Easter Garden Makeover Ideas

If you’ve got some time off over the Easter break and you’re thinking of using it to spruce up your tired, worn-out garden, then this post is for you.

At AWBS, we believe that spring is the best season to work on improvements to both your landscaping and hardscaping. That way, you’ll be able to enjoy your new garden all summer.

In need of inspiration? Read on for our favourite Easter garden makeover ideas and some helpful tips and tricks to help you get started.

Why carry out a garden makeover at Easter?

If you haven’t started any garden maintenance yet, Easter is the perfect time to get stuck in. After a long winter, the last of the fronts should be over by April and the weather will be mild and wet. This makes the soil much more suitable for planting flowers, shrubs and veggies.

Similarly, your lawn will start to grow when temperatures reach over 8 degrees, so you’ll need to start tending to this by Easter. Plus, the ground becomes more stable at this time of year, making it easier to construct even patios, decks, paths and more!

5 garden makeover ideas to try this spring

1. Lay a new patio or rejuvenate your existing one

Over winter, frost heaves can create bumps in paved patios, paths and edging as the water that gathers beneath freezes and expands. As well as causing unevenness, freeze-thaws can also lead to cracks in your paving joints, easily fixed with Joint-it Simple jointing compound.

With that in mind, it’s important to check your paving for any damage and give it a deep clean in the spring. You can do this with a pressure washer and one of our specialist patio cleaning products. We also stock colour rejuvenators and natural stone sealants as needed.

If you do spot any cracks or chips, you can find replacement paving slabs at AWBS in a range of materials, styles and colours. Alternatively, we can supply everything you need to replace your entire patio or lay a brand new one as part of your garden makeover.

Our collection includes affordable, non-slip concrete slabs, lovely natural stone and hard-wearing porcelain paving by leading brands like Digby and Pavestone. Our porcelain slabs are available in a myriad of designs, including stone effect and an authentic wood finish that mimics timber, so we’ve plenty of patio ideas to choose from.

We also stock competitively priced, all-in-one stone paving packs exclusive to AWBS. Shades include Stone Grey, Meadow Blend, Coastal Mix and Desert Sand - all of which will come with a FREE tub of Joint-It Jointing compound worth £36.89 this Easter to help you fix your slabs in place!

2. Replace damaged decking or install a new deck

Decking areas are great for entertaining in the summer, expanding your socialising space and opening up views across your garden and beyond. However, if you have a timber deck installed, you’ll need to check its condition in spring.

Winter weather can wreak havoc on outdoor wooden structures, because moisture can seep into the timber and cause cracks and rotting. Changes in temperatures can also lead to warping, so you may well need to replace some of your decking boards around Easter time.

The first thing to do is clean the deck down so you’re able to assess the surface more clearly. If it’s structurally sound, you’ll simply need to re-stain the decking once it’s dry to restore it to its former glory. You can then add shrubs or planters for a splash of colour, as well as some comfy outdoor furniture for relaxing on those warm summer evenings.

However, if you find any major splits or decay, you’ll need to replace at least some of the boards. But don’t worry. If you’re tired of maintaining a timber deck or you’re keen to install a deck that requires little upkeep during your garden makeover, there are other options.

At AWBS, we can help you bring your decking ideas to life. We stock a variety of sturdy and attractive composite decking by Trex and Millboard that’s built to last for over 25 years. With eco-friendly options to explore, this decking won’t rot, warp or fade over time. Plus, there are a multitude of different designs available to suit your property, and we’ve even got mock-timber boards that give you the look of wood without the hassle.

3. Inspect your fencing and make the necessary repairs

Just like timber decking, wooden fencing is exposed to the elements all year round. Fences can be damaged by winter storms and their foundations can become waterlogged, resulting in broken posts and panels. While this is usually quite obvious, it can also be more subtle, so you should always double check your fencing and gates when spring rolls around.

If everything looks good, all you’ll need to do is brush off the moss and built up dirt, then clean the fence down. Once dry, you can then repaint or re-stain it, particularly if the colour has faded having withstood lots of wind and rain in recent months. You may also want to add a trellis and some climbing plants to attract wildlife and to add an extra layer of privacy.

