With summer now well underway, there has never been a better opportunity to get out into the garden and ensure that it’s in good condition. After all, if you’re going to be spending time outdoors, then it’s best to do so while there’s sunny weather to enjoy.

The suggestions here range from those essential tasks that we just can’t help but put off to more ambitious projects that’ll really help to elevate your garden above the competition. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Remove weeds

Weeds are a problem that all gardeners must keep on top of. They’re always sprouting where they aren’t welcome, and must be battled constantly in order to avoid the problem getting out of control. Summer is a perfect time to address the problem – through either manual or chemical means.

Invest in a decent pair of gardening gloves (if you haven’t already done so), and get down on your hands and knees and start tearing them up. The most obvious ones will be those sticking through pathways, drives, and other stone-covered areas – and it’s these areas where weed killer is at its most effective, since you’ll be able spray liberally without fear of some other, more desirable plant getting caught up in the crossfire.

Maintain your fences

Summertime is also the perfect time of year to address problems with your fencing. This is not only because it’s more fun to spend time in the garden when the sun’s beaming down, but because caring for a fence requires that it be thoroughly washed and then dried. Do this during winter and you might have to wait for days before the wood has had a chance to dry – and perhaps longer if you’re unfortunate enough to have your cleaning session coincide with a wet spell.

Restoring a tired-looking fence to its former glory is something that’s more straightforward than many imagine – and it’s rewarding to see your work pay off! First, you’ll want to ensure that your fence is clean and smooth. Sand away those imperfections and any old paint, and scrub any remaining dirt off with a wet scouring pad. You’ll then need to leave the wood to thoroughly dry before applying a coat of either paint or finish. An opaque paint will help to disguise the natural qualities of the wood, while a transparent wax or polish will seep in, helping to accentuate them. You’ll be able to secure either from a reputable Timber Supplier in North Wales.

Maintain your patio

As well as caring for your fences, summertime offers a great opportunity to take care of your patio – and for much the same reasons. If your patio is allowed to dry beneath the sun, it follows that it will dry that much quicker. So, give your patio a thorough clean, and then allow it to dry before applying a coat of finish.

There are several things to consider, here. Firstly, the finish you use on a patio will be quite different to that which you might apply to a fence. The former will need to tolerate a great deal more punishment in the form of people walking all over it. Opt for a wax that’s designed specifically with patios in mind.

When cleaning your patio, you’ll want to ensure that you’re as thorough as possible. For this reason, you might use a specially-formulated patio cleaner. These take a few days to thoroughly dry. But some varieties are toxic – which is a problem for households containing dogs and cats, who might walk over the patio and get cleaning solution on their paws. In the case of cats, who clean their paws by licking them, this risk is especially severe. Be sure, therefore, that you confine your pet to the indoors while the patio dries.

Build a Shed

If you’re going to be doing a lot of gardening this summer, then you’ll want to ensure that you have all of the necessary tools. Pruning shears, a trowel, a gardening fork and a lawnmower are just some of the items you’ll need if you’re to get by.

This means that you’ll need somewhere to store such items, if you’re to avoid leaving them out in the open, and at the mercy of the elements – and passing burglars, who can easily sell such items on the black market. The answer is a garden shed, which will help to free up valuable space in your home, and look the part, too. You’ll be able to obtain such a shed from a builders merchant in North Wales.