still unsure how to proceed, here’s a brief checklist for off-season storage:
- Unused garden chairs, tables, and parasols.
- Fire pits and patio heaters (during summer).
- Gardening tools and lawnmowers (when not in use).
- Paddling pools and outdoor activities (when not in use).
Keep DIY & Landscaping Materials Secure in Storage
If you’re a DIY enthusiast, upgrading your garden and outdoor areas for summer is likely your passion. However, we’re still on the theme of avoiding adding more clutter to your garage, garden shed or loft. That’s where storage becomes your ideal DIY companion.
Prevent Clutter While Upgrading Your Garden
Don’t let bags of gravel, decking wood, or plant pots take over your outdoor space. Use short-term storage to keep your worksite tidy and efficient while protecting your materials from the elements.
Secure Expensive Tools & Materials
It goes without saying that you should avoid leaving high-value tools outside or in a shed. The benefit of self storage is the additional security measures, such as site monitoring. Check the current measures and suitability for your items; CCTV does not protect goods from weather or damp.
List: Tools & Materials That Benefit from Storage
Here are a few examples of things our customers keep in storage when performing upgrades:
- Power tools, drills, saws, sanders and nailguns.
- Large sacks of compost, soil, or decorative pebbles.
- Unassembled pergolas, decking boards, and awnings.
Hassle-Free Collection & Delivery with Man & Van Services
Preparing and lugging things to everything from your garden to a storage unit isn’t complication-free, especially if you don’t have a big enough car or van. Luckily, you don’t have to when using our man and van service.
Easier Transport for Heavy Garden Upgrades
There’s no need to struggle with bulky furniture or heavy materials and risk a back injury. Aussie’s Man & Van can collect and deliver straight to your home or storage unit while giving you the best handling and packing skills.
Quick Storage Drop-Off & Retrieval
Our storage facilities are designed for convenient seasonal storage—simply drop off furniture in winter and retrieve it in spring. Our drive-up units make loading and unloading effortless.
When to Use a Man & Van for Garden Projects
- When you don’t have assistance moving heavy decking materials or garden stones.
- Transporting outdoor furniture to/from storage when you don’t have a suitably large enough vehicle.
- Collecting large garden purchases from stores or suppliers.
Aussie Man & Van – Make the Most of Outdoor Spaces
Everyone at Aussie looks forward to warmer weather and longer sunshine days in the upcoming weeks and months. After a challenging year and a bit, we all deserve some extra hours to relax and unwind. It’s possible to improve your garden and outdoor spaces without much upfront expenditure. And we hope this blog will give you some ideas on where to start.
We can help with our man and van service for anyone stuck waiting for a vehicle to collect or deliver items. Storage is essential for anyone making home or garden upgrades, and people and professionals rent with us. Confirm access times, the minimum rental period and notice requirements before booking. Read customer feedback about the deal with Aussie.
If you’re looking for proactive ways to welcome the sun with garden upgrades, please contact us today. We can offer plenty of advice on how to do so within a modest budget and provide services to help you complete the job.