The days are getting longer, daffodils and crocuses are starting to peek through and we’ve even ventured outside without our usual winter layers – yes, spring is on its way! March 19th marks the Equinox and is a cause to celebrate new beginnings, more daylight hours and the chance to watch our gardens bounce back into life. Let’s get outside and make the most of every minute.
Just the job
It’s still a little early to start planting certain flowers, fruit and veg but there are still plenty of important jobs you can do in your outside space to make sure everything is in top shape for when the weather really warms up.
- Now is the perfect time to prune bush and climbing roses or cut back hydrangeas and buddleias if you think they need a trim
- Get veg plots and beds ready for the season by digging over and giving the soil some TLC with topsoil or soil improver
- You can now plant shallot onion sets and early potatoes – but it’s also worth starting to plan out your plot or garden and stock up on seeds, ready to start sowing from April onwards, including carrots, leeks, beetroot and radishes.
- You can even mow the lawn, if you have a dry day
Inject some instant colour
Yes, you can start getting things in the ground now but those summer-flowering bulbs and seeds aren’t going to be sprouting for a while, so have a think about how to perk up your outdoor space by injecting some instant colour. Most garden centres will already have bedding plants on sale ready to give beds, borders and hanging baskets some character and make your garden, patio or balcony feel brighter in in no time. At this time of year you can take your pick from primroses, ranunculi, cyclamens, alceas or begonias in bold primary shades, candy pinks, and sunny peach or orange tones, plus pops of purple with violas and pansies. Some garden retailers sell pre-planted pots and hanging baskets, which will give you an immediate colour fix with minimal effort but, if you want to create your own bespoke mix, planting up your own pot or basket can be a fun, easy gardening task.
If you’re feeling creative, take it to the next level by whipping out your paintbrush and giving your garden shed, fences or even that boring garden wall a bit of a makeover. In recent years, DIYers have embraced colour by saturating walls in bold hues or even creating their own mural walls in the garden, as they brighten up entertaining spaces and put a unique stamp on their homes.
Show your furniture some love
All you want now is to sit back and admire your handiwork or invite guests over to show off your sunny spot but if, after a long winter, your garden seating needs a bit of attention, it’s the perfect time to give your outdoor garden furniture a revamp.
Clean and re-seal wood to perk up tired-looking furniture, and even give textiles a spruce up by cleaning and protecting fabric cushions and parasols.
If your furniture is beyond repair, look to LifestyleGarden® for a wonderful array of stylish sustainable furniture – from outdoor bistro sets and dining options, to sofa sets, and everything in between – all beautifully made using sustainably-sourced and recycled materials.
The beauty of LifestyleGarden®’s ranges is that, whether it is a rattan-style set you are after, a contemporary burst of colour, like the Nassau collection, or sleek black aluminium furniture, like Panama dark; all items are extremely hardwearing and can withstand tough weather conditions; making them perfect for life on a British patio or balcony. They are also very low maintenance and resistant to frost and UV rays, so you know you can enjoy it for years to come and won’t find yourself with a faded or frost-bitten set when you uncover it again next spring.
Even better, the Nassau set is completely recyclable at the end of its life, so you know you won’t be sending another pile of plastic to landfill down the line.
More inspiration
