INVIGORATE WITH A SIMPLE SPLASH OF COLOUR

Adding a pop of colour behind existing plants will help to breathe new life into your garden. Painting a feature wall in a bold shade, such as this sunshine yellow, will deliver huge impact without much expense. Be sure to use a specialist exterior paint to ensure it’s suitable for the space. Choose a co-ordinating palette for pots and accessories, to create a cohesive look.

Garden fences need more care and attention than we usually think about. So, if yours is due a once over, why not treat it a bit differently next time. Use paint specially designed for outdoor use to add new life to your garden as this will help preserve the wood, meaning the colour won’t fade. Instead of your usual shades of golden or ashy brown, consider a fresh, playful colour instead to create a bold statement for a Mediterranean feel.

Transform old shelves into a vertical herb garden

If you have an old set of shelves mount them to a fence – preferably in a sunny spot – as the perfect location for your vertical herb garden. You can also convert an old pallet or ladder if you don’t have any old shelves lying around. Sand the surface and apply a couple of coats of exterior paint. Paint the same colour as the fence – black is very impactful – to make the greenery pop. All that’s left is to choose a selection of your favourite herbs and plant up in matching terracotta pots. If you’re worried about keeping them alive all summer, opt for some hardy trailing plants. Ivy is easy to care for and looks great cascading down a shelf.

‘NO SHADE OF COLOUR IS TOO DARING FOR THE GARDEN, SO BE AS ADVENTUROUS AS YOU LIKE, ADDINGABRIGHTPOPTOWALLS,FENCESORPOTS’

PAINT THE FENCE

Reuse old pans as planters

Before throwing out old pots and pans, think about whether they could be used as alternative planters instead. Their hard-wearing shells make them ideal for standing up to the elements. Simply punch a couple of drainage holes in the bottom before re-potting your plants. To do this, turn your planter-to-be upside down on a level surface and, using a goodquality screwdriver, carefully create holes in the bottom. Or if you have a hand drill, attach a metal drill bit and slowly drill into the base. If you’re not confident, ask an experienced DIY-ER to help. Another great vessel to use is an old metal colander, as this already has drainage holes ready to go! Attach four lengths of chain to create a unique hanging basket.

‘THINK OF YOUR GARDEN AS AN EXTENSION OF YOUR HOME, SO DECORATE AND STYLE WITH AS MUCH PASSION AS YOU WOULD YOUR INTERIOR’

Rather than disappear into the house every time another drink is needed, set up a bar outside and make cocktail hour an alfresco affair. You can pick up the materials to knock up your own Tiki-style serving area cheaply at your local DIY store. Or keep it really simple and upcycle an old wooden bar cart, making sure to treat the wood against the elements. Keeping drinks cool is as simple as filling a bucket with ice.

IMPRESS GUESTS WITH AN OUTDOOR BAR