Especially this year; given the events of the past twelve months people’s spirits are rising as we begin to see the prospect of spring and summer and the chance to live more our life outdoors and soaking up valuable Vitamin D.

As we begin to venture outside again, inevitably there will be work to do in the garden; tidying up from winter and doing all of those maintenance jobs you’ve put off, gardening work including the first passes mowing the lawn or even thinking about those more exciting projects such as laying the new patio

Maintenance

Whilst they might not be the most exciting of jobs to think about, but coming out of winter there usually are a whole host of maintenance issues to consider. Some of these are borne out of problems that will have occurred over the winter, some are jobs that we just wouldn’t want to have to do when it’s cold and wet! The list below will give you some good starting points of jobs that you might need to think about:

• Pressure washing – Patios, paths and block paving all look a bit better for a bit of a clean. If your garden is surrounded by trees, or suffers a bit of shade through the day, you might find that areas suffer a bit of greening up; which can sometimes become slippery when wet. With (hopefully) clear weather ahead, now’s the time to get the pressure washer out and spruce up these areas.
• Level paving – The freeze/thaw nature of the coldest of winter weather can eventually lead to the base of paving to deteriorate, allowing paving slabs/blocks to become loose, and potentially wobbly. Ensure that these are re-laid to a firm, level base to avoid a trip hazard, particularly for older residents or children.
• Repairing or repainting fencing – With most fences being wooden, the weather can quickly take its toll on fencing. Heavy winds might damage or even remove fence panels, and the wind and rain combine to wear away protective finishes such as paint or stain, allowing water ingress and the wood to deteriorate or even rot away. Now’s the time to replace those panels or get out there with your brushes.
• Shed repairs – Again, generally being wooden means that garden sheds often bear the brunt of the winter weather. Make sure that roofs are still water tight, and replace damaged felt if necessary. Again, a good lick of paint or stain will help to preserve your sheds for the long-term.
• Check guttering and downpipes – Winter, and autumn in particular brings with it the fall of leaves and foliage. Whilst you should keep an eye on this all of the time, spring is a great time to check all of your guttering, and give them a clear-out of any debris left over. Finish the job by running a hose in the gutter, and ensuring that the downpipes flow freely and are not blocked.
• Visually check roof – Whilst direct access to your roof might not be possible, using a pair of binoculars and/or going up in your loft; visually check the state of your roof for any cracked tiles or slates, or if it’s a flat roof any damage to the felt capping sheet. Whilst a fix or replacement might not be straightforward, roofs really are an area where early intervention can pay dividends through reducing further cost from additional damage.
• Pointing of brickwork – As with paving, a wet winter, and in particular a cold one, can cause damage to brickwork; particularly if the pointing is failing. Failed pointing will allow water access in to the bricks. The subsequent freeze/thaw action can then allow the faces of bricks to crack away, known as spalling. Again, early intervention with proactive pointing can reduce costs in the long term.
• External painting – Much like your fencing, painting offers protection to your walls or woodwork for the longer term. Make sure you keep on top of redecorations, generally aiming to undertake this every 5-6 years.

Gardening

Gardens really start to come to life in the Spring as we all know. For those that way inclined it’s a time of great excitement, and the catalyst to really get things moving. For those who maybe aren’t so sure, some of the first steps to take are outlined below:

• Wind damage – Winter takes its toll in the garden too. Think about tidying up any wind damage to trees and bushes to keep things tidy.
• Planting – The warming of the air and soil means that spring can be a busy time for planting both flower bulbs as well as fruit and vegetables, both outside in the soil and in pots.
• Weeding – Whilst it’s lovely seeing your plants and lawn coming to life, the downside is that weeds are also going to start to flourish, so it’s time to get on top of them, and keep on top with regular weeding!
• Pruning – If you missed the boat before winter, give roses and other annuals a quick trim back to their lowest buds to allow them to flourish this year. Winter-flowering plants such as Jasmine can be pruned back also. A little later in spring, hedges such as Buxus can be given the first of several ‘haircuts’ to promote new growth.
• Lawns – When temperatures exceed 5 Degrees Celcius, grass will keep on growing, so it will be time to start mowing regularly again will start to need to be mown. Spring is also a great time to give the lawn a feed, aerate it (to improve drainage) and cut the edges back.
• Whilst we might think our feathered friends have survived another winter, make sure you keep feeding them – they’re reaching their main breeding season and need to keep their strength up!
• Gardens host many, many beneficial insects. If you have the space, think about adding some plants that will help them thrive. The Royal Horticultural Society gives great information on what you could plant here.

Projects

It’s one thing to ‘get the garden straight’, but garden’s should also be somewhere to enjoy. Through the COVID pandemic, we all found a new love for our outside spaces, with many people undertaking projects to create improved spaces. Many people will be thinking now about what their plans are for larger external works so that they can be enjoyed for the summertime, such as:

• Fencing – We all like a bit of privacy, and fencing is usually one of the first jobs we tackle when working on our gardens. Many people opt for simple fence panels, but how about looking at alternatives such as wicker fencing, or using fast growing plants such as bamboo to offer screening.
• Patios – Nicely paved areas offer versatility for gardens, particularly for families where it can provide a great space for kids on bikes or scooters. Numerous options existing including block paving, slabs (in numerous options) or even old-school crazy paving. Don’t forget to consider drainage so that you don’t create wet spots when it rains!
• Outdoor living spaces – 2020 saw a huge rise in the uptake of outdoor rooms such as offices, summerhouses and gazebo/pergola areas to maximise outdoor living.
• BBQ areas – Allied to the outdoor living movement, more people are now creating outdoor, or ‘summer’ kitchens incorporating BBQs, pizza ovens and even smokers.