Latest interiors: Spring into action

Preparation is everything as Holly Cozens gets your garden ready for a brighter season

Okay, so the sun may be shining but it is not quite the time to declare summer, don flip flops and ditch the pasty winter skin. However, with the odd glorious morning/afternoon, it will not be unheard of for people to start getting their garden ready to enjoy when that sweltering time comes. Let’s face it, with the British weather being ever so predictable, you are going to want to make the most out of those delicious days.

Darling buds of spring
A garden never looks more stunning and is the object of much envy when all the plants and flowers are blooming. Meticulous planning goes into making sure anything you put into the ground will be splendidly alive and kicking in the summer. Hanging baskets create an inviting feel when positioned around your front door and are perfect for all those plants that seem to see their life path heading downwards instead of up.

The well thought out placement of a vegetable or herb garden can aid you in growing some gorgeous specimens and becoming all the more sustainable. Seek advice on what conditions certain seeds and bulbs need to give yourself the optimum self-serving greengrocers this season and the next.

With all this glorious foliage getting ready to descend on your outdoors, it would be nothing if you couldn’t sit out and relish it. Start tidying up those dusty table and chair sets, give your bench a fresh coat of varnish and get some decorative trellis to create a decorative arch or cover.

Don’t fence me in
During the winter, your fences, sheds and summerhouses get put through some of the worst conditions with no protection for their upkeep. Utilise fresh, sunny times of the day and begin to repair and replace where your garden needs it. Some fences may need a substantial fix to reaffirm their place in the ground while others may just be lacking that lustre that can be achieved with a nice glossy coat of paint or a deep shade of woodstain.

You’re going to want to be able to use your summerhouse come summer so it’s time to clean and check the more technical issues that could have been flawed in the midst of the cold months. Check the waterproofing, again a lick of colour could mean the difference between a reason to embrace the summer weather or staying indoors for fear of having to stare at your dilapidated outdoor buildings.

Just think, if you can get all these things in line ready for those scarce summery hours, all you’ll need to do is grab your book, a nice cold drink and bask in the delight of your decadent garden.

Raised Vegetable and Herb bed, £44, Woolworths, www.very.co.uk
Hanging Baskets, £39.94, House of Bath, www.houseofbath.co.uk
Honeysuckle wooden garden arch £99, Rose park bench £47, Woolworths, www.very.co.uk