How To Get Your Home & Garden Ready For Summer

Published: 22/07/2019

Hallelujah - it’s finally arrived! Longer, sunnier days. Warm weather. Less (we hope!) rain. And, of course, plenty of garden parties, BBQs and time spent outside. Summer is here in all its glory. It’s time to get our homes, gardens and outdoor spaces ready!

First thing’s first, let’s get the basics (and borings) out of the way. To ensure seamless summer fun, it’s vital to first carry out a bit of maintenance around the house, including:

Combatting summer pests

The warmer weather unfortunately also means there’s likely to be many more bugs wanting to move in - mosquitoes, termites, bed bugs, ticks, spiders, flies, ants and the list goes on. There are a number of things you can do to deter bugs from setting up shop in your home such as: sealing all your doors and windows (and keeping them closed after dusk); adding bug screens, especially if you live in a more rural area; maintaining your yard, ensuring drains are clear and there aren’t any issues with drainage or build-ups of water likely to attract mosquitoes and other pests; uncluttering your home, never leaving unprotected food around and always storing rubbish properly; and spraying outdoor areas with insect repellents. There are also a number of products you can purchase to keep bugs away both indoors and outdoors including citronella oils, incense and candles; essential oils such as tea tree or lavender (can be burnt or applied to the body); plug-in mosquito repellents and so forth.

Get your garden tools ready

If you’re lucky enough to have a garden or outdoor area, you’re going to want to make sure everything is looking spick & span before inviting your mates around for your famous BBQ ribs! If you haven’t used your mower, edgers and other garden tools in a while, it’s best to check everything is in working order before carrying out any work. For gas mowers and edgers, clean the equipment and change the gas if necessary. Replace the oil and spark plugs, get new fuel and air filters, lubricate the moving parts, and sharpen the mower blade. If your tools are electric, double check that there are no frays or cuts on the cords and turn them on to check everything is working fine (otherwise you may be caught out the day before your summer party!). You’ll also need to pay some attention to hand tools too, such as rakes, shears and pruners. Wash them off, lubricate hinges, clean blades with rubbing alcohol and sharpen them if needed.

Tidy the yard

Now that your tools are ready, it’s time to get working on the yard, patio or balcony! Bring any outdoor furniture out of storage and give them a good wash. Mop the decks, hoover up any spider webs close to the home, clean the gutters, blast the leaves away and start weeding, pruning and mowing. It’s summer party, time! Of course, if you have a BBQ, check that you’re stocked up on gas and that the grill is free of grime and grease.

If you’re looking to make any major changes to your home or outdoor area, however, be sure to check with your local council beforehand. You may have to submit planning applications or apply for other permissions. Read our article about it here.

Now that all the boring stuff is out of the way, it's time to have some fun with your garden or outdoor area! Here are some ideas on how to get your garden ready for entertaining...

Plant some herbs

Creating a herb wall close to your BBQ area is not just handy for when you're cooking up a storm or making cocktails, but will create a wonderful aroma when guests are around. Basil, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme are always great herbs to have available. Here are some great examples to inspire you.

Upgrade your deck or garden furniture

Splurge on a comfy hammock like this one, hit up IKEA for a great new outdoor dining set or brighten up your garden with some on-trend decorations.

Get creative

Surprise your evening guests by painting a garden wall, fence panel, pot plants, decorative stones or a small feature area with some glow-in-the-dark paint. They’ll love it! Here is a useful guide to making your own glow in the dark stepping stones.

Light it up

Add warmth and ambience to your outdoor area by installing some tasteful hanging fairy lights or even adding them to some plants or trees.

Improve your barbecue area

Add a fun DIY bar like this one or this or even invest in an entire outdoor kitchen like this very impressive effort. Your guests aren't going to believe their eyes when they step foot into your new summer-ready outdoor pad!

Looking to buy or sell a property this summer?

Feeling inspired to upgrade your space so next summer will be better than ever?

Our team here at GWlegal has 35 years’ experience in the conveyancing and property fields. Whether you require assistance in buying a home, selling a home, buy-to-let, bridging finance, remortgage or equity release, our property experts are on hand to help!

Get in touch today.

Who are GWlegal?

GWlegal are a property solicitors based in Liverpool, specialising in buying or selling, remortgage, declaration of trust, bridging and buy-to-let landlords.

If you have a legal matter you wish to discuss don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can call us on 0345 373 3737 email us hello@gw.legal with your question.

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Content correct at time of publication.