SUMMER-PROOF YOUR GARDEN
GRASS IS GREENER
The Gardena Water Computer Flex Control (Amazon, £41.99) fits to your tap and controls irrigation. You can also programme the timer so it will carry on watering while you’re away. A bag of worms can make a big difference, too. Get them delivered from wormsdirect.co.uk, then sprinkle them on the lawn (do it at night so they have time to dig in before birds eat them). They burrow into the ground, which helps air and water get into the soil, and break down organic matter like leaves and grass to make good plant food.
EATING OUT
I recently spotted a tabletop barbecue that enables you to cook while sitting around it, a bit like a fondue, which means you don’t have someone cooking away from everyone else. It’s called the Joy Stove and is about to be launched in the UK, but you can place orders at carbour.co.uk. Ramp up the cosiness with rugs draped on chairs to create a cosy seating area. Wayfair.co.uk has a reaily good range of faux furs, and brontebymoon.co.uk has some tartan rugs that are great to snuggle up with as you chat over a
glass of wine.
QUICK REFRESH
There are funky shed and fence colours available, which can create a seaside, hip urban or country cottage feel. Many paint companies offer outdoor finishes – try Cuprinol or Sandtex. Painting features in your garden the same colour is a quick way to tie it all together. Use garden mirrors to bring depth to your plot – if you place them partially behind a plant, they really show off a flowerbed. And if there’s one must-have buy this summer, it’s a Karcher jet wash (B&Q, from £45). It’s incredible how it freshens up a tired patio or wall.
‘Use funky colours to give your shed a seaside feel’