However, if the fence’s integrity has been compromised, you’ll want to look at a replacement. Depending on the extent of the damage, we supply replacement posts, panels and components to repair individual sections of fencing. We also provide full fencing kits that contain everything you’ll need to replace the whole thing.

With over 9 different types of fence panels, 20 styles of garden gates and a range of picket and closed board fencing to browse through, we’re bound to have something to suit your needs. Plus, if you’re not sure which style you want, you can view a selection of our best-selling fence panels in the dedicated garden display areas at each of our stores.

4. Focus on lawn care for a luscious lawn throughout the year

Once you’ve repaired your hardscaping, you’ll likely need to move onto trimming your lawn as temperatures increase in late March. It’s a good idea to keep the blade setting high at this point and leave around an inch of length to prevent moss and weeds growing in. As you move into summer, you can then lower the cut.

The edges of your lawn are bound to be untidy by this point too, so you’ll want to trim them back with a specialist tool. You might also want to consider adding edging stones to create a neat and tidy finish. Or, if your lawn is bordered by gravel or mulch, EverEdge garden edging will create a barrier to keep everything in place and prevent debris ending up on your lawn. Sound good? Learn all about these handy lawn edging strips on our blog.

Spring is also the perfect time of year to give your lawn some TLC. Having been short on nutrients over the winter, revitalising your lawn with one of our slow release fertilisers by Rolawn over the Easter break is a great idea. You can also aerate your lawn with a rotavator to alleviate any winter compaction before reseeding worn patches.

If you find that a large part of your lawn is in disrepair, April is also an ideal time for returfing as the ground is still moist and temperatures aren’t too hot. All you need to do is dig up the affected section of lawn, apply a topsoil to improve soil quality, then lay your new turf following these simple steps.

5. Revive your beds with veggies and perennials

As well as tending to your lawn, this is also the season for planting fresh flowers and vegetables, and replenishing mulch and soil. If you haven’t ventured into your garden since autumn, start by removing any dead leaves and pruning brushes to encourage new growth.

Next, remove weeds around existing shrubs and add a new layer of mulch to cover any bare soil between the plants to prevent them returning. This will also help to hold in moisture for the warmer months, so that you won’t have to water the soil as often. Meanwhile, a layer of decorative gravel will help to keep borders looking tidy in between trims.

Vegetable patches can be dug straight into the ground, though they’ll benefit from a fresh layer of topsoil. We can supply peat-free compost mixed with sand to improve drainage, as well as specialist veg growing soils.

Depending on the temperature at Easter, you may want to plant cool season veggies like potatoes, beetroot, carrots and cauliflower which thrive in early spring. Alternatively, pepper, tomatoes and cucumber are better suited to late spring when the weather’s slightly warmer.

If you plan on growing plants in last year’s raised beds, check them for any damage or cracks before adding new soil. If you do need to replace them, AWBS stock a variety of ready-made planters ideal for small shrubs and perennials like pansies, dahlias and crocuses. We also supply new-timber sleepers that won’t rot if you’d prefer to build your own planters and various stakes and supports for trees and climbing plants.

Find all your garden makeover essentials at AWBS

Whether you are a gardening novice or a green fingered pro, there are numerous ways you can transform your outdoor space this Easter. From laying a new deck or patio to filling your raised beds with spring blooms and tasty veggies to combat the rising cost of food, at AWBS, we have the products to help you achieve the garden makeover of your dreams.

Browse our extensive collection of decking boards, paving slabs, decorative gravel, trellis and turfing products on our website or visit our branches to view popular products in our display areas. Plus, we offer free delivery within 25 miles of our Oxford and Swindon branches, so you won’t have to worry about getting your chosen items home by yourself.

Ready to get started on your latest garden project? Explore our latest offers online, including 5 for the price of 4 on small bags of garden edging stones, gravel and aggregates, or contact us today for expert advice.