Want to transform your outside space in time for summer? It's easier than you think with our guide to getting a gorgeous garden
Ad Feature by Wickes
Suddenly things are starting to happen in our outdoor spaces; flowers are gently unfolding into bloom, you may have already uncloaked the BBQ and yes, it's definitely time to start those jobs that'll get your garden looking its best.
Whether you're a green-fingered pro or just keen to create an outdoor space that's perfect for entertaining friends and family this summer, now is the right time to set the wheels in motion on an al fresco makeover.
Firstly, it's important to remember that you don't need to have acres of space to make your very own summer idyll. A balcony full of blooms, bistro-style courtyard or bigger garden with a lawn can all be equally inviting for different reasons.
And there's nothing more mindful than planting and watching as your efforts blossom a few weeks later.
Beyond sewing seeds and mowing lawns, perhaps 2025 is the year you think about redesigning your garden - adding in elements like decking, trellises or sleepers which can up the ambience without needing to undertake a major overhaul.
Wickes is on hand with inspiration and advice plus great deals to help you bring your ideas to life. Here, FEMAIL looks at the easy-win ideas that will dramatically transform your space...
GET TIDY: OPERATION SPRUCE-UP
Ready to get going for a vibrant summer garden? Now is the perfect time to kick-start a glow-up...and there's plenty of quick wins that will instantly transform your space, from mowing and pruning to planting and painting
Invest in a new lawnmower to keep grass healthy and looking pristine all summer long - and tackle those weeds that may have started to creep in with the spring sunshine
With the risk of night frost now over, herbs and flowers you've planted indoors can soon be planted out in the fresh air
Sometimes you don't need to change anything up. Simply giving your lawn a decent trim, some time spent weeding - think of it as a garden work-out - and planting the seeds you've been growing indoors, can make a world of difference to how your space feels.
We're on the cusp of summer, so now is the ideal time to pull on your gardening gloves, get the hosepipe out and tackle flowerbeds emerging from the long winter - a little TLC can work wonders.
Investing in a new lawnmower is also another sure-fire way to make your garden look pristine quickly.
Wickes' Flymo Speedi-Mo 360C Corded Rotary Lawn Mower at £128 can transform a patch of grass in minutes - and regular mowing will keep a lawn healthy too, with grass growing back stronger than ever before.
SITTING PRETTY: DECKING AND PATIOS
Dining outdoors on long, warm summer evenings is a seasonal highlight - Wickes can help you create the perfect outdoor social space for your home
Wickes Standard Treated Deck Board was £7 but is currently down to £5. Right: A decked patio can make your garden feel bigger, and adding lights is a great way to add ambience
Time outdoors is never more enticing than when you've got a book in hand or are sharing a glass of something sparkling with a friend on a warm evening, so give some consideration to your garden's social space.
An old patio can be easily reinvigorated with a pressure washer - Wickes has leading brands like Karcher and Bosch - but decking remains a firm favourite too, when it comes to creating a designated space for kicking back and relaxing.
Available in a host of shades, wooden (or sometimes hard-wearing composite) deckboards are in keeping with a garden's natural tones, perfectly complementing the surrounding greenery. They also add a sense of depth and can be easily dressed up with pots, planters, lighting and seating.
Even better, Wickes currently has a great value offer on Wickes Standard Treated Deck Board, which is down to just £5 (was £7) - and Cuprinol Anti-Slip Decking Stain, which will help preserve it for years to come, is now £28 (was £32).
INSTANT COLOUR: POTS AND PLANTERS
Planters are an inspired way to add colour and character to a garden. A trough planter can help bring an unused space to life. Right: This Strata Riven Large Square Planter in Light Grey (£16) can create a more minimalist look and works great with palms
Pots spilling over with bright flowers - think petunias, fuschias and geraniums - are the garden gift that will give all summer long.
With just a little water and sunshine, full pots and planters are one of the easiest ways to give your outdoor space real impact.
Whether you're going for a tropical summer scene or a minimalist look straight out of Ibiza, Wickes has a planter that'll bring your vision to life.
There's everything from trendy wooden plant stands that can hold many pots to traditional troughs - great for filling a small unused space - and more sleek planters (such as the £16 Strata Riven Large Square Planter in Light Grey), which work really well with exotic-looking palms.
Don't forget hanging baskets and wall-hung pots too; they're great at injecting a bolt of colour at a higher level, and are often the first thing the eye is drawn to in an outdoor area.
BRUSH UP: A PAINT MAKEOVER
Don't assume paint is just for making your interiors sing; there's a whole palette of garden shades that can breathe new life into everything from a favourite wooden bench to brickwork and sheds.
Tired fencing, for example, can look completely different with a paint that's designed to enhance the wood for years.
A tin of Wickes Shed & Fence Timbercare will go a long way for just £14, and Ronseal One Coat Shed & Fence Protector is just £16 and will help protect your garden boundaries against every kind of weather.
From sheds that need a makeover to decking and fence panels, a splash of exterior paint not only looks great but it's also weatherproof (Right: Ronseal One Coat Fence Life is now £10)
And painting walls can have a spectacular effect too, reflecting light and making your garden look instantly neater. There are amazing shades in the Sandtex Masonry Paint range - which is currently £35 for 10 litres (was £40).
What colours to choose? Sandstone, for example, can bring a calming ambience, while Pure Brilliant White gives Mediterranean island feels or go for a chic Plymouth Grey - but whichever shade you plump for, you'll get years of weatherproof protection.
MAKE FOR THE BORDERS
Sleepers are an effective way to give your garden a landscaped look; ideal for beds, their natural wood look perfectly complements a lawn or patio
Wickes Decorative Timber Garden Sleepers - 100 x 150 x 1200mm - are just £12.50, and can have a huge impact on how your garden's flowerbeds look
Don't you love a garden accessory that looks stylish but is also hugely practical? Get your garden borders right and you'll not only win the battle with weeds encroaching on your lawn, but you'll also add clean lines to your flower beds.
Sleepers - long, weighty lengths of wood that are used on railway tracks but have been adapted for the garden - are easy-on-the-eye, thanks to their natural wood but also create a great border. Fringing them with pretty gravel too will add to the landscaped feel.
Wickes Decorative Timber Garden Sleepers - 100 x 150 x 1200mm - are just £12.50 each and can be used to create raised beds, steps and edging. They're also pressure treated so will stand the test of time too.
SUMMER GARDEN MAKEOVER DEALS!
Wickes has some incredible offers on garden essentials:
*Sandtex Microseal Fine Textured Weatherproof Masonry 15 Year Exterior Wall Paint 10L - was £46, now £40
*Ronseal One Coat Shed & Fence Protector 9L - £16
*Wickes Shed & Fence Timbercare 9L - £14
*Flymo Speedi-Mo 360C Corded Rotary Lawn Mower - £128
*Cuprinol Anti-Slip Decking Stain 2.5L - was £32, now £28
*Wickes Decorative Timber Garden Sleeper - £12.50
*Wickes Standard Treated Deck Board - was £7, now £5
Find all you need for your next garden transformation in store and online at wickes.co.uk
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