So you’ve worked really hard on your garden – spent hours pottering around to ensure that it looks its best and it does; luscious green grass is intercepted by pretty, vibrant flowers – all of which is alive with wildlife.
You may also have an outdoor water fountain (like this one from Soothing Company), and you may be thinking that everything is already perfect and it is time to take some rest. But, you can’t put your garden shovel down just yet. But you can’t put your spade down – just yet.
In fact, you can’t really put it down at all because now you have your garden looking just right, you need to maintain it, to ensure it stays that way.
Leave it and your hard work will quickly disappear, in its place will be yellow, dried-out grass and wilting flowers.
So, before that happens, here are some top tips to keep your garden looking at its best:
TOP TIP 1: FEED THE SOIL WITH WASTE
Making your own compost is easier than you might think and is the perfect place to ‘dispose’ of not just garden waste, but food waste too. Then, when it is ready you can spread it back around the garden – giving your plants the nutrients they need to help them survive and thrive. Check out this post by the RHS to find out what you can and can’t put into your compost as well as when and how to do it.
TOP TIP 2: PESTS A PROBLEM? YOU NEED COFFEE!
Pests, particularly snails and slugs, can be a huge problem – quickly destroying all your hard work. You could, of course, use pesticides. However, there are several downsides to this including that beneficial organisms can also be killed alongside the pests. So, you might want to try some eco-friendly options such as coffee grounds, grapefruit skins, crushed eggshells – all great ways to deter these slimy creatures.
TOP TIP 3: GIVE YOUR WISTERIA A DRINK
Plants get thirsty too and not just for water. Wisteria is a popular plant found in many gardens but what do you do if it refuses to flower? Well, apparently all you need to do is pour rotten cider over its roots and then watch as it blossoms.
TOP TIP 4: KEEP YOUR PLANTS HYDRATED
Do you know the best way to keep your soil moist for days – which is particularly helpful if you are going on holiday? Nappies! You don’t want you plants to dry out as this can cause them to quickly wilt and die. So, surround them with nappies. These absorb a large amount of water and therefore can release it as the plants need it.
TOP TIP 5: GIVE YOUR PLANTS A HAIRCUT
You have bought a selection of beautiful plants and planted them throughout your garden. While they look great now, you need to look after them to make sure they stay that way. Deadheading and trimming back will keep flowers and bushes looking trim and tidy but it will also result in more flowers and a healthier plant.
Make sure you also keep the soil from being clogged by fallen flowers and leaves so that it doesn’t stop the flowers from growing. You may want to get an electric leaf blower to help you keep on top of this effortlessly.
Ultimately, to ensure your garden is always looking its best you need to be doing little and often and always be thinking ahead in terms of the effect the weather might have on your garden.
