10 garden projects to get your home summer-ready

The warm weather is just around the corner and we’re already thinking about getting the barbecue tongs out and snapping up a few crates of beer.

A nice spread of food and drink will keep your summer guests happy, but the beautiful garden setting also needs to be clear and tidy if you’re going to make it one to remember.

So before you start stocking the freezer and bulk buying booze, here are a few ideas to level up your garden game just in time for that killer summer party.

Mow the lawn

Come on, you can’t invite people round for beers and burgers with a messy lawn; you’re better than that.

Dig the lawnmower out of the shed and get to work pushing it around the garden, being sure to collect your trimmings in a bag ready to be added to your compost heap or thrown in your skip.

Don’t skip the front garden if you have one; your guests will probably be knocking on the front door so that’s where you’ll make the first impression.

And if you’re feeling fancy…

Get those fresh lawn stripes

A nicely striped lawn is the garden equivalent of rolling out the red carpet for your guests, but it’s easier said than done.

If you want to learn how to get perfect stripes on your garden lawn, you’ll probably want to get a bit of practice in before the summer hits.

Stripes are created by a rear roller fitted to the back of the lawnmower, which flattens and bends the grass and makes the light reflect differently, giving the impression of different colour stripes. The key is to keep your stripes nice and straight, overlapping the previous stripe to make sure you don’t miss a patch.

MORE: 12 summer DIY projects to improve your home

Clear out the garden

First thing’s first, let’s get rid of all that clutter!

Start with the green waste: branch and hedge trimmings, weeds and dead plants… throw the mess from cutting the grass in there as well!

Broken garden furniture is a real hazard for guests that might have had one too many and try to stand on it, so if it can’t be repaired, it’s got to go.

Be sure to wear gloves when handling anything that might cut you. In fact, it’s probably worth picking up some protective goggles and work boots if there’s a lot to do.

Fortunately, all of that garden waste is suitable for throwing in a skip, and depending on the size of your garden, you can probably get it all in a midi-skip.

MORE: Garden skip hire: what size do you need and can you mix waste?

Make your own compost

OK, so you’re not going to make your garden prettier by creating a big pile of mulch, but you’ll certainly add a nice conversation starter.

Eco-friendly homes are a hot topic right now, and you’re bound to impress a few of your guests with your efforts to reduce your food waste and be a bit greener.

Plus, the nutrient-rich fertiliser you’ll get at the end of it will make your garden look even better next summer.

If you’re going to start a compost heap, just make sure it goes at the far end of the garden away from the barbecue in case the smell carries…

Plant some fruit and veg

Everyone’s happy with a choc ice at a barbecue, but bringing out a dessert made with fruit grown from your own garden is the ultimate chef’s kiss.

Juicy, red strawberries served with cream is a pretty low-effort dessert, but perfect for the summer, especially if you’re tying it in with a Wimbledon viewing party.

You’ll need to learn a bit about soil composition, proper sunlight, shading and making the right choices of crops, but it’s a fun hobby and very rewarding when you see your guests quite literally enjoying the fruits of your labour.

Install a sprinkler system

A green and luscious garden doesn’t get that way without plenty of water, and it’s not always convenient to run around with the watering can.

Putting in a sprinkler system will take care of it automatically, and they’re not too tricky to install. You’ll need to find out some information about your water pressure and do a bit of digging to bury the pipe, but you’ll save a lot of time on watering the garden in the long run.

Of course, if that all feels a bit much, you can hire a pro to install it for you, as long as you get the desired result it’s a worthwhile investment in your garden’s upkeep.

Teach the little ones

Getting your garden summer-ready can take a lot of work, so why not take the opportunity to teach the kids how to take care of it and get an extra pair of hands on the project.

Showing youngsters the value of tending to the garden is a great lesson to impart at an early age and a nice bonding experience – plus it gets them off the tablet or Xbox for five minutes.

If they need convincing, perhaps there’s a little bit of pocket money coming their way for all their hard work…

Build a bench

Of course, you want to lay out some nice furniture for your guests, but are you prepared to leave them speechless with furniture you’ve built yourself?

Whether you’re a seasoned carpenter or it’s your first time building a bench, there are plenty of designs and guides available online to suit all skill levels.

Even if it doesn’t come out exactly as you’d imagined, the effort and thought put into it will make it a unique feature in the garden.

Upcycle unused clutter into a planter

There is no cupboard under the stairs in the United Kingdom without a disused pair of Wellington boots cluttering it up (can’t see them? Look right in the back. They’re there).

With a few holes drilled into the soles, old boots can make for a set of planters that are bursting with character and will create a fun vibe for your garden party.

You can even decorate and hang them if you’re feeling especially creative!

MORE: The five Rs of waste management: Refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle

Feed the birds

Yes, dragging out the speakers into the garden once the party gets going is the right move, but as your guests arrive, there’s no better soundtrack than the sweet, natural tones of birdsong.

Throw up some bird feeders and fill them with seeds (best to buy a bag of bird feed from your local garden centre, because not everything is suitable for them to eat) and wait…

Soon your garden will have that classic Disney feel, with birds flying in for a snack and tweeting off again.

Build a barbecue

Let’s not give your friends and family the impression you’re a barbecue amateur and skip out on the pièce de résistance!

With a brick barbecue, you can design it for the perfect amount of grilling space to serve your friends and family, whereas metal barbecues tend to be more limiting.

Plus, you can design it to match the patio and other garden features to complete your summer-ready garden look!

SunSkips will happily deliver and collect a skip to help you get prepared for your summer barbecue party. And if there’s a spare burger going, we’ll be glad to take that off your hands too! Book your skip today!