Rhiwbina Living Issue 55

Keep deckings and patios clean
gardens
While we tend to focus on the greener areas of the garden, let's not
overlook the harder areas where perhaps we spend more of our time.
Decking and patios can quickly accumulate dust and dirt and a
regular sweep or hose down will help keep it looking clean and tidy.
If you have patio furniture, it's also a good idea to pack this away
when not in use. Umbrellas can become bleached by the sun and
also dry it out, leaving it tatty. Store your cushions in the garage or
shed until they're needed and use furniture covers if you have any.
Tidy up your
furniture
Garden furniture really can make
the difference when it comes to
the appearance of your garden.
Tired-looking pieces can affect
the appeal of your outdoor space
so if you can afford it, invest in a
smart-looking dining set or seating
set-up.
If that's not an option this summer,
you can always spruce up some
of your older pieces, especially if
they are still functionable. Wooden
items can be tidied up with a lick
of paint or even sometimes all your
furniture needs is a good old clean.
Improve your
drainage
Heavy use of a garden, particularly
the lawn, will lead to the soil
compacting, making it hard for
any excess water to drain away.
This can lead to pools of water
collecting in areas where the water
has no place to go.
The simplest way to avoid this
problem is to take a garden fork
and to prod holes in the soil to
aerate it. This is usually best done
in spring or autumn months when
the soil is more malleable.
Prune your shrubs
Summer is the season to prune
back your spring-flowering shrubs.
It'll help encourage larger crops
from your fruit trees and bushes.
For shrubs, remove any stems
that have been killed during the
spring frosts. Prune off growth that
has just finished flowering down to
an outward facing bud and remove
entirely any branches that are
damaged or causing damage to
other parts.
When it comes to fruit trees, the
aim is to create space that will
allow more light and air in through
the tree, giving the fruit a chance to
flourish. Pruning out excess growth
will help the fruit and the tree.
Control the weeds
If the plants in your garden are
flourishing, it's a good indication that
the weeds are taking advantage
of the summer conditions and
flourishing too.
Weeds will absorb some of the
much-needed nutrients needed for
your garden plants so it's essential
to keep on top of them. Little and
often is probably the best way to
go during the hotter months, and it
will save you a bigger job later in the
year. Try not to turn up the soil too
much as this will lead to the natural
moistness evaporating.
Deadhead summer
flowering plants
If you have any time to spare,
taking the time to deadhead the
flowers in your garden will provide
you with an abundance of colour.
Any flowers that are dead, dying,
or producing seeds should be
picked off, just below the flower
head. This encourages the plant
to create more flowers. As soon as
the flower's appearance begins to
fade, you'll know that you should
be deadheading it.
The act of deadheading isn't
an essential one during the
summer months. Instead, it's
often used to make the garden
more aesthetically pleasing. Don't
fret too much if you are too busy
working on other areas.
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