How to Get Your Garden Ready For Summer
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
With the Met Office predicting that 2026 could be one of the hottest years on record… yikes! We’re not sure anyone’s quite ready for that. The good news? Your garden can become your very own cool, calm escape. A few simple updates now can turn a tired backyard into a refreshing retreat, keeping everyone comfortable and making those heatwaves a little easier to handle.
Refresh Your Planting and Green Spaces
Beds and pots often lose their lustre after a harsh winter, so you should introduce hardy perennials like lavender or salvias that withstand soaring temperatures. These drought-tolerant species maintain their colour even when water becomes scarce.
Beyond the soil, your boundaries deserve attention to ensure the garden feels enclosed and private. Inspect your garden fencing for signs of rot or wind damage sustained during January storms.
Applying a high-quality UV-resistant timber treatment protects the wood from cracking under the intense summer sun.
Create Safe and Engaging Play Areas
When the summer holidays roll around, kids can easily spend most of the day outside, so keeping them cool becomes really important. Simple additions like sail shades or canvas covers over sandpits and paddling pools can make a big difference, especially during the hottest part of the day between 11 am and 3 pm.
If your lawn or play area feels hard after weeks without rain, try laying down a generous layer of play-grade bark mulch to soften things up and cushion the inevitable tumbles. It’s also worth setting up a small water station nearby so children can grab a drink without having to head inside every few minutes!
Update Outdoor Dining and Seating
A functional patio transforms your garden into an extra room for evening meals and weekend gatherings.
Scrub away the winter grime from your table and chairs using a mixture of warm soapy water and white vinegar to restore their original finish.
You might choose to swap thin, worn-out seat pads for deep-filled cushions made from breathable, weather-proof fabrics. Position a sturdy parasol with a tilting mechanism so that you can adjust the shade as the sun moves across the sky.
Prepare for Warm-Weather Maintenance
Efficient upkeep prevents your hard work from wilting once the true heatwaves arrive in July. Set up a rainwater collection system now to ensure you have a sustainable supply for thirsty shrubs during potential hosepipe bans.
Sharpening your shears and oiling your lawnmower blades ensures every cut remains clean, which helps plants recover faster from stress.
Check the undersides of leaves for aphids or spider mites early in the season to stop infestations before they overwhelm your floral displays.
As the warmer weather seems to get more intense each year, it makes sense to put a bit of extra thought into how your garden is set up. Even tiny changes, like adding extra shade, moving a few plants around or sorting out your watering routine, can save a lot of stress later which is a win-win.
Dealing with repairs and improvements early means you are not trying to fix problems in the middle of a heatwave when everything already feels hard work.
Most of all, getting things organised now means you can actually enjoy your garden when the sunshine arrives, rather than constantly maintaining it when you would rather be sitting down and relaxing.
This is a collaborative post and the author's views do not necessarily reflect those of our blog. We may receive monetary compensation for our endorsement and or recommendations
You may also like:
Comments