Garden Care
A year in your garden
The gardens we build are made to be lived in through every season. Here's how to keep yours at its best all year round — written by the people who build them.
Spring
March — MayWake the garden up properly
Winter leaves a film on everything. A weekend of honest attention now sets the whole year up — and it's the best time to spot anything the frost has moved.
- Sweep and wash the deckA stiff brush and warm soapy water lifts winter grime. Work along the boards, not across them, and let it dry fully before oiling.
- Re-oil or re-stain timberDecking, pergolas, planters and fences drink in a fresh coat best on a dry, mild spring day — once a year keeps timber honest for decades.
- First mow on a high cutTake the top off, nothing more. Dropping the blades too early scalps the lawn before it's growing strongly.
- Feed the lawnA spring feed once the soil warms gives you the deep green that makes the whole garden look cared for.
- Walk the fence lineCheck posts, panels and gravel boards after the storms. One loose post caught now is a repair; caught in autumn it's a replacement.
Summer
June — AugustKeep it easy, keep it green
Summer care is little and often — ten minutes here and there, so the garden stays ready for the evenings that make it all worthwhile.
- Water early or lateMorning or evening watering soaks roots instead of evaporating. New planting and planters need it most — pots dry out in a day.
- Mow little and oftenRegular light cuts beat occasional hard ones. In a dry spell, raise the blades and let it grow a touch longer.
- Train the climbersTie new growth onto pergolas and trellis while it's soft and willing — a few minutes a week builds the cover you wanted.
- Wipe down furniture and glassA quick going-over keeps rattan, timber and table tops from baking in the grime.
- Deadhead and enjoySnip the spent flowers as you wander with a brew. That's the whole job — the garden's doing the rest.
Autumn
September — NovemberThe season that pays you back
An hour of autumn work saves a day of spring repair. Leaves are beautiful everywhere except on your deck — wet, they're as slippery as ice.
- Keep decking and paving clear of leavesBrush them off weekly. Left to sit, wet leaves stain stone, feed algae and turn timber treacherous underfoot.
- Clear drainage channels and guttersAutumn rain needs somewhere to go. Check channels, grids and downpipes before the heavy weather arrives.
- Last mow and a tidy edgeA final cut on a higher setting and a crisp edge keeps the lawn smart right through winter.
- Cut back and mulch the bedsTidy spent perennials and tuck the beds in with mulch — it feeds the soil and keeps the weeds quiet.
- Plant spring bulbsThe most optimistic job of the year. Get them in before the first hard frost and thank yourself in March.
Winter
December — FebruaryProtect what you've built
The garden rests; your job is simply to stop winter undoing good work. A few habits carry everything through to spring untouched.
- Never use rock salt on stone or deckingSalt scars porcelain, sandstone and composite alike. If it's icy, use a soft broom for snow and plain grit-free sand for grip.
- Brush snow off before it beds inA soft broom along the boards — never a shovel edge — keeps surfaces safe without scratching them.
- Raise pots off the groundPot feet let water drain so frost can't crack the planter. Huddle the tender ones against the house wall.
- Check after every stormA quick walk round after high winds catches lifted felt, loose panels and leaning posts while they're still small jobs.
- Plan the spring projectWinter is when next year's garden gets designed. Measure up, collect ideas — spring diaries fill up fast.
Beyond the To-Do List
Some jobs deserve a craftsman
If the fence lost a fight with a storm, the deck's past saving, or this is the year the garden finally gets done properly — send us a photo and we'll take it from there.
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