Summer Garden Ideas For A Beautiful Outdoor Space

After a cold winter, it's the warmth of the summer sun is always welcome in the UK. And when the summer months arrive, millions of us love to spend time soaking up the rays in our gardens.

But we've all been there:

You take a look out your window and see an overgrown wilderness that looks uninviting and shabby. Enough to put anybody off from relaxing outside.

Don't worry though! If you're garden looks like a forgotten wilderness, we've come up with some useful summer garden ideas that you can follow, starting today.

Here's how to enjoy your garden this summer.

Spring clean

Spring cleaning isn't just for the home; you can also extend it to the garden. If you keep on top of it throughout the year, a couple of hours will be all you need to get your yard looking tip top.

To get your garden ready for the summer, there are a few ways you can tidy it up.

Mow the lawn

When your garden's overgrown, it can look a little untidy and unkempt. During the winter, it's usually wet and gloomy outside so it's difficult to find an opportunity to cut the grass.

But when the weather is fairer, get the lawnmower out and trim your lawn. You don't have to completely cut it down – leaving the grass longer will look just as good as shorter turf, and it will be easier to push the mower.

As long as the grass is a uniform length, it can make your garden look so much tidier and neater.

Remove the weeds

Another quick way to make your garden look infinitely more tidy is to remove any weeds.

Unfortunately, these can pop up through cracks in your paving or in your flower beds. The bad thing is that they can be damaging to your plants and flowers because they take water and nutrients from the soil.

Spend some time removing pesky weeds to keep your garden looking neat and to give your plants the best chance of coming into bloom this summer.

Clear the patio area

With the winter rain, patio areas and paving can become dirty and sometimes slippery, making them a hazard.

To make it look more attractive, and importantly to remove any grime that might cause people to slip, you can use a pressure washer to jet away the dirt.

Clean outdoor furniture

If you like to relax in the garden, you'll know how important it is to have some high quality garden furniture. But when it's been stored away for the winter, it'll probably need a quick clean before you use it again.

Dust, dirt and cobwebs are likely to have found their way onto your furniture, so take the time to freshen it up. For more information on how to clean and look after your teak garden furniture, follow our teak care guide here.

Plants & flowers

Planting summer flowers and plants can be a great way to make your garden more inviting in the summer. They will also help you to bring a welcome touch of colour to your outdoor living space; it doesn't have to be all green!

You can start planting your summer bulbs in the spring time, so that they bloom through the warmer months. You can then visit a local garden centre and find a few additional flowers to plant throughout the summer as you wish.

Here are some of our favourite summer plants and flowers that you could try:

• Oriental lily – A vibrant pink flower that looks great throughout summer.
• Crocosmia – A fast-growing plant with beautiful red, yellow or orange flowers.
• Gladiolus – Once considered a traditional choice, modern gladiolus are all the rage in a range of bright colours.
• Dahlia – A popular choice which may bloom in attractive reds, oranges or purples.
• Sunflowers – A real focal point, sunflowers are the perfect summer flower for a large flower bed.

As well as your flower beds, you could try and transform a patio or decking area into a floral oasis with the help of some stylish teak planters.

Relaxation area

There's no point in tidying and prettying up your garden if you can't enjoy it! For that reason, it's always a great idea to create a dedicated space where you can relax and unwind in the summer months.

Whether it's a patio or a decking, make space for some comfortable furniture where you can enjoy your garden in the sunshine.

Add a garden bench where you can relax by reading a book or enjoy a drink in peace.

For those social occasions with family and friends, invest in a good quality dining set to allow you to enjoy food and drinks outdoors.

And when it's really warm, worship the sun on a comfortable teak lounger. Just remember to wear your sunscreen!

Share it

Once you've given it the once over and created a relaxing area in your garden, you'll probably be proud of how it looks. So show it off!

Take advantage of your outdoor area by using it as a place to entertain guests.

Make lasting memories and enjoy time relaxing with your partner or playing with the children in your beautiful garden. You can also invite friends and family to garden parties and enjoy a tasty barbecue together.

What are your ideas?

If you want a comfortable place to relax and enjoy the sun this year, follow our summer garden ideas above. We think you'll be desperate to show it off to all of your family and friends.

Do you have any ideas of your own for creating the a beautiful outdoor living space? Share your tips below.