One weekend wonder: How to revamp your garden in just two days

We’ve all been there. Suddenly, the sun bursts out from behind the clouds and a surge of goodwill and positivity brings oodles of energy your way. From this rapid injection of sun-kissed happiness, you start swiftly making mental promises of improvement to yourself: yes, you’re going to go for a lovely walk in this fine weather! You’re going to pick up a healthy smoothie instead of an energy drink! You’re going to get those chores done and run those errands while the sun is out, then treat yourself to a well-earned cold beer in the garden in the afternoon, basking in the glow of your accomplishments and the rare British sunshine. 
Yes, we’re very susceptible to the sun here in Britain, in so far as we absolutely cannot handle the wave of pure joy that comes with it. The endorphins get the better of us, and we make all the plans and promises while the world looks beautiful through sparkly-eyed lenses. And let’s face it, there’s nothing wrong with this — sunny days can be hugely productive because of this. 
But, inevitably, we grab that cold one out of the fridge, troop to the garden with the picturesque image of our well-earned relaxation in mind, only to get outside and remember we haven’t actually tended to the garden in 12 months. And 12 months ago, said garden was a crispy, dried mess under the 2018 heatwave. So now, it’s a half-dead, tangled mess of neglected plant life and deck chairs you forgot to put away for the winter. 
Well, soak up a few more of the sun’s positivity-inspiring rays and add one last job to the list: we’re giving the garden a makeover, and we’re going to do it in just one weekend. 

Preparation 

Gather up your tools first to make your weekend easier in the long run. You will need: 

• To hire a budget skip for all the rubbish you’re going to clear out! 
• Some refuse sacks, preferably biodegradable 
• A trowel
• Weed killer
• A good pair of gloves
• Some compost
• Your lawnmower
• Any new plants you want to add (optional) 
• A pair of secateurs
• Enough paint for your shed and any fences 
• Vinegar (if you don’t have a power-washer). Alternatively, a power washer! 
• A heavy-duty broom
• A bucket 
• A watering can 

Saturday – AM 

We’ve recommended hiring a skip for a few reasons. One, it will help alleviate the problem of overfilling your bin with garden refuse and getting stressed trying to deal with that. Two, it helps to ensure your waste is recycled correctly and responsibly. And all you have to do is fill it up! So, with your skip delivered and ready to go, it’s time to crack on. 

Task one: De-clutter

The first thing to do when you’re cleaning any area is to tidy up the area so you can see what needs a good scrubbing. So, head out to the garden and start throwing out anything you don’t want or need. Key things to look out for include: 

• Rotting, old garden furniture 
• Old children’s toys that aren’t used anymore 
• Broken décor or flowerpots 
• Things that have been sitting in the shed unused since 1997 

Task two: Weeding

With the area tidied of any obvious rubbish, it’s time to get rid of those unsightly areas of plant life that might be suffocating your other flowers and trees. Pop your gloves on, grab a trowel, and pull up all those pesky weeds messing up your garden. Give any hard-to-pull roots a spray of weed killer to ensure they don’t come back.
The good news is that you can just chuck these weeds into the skip too. Other than Japanese knotweed and other invasive weeds, this plant life can be recycled. 

Saturday — PM

Take a break for lunch, grab a cup of tea, and top up your water bottle. If you need to stock up, you might want to head to the local garden centre too before cracking on with the next task. 

Task three: Planting anew 

Whether you’re putting new plants in pots or planters or tending to the ones you already have, Saturday afternoon is dedicated to the beautiful blooms in your garden. Give them some TLC or get them started in a new spot in the flower bed! Finish off with a sprinkle from the watering can to get them ready to go. 

Sunday — AM

Task four: Mow the lawn

Take a nice, Sunday-morning stroll over your lawn…with the lawn mower in hand. You’ll get to enjoy the sun, tick off a chore, and use the time to check around your garden for any weeds that might have escape your notice the first time. 
Pop the trimmings into the skip and turn your attention to any paths or flagstones you have. 

Task five: Clean the paving stones

If you have stone pathways or paving stones, giving them a clean can really boost the overall look of your garden. It’s a task many of us put off, but it really doesn’t need to take ages — so long as you know a few tips and tricks! 
Here are two of the quickest methods: 

The Vinegar Method

• Move away any plant pots or furniture from the stones you need to clean 
• Take your heavy-duty broom and start sweeping away the dirt and debris on the paving stones
• Pull up any weeds caught in the cracks of the stones 
• Mix equal parts water and vinegar. If your paving stones are very mucky, increase the ratio of vinegar. Pour the mixture into a watering can 
• Use the watering can to evenly distribute the vinegar-mix all over the paving stones. Ensure the whole area is soaked
• Leave the stones to soak for 20 minutes 
• Use your heavy-duty broom to scrub the paving stones again. The vinegar will have loosened up more dirt and grime, as well as killing any weeds caught between the cracks 
• Rinse/mop the stones clean

The Power-Washer method

• Move away any plant pots or furniture from the stones you need to clean 
• Start with a low-pressure setting to avoid any damage and test a small area. Adjust the pressure as needed 
• Spray the paving stones by holding the power lance at a shallow angle, diagonally across the stones to avoid damaging the joints

Sunday — PM 

Relax and have some well-earned lunch before the last leg of your weekend project. 

Task six: Pruning

Take the secateurs and prune any larger plants that need it. Trim away overhanging branches and overgrown bushes and you’ll be amazed just how much space in your garden was being tied up in this tangle of tree limbs! 

Task seven: Painting

Finally, give your shed and any fences a fresh coat of paint. Between the sun and the rain, the paint might be a little lacklustre, faded, and maybe even peeling. Prep it and paint it and see what a difference it makes to your garden! 
 
And there you have it! A perfectly polished garden in just one weekend. The summer awaits! 
 

Sources: 

https://www.marshalls.co.uk/homeowners/inspire-me/articles/how-to-clean-a-patio-3160