Relaxing in the garden can feel a long way off when it comes to Spring. There’s always so much to do to get it looking it’s best.
No worries, though.
Here are just a few things you can do to ensure the upkeep of your garden in a way that requires minimal ongoing maintenance.
So, let’s take a look.
Benefits of a Tidy Garden
Having a 100% natural garden can have huge benefits on your life. Just doing the gardening can improve mental well-being and physical well-being. Though being able to relax outdoors is also essential to feeling free and ‘away from it all’.
What’s more, when the garden is tidy and clutter-free, you could use it for additional purposes, such as a more private environment for workouts, socialising or even sun-bathing.
Keep the shed tidy and de-cluttered
This is where ‘little and often’ is the perfect phrase. To keep the shed tidy, remove bits and bobs that don’t have a home.
Do this regularly and it means you won’t need to leave it until it gets completely out of control.
Some things you can do to keep your shed tidy are :
- Build bespoke shelving to suit your needs.
- Hang a garden-tools tidy rail.
- Use hooks to hang sieves etc.
- Install drawers for those smaller items, such as seeds and bulbs.
- Use fabric to cover up untidy areas.
- Get rid of anything cheap that you’ve not used for 12 months or more.
Declutter your tools & equipment
Keeping your tools tidy and organised is essential for an efficient and productive gardening experience. Start by designating a specific storage area, whether it’s a shed, a toolbox, or a wall-mounted system, to ensure your tools have a dedicated home.
Use hooks, pegboards, or shelving to keep tools neatly arranged and easily accessible.
Labelling or colour-coding handles can help identify and locate tools quickly.
Keep power tools separate from hand tools. Especially things like chainsaws and hedge trimmers.
Store garden plant and lawn feeds organised
You might need to store bottles of plant feed or granular lawn feed. These should be labelled and kept out of reach of children. Store feed son a shelf in an easy accessible area. Maybe even next to a calendar where you can note down when you’ve last fed certain plants.
Make sure they stay dry too. Some feeds will clump up in the wet and will be more difficult to spread.
Keep your lawn trimmed and feed it seasonally
Keeping your lawn trimmed and green can give you a lot of satisfaction.
Matt Adams from The Relentless Gardener says “apply lawn feed once a season to keep your grass looking green and lush”.
Mow it in-line with the weather changes, as it grows faster and slower throughout the year.
Keep the mower clean and in an accessible place.
If you have budget, buy a cordless mower – they’re much easier to get out in the spare of the moment.
Matt also says “it’s a good idea to apply grass seed at a rate of 25g per m2 once a year so it can out-compete weeds better”
Separate playing areas from relaxation areas
Of course, some people don’t have a garden big enough to do separate kids’ sections from relaxation sections. However, it can hugely improve tranquillity in the areas you need it most.
It also means that toys and kids’ stuff will have their own spot in the garden and it’s easier to ask the kids to tidy up – an added bonus.
If you have the budget, it might also be worth fencing off the kids play area with a picket fence, so it truly is separated.
Keep plant pots stacked neatly
If you love plants, the pots will accumulate fast.
It’s best to allocate a spot somewhere you can keep them tidy and accessible. On the other hand, if you buy a plant and don’t think you’ll use the pot it came in, get rid straight away.
Clean them before stacking. That way they’ll be ready to use when you need a specific size. Try to keep ceramic pots sheltered over the Winter because otherwise they’ll become brittle and break.
Choose to hire a gardener
Don’t feel you need to do everything yourself. Even if it means getting a gardener in once every couple of months to trim and tidy bushes, it will help.
Getting just a little bit of help can massively reduce the stress burden on you and help you enjoy the garden to its fullest.