Over the last year property owners and buyers have realised the importance of outside space. Following a year of lockdowns and restrictions, family homes with additional internal and external space are in exceptionally high demand especially as restrictions ease and we can have garden gatherings with our loved ones.
Whether you are staying in your home and looking at maintaining your outside space to make it an enjoyable place to be or are considering selling your home and want to maximise the price you can achieve, here are some tips on maintaining your garden and getting it ready for the spring and summer months.
Cleaning up
The first step in getting your garden ready is to give it a good tidy up clearing fallen leaves, cutting back plants and weeding your borders. You will have moss and weeds growing between paving stones and these can be cleared with boiled water or a jet wash. You could also add bark chippings to borders to make them look smarter and keep weeds at bay. You can also use a jet wash to clean composite decking – but be careful when cleaning timber decking as it can damage the surface and so a stiff brush will suffice. Wash down your garden furniture and get out any outdoor cushions which have been put away for the winter months. It’s also a good time to dust off the barbeque and clean the grills.
If you are planning on selling your property, it may be worth investing in new garden furniture to make it look smart and welcoming. If you’re prepping the garden to put your home up for sale, an attractive seating area can really sell the garden, and you can always take furniture with you.
Pruning plants
Cut back any overgrown climbing plants – clematis in particular needs to be cut back and although they look dead, you’ll find that over the coming months they will provide more blooms than the previous year. Climbing roses can be cut back but check with the RHS if you are unsure.
Mow your lawn
A neat and tidy lawn with clear borders is appealing to any prospective buyer. There has been a rise in popularity for artificial grass over the last few years as people realise the benefits of a year-round short green lawn that acts as a carpet in the summer and prevents mud in the winter. Bare patches and brown grass in high summer will be a thing of the past!
Replant pots and plant seeds
Your potted plants, hanging baskets and window boxes are likely to be looking sorry for themselves so using a trowel remove the dead plants and shake as much compost off as you can. Top up with fresh compost, use a slow -release fertiliser and replant a range of flowers and plants. You could consider lavender, agapanthus or dahlias but the possibilities are endless and garden centres offer great advice on what to plant. You can also plant seeds around now. Poppies, marigolds and cornflowers will give your garden a lovely burst of colour.
Clyde Property is a leading independent, multiple award-winning estate and letting agent with more than 30 years’ experience in selling and letting property in Scotland. Just call your local Clyde Property branch today for friendly, impartial advice on finding your next dream home.
