July 7th, 2021 by Chris Chapman

Summer is really starting to get into full swing, and we have even seen some glorious sunshine to remind us what a joyful - and sociable - time the summer months can be. While spring can be a great time to get on with DIY jobs to get ready for summer, the weather has certainly made it quite difficult to attend to jobs out in the garden.

With all the covid restrictions we have lived with over the last year or so, many of us will be seeing summer as a real opportunity to catch up with much-missed friends and family and really make the most of our outdoor spaces. If you are feeling that your garden is not quite party-ready, don’t worry; you still have time to complete some essential summer jobs and get it looking the part. Especially if you have a few labour-saving devices up your sleeve to minimise the workload!

Here are 5 essential summer DIY jobs to spruce up your outdoor space and create a perfect venue for seasonal entertaining.

1. Attend to decking and patio areas

Over the winter months, decking and patios can become quite ‘multi-coloured’ (and not in a good way!). It can become a combination of green (moss, algae) and black (black lichen) and trust us when we say that while Green & Black is great for chocolate, it’s not so desirable in your garden. It’s unsightly, can make surfaces slippery, and can ultimately damage them if left untreated.

Decking will definitely last longer if periodically re-stained/oiled but before you do this you should get rid of any moss and algae. Use a green mould and algae remover such as Simply Spray and Walk Away.

Patio cleaners such as the one mentioned can also be used on patios and drives but if you have black spots that look similar to ink spatters, that’s black lichen which cannot be removed with anything other than a product with an active ingredient formulated for the purpose. For this, you need a black spot remover product. Sealing it once finished will keep it looking good for a long time.

A pressure washer can also do a great job or, for applying or rinsing either of the above products, a garden pump sprayer will make light work of it.

Pro-Kleen Simply Spray & Walk Away Patio Cleaner 5L

Price: £16.96

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2. Fix up your furniture

If you’re going to entertain, whether it’s a full-on barbecue or having your mum round for a cuppa, you’re going to need somewhere to sit and perhaps a table for your food and drinks. You, therefore, need to make sure your garden furniture is still functional (nobody wants to sit on a wobbly chair) and presentable (subject to the elements, wooden furniture can easily fade and start to peel).

Fix wobbly screws, sand down the surface, and repair any broken sections to make sure it’s robust enough for use. Then comes the fun part: giving it a lick of paint can transform your furniture and give it a whole new lease of life. Using a paint sprayer will make what is usually a laborious job, a really easy one!

MYLEK 700W Electric Paint Sprayer Kit

Price: £59.99

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3. Outdoor painting

It’s not just your furniture that will be revitalised by a lick of paint. Fences, sheds, and even garages and walls can all be used to add vibrant colour or neutral backdrops to some gorgeous vertical planting. Easy work with a sprayer!

4. Clear the drains

This isn’t the most pleasant of jobs but there’s nothing more likely to spoil your gathering than smelly drains. Winter weather can really clog drains up and broken grates can allow all sorts of debris to get into them. If you haven’t checked them recently, and especially if you have any standing water or problems with drainage inside the house, they’re overdue for a good inspection. Clear any visible debris and blockages and, for good measure, pour a sink and drain unblocker down. This can be used outside and inside.

3 x 1 Litres Pro-Kleen Sink and Drain Blitz Opener and Unblocker

Price: £21.98

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5. Irrigate borders and pots

Typical British weather can be torrential rainfall, followed by weeks of hot weather and then a hosepipe ban! Take some of the uncertainty out of watering the plants by applying a few tactics to give them more regulated access to irrigation – and take some of the burden of watering from you – to keep them looking the part.

There are lots of hacks for retaining moisture as long as possible in the soil. From simple things like cutting off the bottom of plastic bottles and inserting them upside down in the soil (to capture water and release it gradually), to adding substances into the soil that will lock in moisture, including water beads/gel, coconut coir, straw, or even grass clippings. Cover the surface with leaves or wood chips. This is also great for conserving water so you’re also doing your bit for the planet!