It’s time to start thinking about those Summer BBQs already

I know, it’s very cold and getting colder outside so the last thing we are thinking about is Summer. Summer is too far away in our minds eye while we enjoy delicious winter stews, snug woolley jumpers, and a raft of new TV dramas on these cold dark January evenings. The garden is hibernating beneath a layer of slimy brown leaves, frozen mud and mostly being ignored. But, blink your eyes in the low winter sunlight for a just second and spring will be here, with the promise of Summer just round the corner. So now is the time to start thinking about what you want from your Summer garden.

By the time you venture outside to see if the daffodils are up yet, and brush the winter blown twigs off the BBQ, you will already be thinking “right, how can we get this garden looking fantastic for when the Joneses come round next weekend?”. Of course a few spruced up pots on the patio will do in that sort of time frame. However, if you want your garden to look good all year round and to be ready and waiting for any spontaneous outdoor parties, the time for planning and designing is right now.

Use these chilly winter months by the fire to peruse seed catalogues and garden magazines for inspiration. Imagine the Summer sun and think about how to get the most from your garden. Do you need a beautiful chair to sit on near the house, or a shade structure to shelter beneath? Is there a garden table for that jug of Pimms or would you prefer a lawn and a picnic blanket? Would a simple trellis block out that horrible old shed next door or would you prefer a new apple tree instead? How about a bird table or a colourful flowering border to brighten up the view from the kitchen table? There are so many options to make a garden an enjoyable and beautiful space to be utilised throughout the year. Get planning now for the arrival of the Joneses. In fact get planning now and you will be the Joneses, with a beautiful garden that will be enjoyed by all who come to visit.