Jet wash your patio

Instantly refresh the look of your home by pressure-hosing paved patios and drives. At the same time, why not jet-wash any garden benches or tables. Make this a weekend challenge and if you don’t have time or energy, get a gardener or handyman to help.

Fantastic fences

A white picket fence is the dream but they come in all different styles. Consider if your fence could do with a coat of paint. If you don’t have a fence, look at your hedge. Make sure it’s nicely trimmed and clip any overgrown trees or shrubs, so potential buyers don’t have to fight their way through bushes to reach your front door. Avoid cutting your hedge in spring when birds are nesting.

Add a patio

Consider creating a patio or terrace where you can entertain outside if you don’t already have one. Paving can be expensive but Indian stone is more affordable. Where to put a patio can be a key decision in your garden revamp, as can the size. Before adding a patio ask yourself how you’d like to use it – whether for barbecues, socialising or hanging out around a firepit.

Create seating areas

Making your garden work as an extra room in the summer is a good way to achieve a feeling of increased living space. Consider creating an outdoor eating area with an attractive table and chairs. Put a bench (or two) in the sunniest spots of your garden. It all helps make your outdoor area a highly usable, comfortable space. If you already have a seating area, jazz it up with pin-prick white fairylights or new cushions.

Extra privacy

Back gardens that are overlooked by neighbours’ houses can deter potential buyers. A trellis on top of a fence or brick wall can add height for extra privacy. It can look fantastic intertwined with scented roses or jasmine and while you wait for plants to flower, you can add colour and interest by hanging pretty bunting on it.

Invest in planters

Large outdoor planters on terraces or patios can make statement pieces, especially if they frame views of the garden or beyond, Planters can be used to grow perennial shrubs with showy blooms or elegant trees, such as Japanese Maple. They can also be used to frame your front door, making it look stylish and welcoming.

Refresh your planting

Consider refreshing your planting. In mature gardens, old trees and large shrubs can look neglected and overgrown. Give them a new lease of life with a thorough pruning. If borders are overcrowded, create more space by removing anything that isn’t working well. Think seasonally. Clever use of flowers that bloom at different times of the year and evergreens, can keep a garden looking colourful all-year-round.

Garden style

Think about designing your garden as you would any other room in your house. If you live in a chocolate box-style cottage, old-fashioned country plants will complement its architecture. Similarly, if you live in an ultra-modern townhouse, opt for plants with large glossy leaves as well as metallic planters and slightly brighter colours. 

Get professional help

If you want to make big changes to your garden and don’t have the confidence to plan it or do the work yourself, consider hiring a landcape gardener to help. It could be worth the extra cost as a well-thought out and presented garden can increase your home’s value and make it easier to sell.

If you are thinking of making changes to your garden, you may find some of these services useful.