Patio Care
Is yours ready for a summer of entertaining?
So with the warmer weather now here (and your lawn starting to look like the centre court at Wimbledon thanks to our lawn care tips) now is the time to prepare your patio area for the party season.
Summer entertaining Say 'goodbye' to the weeds, moss, dirty grouting and cracked paving slabs that make your patio looking tired and unwelcoming, and say 'hello' to a neat and functional landscaped area that will provide the ideal place to relax and entertain. Stage 1 - Give it a clean There are plenty of cleaners on the market, but nearly all are extremely caustic so be careful. Follow the instructions properly and remember to use gloves, goggles and wellies as well as some old clothes. And before you start, don't forget to clear the whole area of pots plants, garden furniture and any other obstacles.
And for patios that need a real deep clean...
Stage 2 - Removing weeds Stage 3 - Removing cracked paving slabs At this point it is probably a good time to replace any cracked paving slabs that are, at best, spoiling the look of the patio and, at worst, an accident waiting to happen - especially if granny is coming to visit, because she is sure to trip on the one slab that needs replacing, with obvious results. Replacement is actually a lot easier than it seems, with the two biggest problems being: - matching up the colour of the slabs - not cracking the surrounding stones when leavering out the cracked one Removing the slab is easiest with a crowbar and a piece of wood to act as a base to lever from (which also protects the neighbouring slab as you do it). After lowering the replacement stone into place as smoothly as possible (watch your fingers! - and with help if you have a bad back) the stones can then be levelled using a rubber mallet to gently tap them into place. Stage 4 - Patio plants Now that your patio is beautifully clean and weed free, you can now make it finish the job by making the whole area as inviting as possible. Stage 5 - Garden Furniture And finally, the best bit - the furniture. An umbrella is a must, and if you can stretch the budget buy one of those patio heaters that are now so popular and much more affordable. They really do pay for themselves when it starts to get colder during the evening - just as the party is getting going!
Don't have a patio?
The why not consider one as part of a proper garden design?
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