FOR THIS WEEKEND!
Whatever style of garden you choose, make the most of the bank holiday to give your garden an instant lift
Reshape your lawn
Get creative and turn it into something stylish and attractive! Use a hosepipe or length of rope and run it along where you want the edges of the lawn to go. Cut out the shape using a half-moon edger or a sharp spade. If you create some bendy edges along the side of borders, these present the opportunity for some beautifully flowing areas of planting. If you’ve removed large sections of good turf, swap it with tired bits of lawn or stack it upside down in a shady corner and it will break down and give you a crumbly soil to add to compost mixes in about a year’s time.
Redefine your paths
Paths provide the ‘backbone’ of the garden in many ways. They define areas, help to break up the garden into separate spaces and save a lot of busy places from becoming trodden and compacted when there’s no obvious route from A to B. Clear weeds, moss and algae from existing paths that have been neglected, and edge them if they sit next to areas of grass. If you need more paths, work out the most well-trodden routes in the garden and make new ones. Lay paving slabs in a lawn at intervals that suit your stride, and position them slightly lower than lawn level so mowing will be easy. Dig out the soil for them and put down a 10cm layer of ballast, with a slightly wet 4cm layer of four parts sand to one part cement on Go bold with top. Push the slabs on top and check they are level in all directions. colours from both plants and paint!
Plant pots for big impact
There are lots of plants that will give the patio an instant boost now and if you’ve got containers big enough to house a few of them, then here’s the chance for an exciting seasonal feature. As well as adding lots of spring-flowering plants, don’t forget how useful evergreens will be at providing colour and shape to the patio all year round. They don’t have to be boring; try a stripy carex to hang over pot edges or a pieris that’s about to burst into spring blossom to give them some spring zing!
Brighten up your walls
If a brick shed or garage wall is in need of a new lick of paint, you can apply masonry paint in dry conditions as long as the temperature is above 10C. Choose bright colours for a fun, instant transformation. A fresh, colourful wall allows you to create some vibrant colour combinations. Add hanging planters in front of it for a simple but effective display. Some duck egg blue paint and heucheras in baskets will transform a semi-shaded wall.
Take a stock check
This is a good time to get in the shed and greenho
