Whether you’ve recently moved into a new rental home with a neglected garden or just looked outside for the first time in months, finding the time and energy to rejuvenate a tired garden can seem like an impossible feat. With so much to do and no idea where to start, it can be all too tempting to just raise your white flag and simply give up. Thankfully, we’re here to save the day.
The truth is, refreshing even the most forsaken of garden spaces doesn’t have to take weeks of your time or require expert gardening knowledge. In fact, by dedicating as little as one weekend to your garden revamp and purchasing a few must-have essentials, you’ll be well on your way to an incredible Spring garden that you and your family can enjoy throughout the growing season.
Today, we share 7 expert gardener approved tips for revitalising even the most tired of gardens. If you’re ready to get the most out of your outdoor space, simply read on to find out more!
Time To Tidy Up
If your garden is looking less than exemplary thanks to the Winter season and is littered with dead leaves, branches, twigs and an overgrown lawn, it’s time to find some time to tidy up! Now that Spring has sprung, consider spending a weekend pulling out weeds, thinning out your garden beds, pruning back leggy branches, mowing your lawn, deadheading flowers that have faded out of bloom and removing neglected or overgrown plants. Once you have accomplished this feat, you’ll be left with a cleaner canvas that will allow you to better plan out your Spring garden, crops and planting with a clearer mind. Even if you don’t plan on getting stuck into growing season, making these simple changes and tidying up will instantly make a huge difference in refreshing the look of your garden.
Top Tip: Not too keen on filling your rubbish bin with a metric ton of green waste? We highly recommend looking into green waste removal services to help ease the burden.
Gather The Right Tools
Piggybacking on the previous pointer, gathering the right tools is an essential component of tidying up and refreshing your garden space. Having everything you need to revitalise your garden will help make the job quicker and easier, so be sure to head to your local Bunnings or hardware store and equip yourself with secateurs, hand shears, loppers, a rake and more.
Additionally, ensuring that your tools are sharp and in good condition is key. Blunt equipment not only makes the task more difficult, but may also damage plants and open your garden up to the possibility of pests and plant disease.
Splash On A Fresh Coat Of Paint
Are your fences, garden shed or room looking like they are in dire need of a refresh? One of the easiest, quickest and most inexpensive ways of adding new life to your garden space is by splashing on a brand new coat of paint to your exteriors. When it comes to colours to choose from, we encourage you to select a shade that will compliment or contrast your greenery perfectly. Most professional landscapers opt for a uniform finish with darker shades, but feel free to choose a colour that best suits the style you are going for. Regardless of the shade you pick, be sure to apply two coats of good-quality, outdoor-grade paint for the perfect finish. If you are keen on making the task even simpler, we suggest looking into using a paint sprayer over the traditional paint brush or roller.
Top Tip: Apart from your fences and shed, you may also want to consider painting your back door or a garage door to make a vivid statement.
Revitalise Your Garden Beds
If your garden beds or raised beds have been neglected during the colder months, now is the perfect time to revitalise them for some Spring planting. Not entirely sure where to start? Follow this simple guide on easily and effectively revitalising your garden beds:
Step 1: Pull out any dead weeds, plants or spent vegetable crops from your soil. Once you have manually pulled out as much as possible with your hands, switch to a garden fork and gently rake the topsoil so it’s broken up and ready to receive new organic matter.
Step 2: Gather your favourite mixture of compost and fertiliser — we recommend a combination of regular compost, mushroom compost, vermicompost, cow manure and Yates Dynamic Lifter. Once you have raked your soil, sprinkle through your choice of fertiliser and compost, keeping quantities stated on the packaging in mind.
Step 3: Using your hands, mix the soil, fertiliser and compost together well to aerate. Ensure that your mixture is nicely damp; if too dry, gradually water with a garden hose or watering can. Once adequately moist, refrain from patting the soil down or you will lose the aeration that microorganisms thrive on.
Step 4: Wait for a minimum of 2 weeks before planting seedlings or sowing seeds into your newly prepared soil. This allows the soil to rest, improves its water holding capabilities and improves overall health for long term productivity.
Step 5: After your soil has been allowed to rest for 2-4 weeks, proceed with directly sowing seeds or planting seedlings in accordance to individual crop needs. Don’t forget to offer your soil and plants adequate fertiliser during the growing season for optimal results.
Consider Planting New Companion and Decorative Plants
To add some pizazz and colour to your garden, we highly recommend planting some seasonal flowers and companion crops/flowers to truly make your space shine. Depending on your local climate or region, some easy options for beautifying the garden include Daisies, Marigolds, Carnations, Lavender, Pansies and Dahlias. These additions to the garden will bring glorious pops of colour that are guaranteed to make you smile. When it comes to companion crops and flowers, these are plants that are intentionally planted to increase or hasten returns on a plot of land and deter pests and diseases. A perfect example would be planting clover and/or crimson clover next to tomato plants to deter weed growth and attract pollinators like bumble bees and other beneficial insects.
Learn more about companion planting in this informative article.
Power Wash Your Patio
If you have a patio, deck or simply a few outdoor pavers attached to your garden space, one of the simplest ways of breathing new life into a tired space is a good ol’ power wash. If you’re lucky enough to own a basic pressure washer, this task is instantly made a hundred times easier. A pressure washer will give these areas a much needed deep clean, removing any mould, mud, slime or smaller weeds that are present. You should notice a difference in colour which will instantly revive even the most neglected of spaces.
Top Tip: If you don’t own a power or pressure washer, fret not. You can easily hire one for 24 hours at your local Bunnings for as little as $60.
Consider Adding Some Outdoor Furniture
Now that your garden space has been tidied up, rejuvenated and filled with gorgeous flowers and veggie crops, you may want to consider investing in some outdoor furniture to enjoy the Spring and Summer sunshine. When it comes to choosing outdoor furniture, we highly recommend looking into stainless steel or aluminium options. These materials and finishes offer a fuss-free approach to outdoor furnishings and are highly resistant to rain and other weather conditions without losing structural integrity.
If you are intent on choosing wooden outdoor furniture, it is imperative that you do your research on how to maintain them so that they last for years. Generally, wooden furniture will require regular maintenance and protection from the elements with the help of furniture covers or slips to prevent moisture from seeping into timber. You may also want to consider using oil-based varnishes, stains and solutions to prevent water, dirt and UV exposure from ruining its integrity. Regardless of which route you go, outdoor garden furniture offers the perfect spot to enjoy a cup of tea and admire the fruits of your labour!
And there you have it – 7 expert approved tips that are guaranteed to revitalise your garden and kick it into top shape this Spring. Your garden should be a peaceful space in which to relax and unwind, so be sure to follow these handy tips and you’ll be set until the next growing season!
Do you have some of your own tried-and-tested tips for revitalising a tired garden? Be sure to share your thoughts and ideas with our readers in the comments section below!
