Seasonal colour: Is your garden sale ready?
The summer may be coming to a close, but your garden still has plenty of life left in it. In this article, we explore how to prepare your garden for the months ahead to make sure it is sale ready.
There’s something truly special about a British garden in the summer. The borders are brimming with colour, the air is alive with bees and butterflies, and the evenings are perfect for al fresco dining. But as summer reaches its peak, now is the ideal time to prepare your garden for the months ahead-whether you’re planning to enjoy it yourself or hoping to maximise its appeal when selling your home.
Essential August maintenance
August is a month of gentle transition in the garden. To keep everything looking its best, regular maintenance is key:
- Deadheading and pruning: Keep summer bedding and perennials blooming into early autumn by deadheading spent flowers daily or weekly. Prune wisteria and other climbers to maintain shape and encourage healthy growth.
- Weeding and lawn care: Hand-weed borders before weeds can establish, and mow the lawn regularly, raising the cutting height during dry spells to prevent stress. Remove weeds from cracks in paving and driveways for a tidy finish.
- Watering wisely: Deep watering is crucial during dry spells, especially for containers, bedding plants, and newly planted shrubs. Water early in the morning or late in the evening to minimise evaporation and ensure moisture reaches the roots.
- Feeding: Feed containers and border perennials with a liquid tomato food weekly to encourage blooms. Azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias will also benefit from an ericaceous feed as they set buds for next year.
- Hedge and shrub care: Give hedges a trim at the end of the month to keep them neat into autumn, and cut back lavenders after flowering for a compact shape.
Looking ahead: Autumn and beyond
August is the perfect time to sow hardy annuals such as marigolds, cornflowers, or poppies, which will overwinter and provide a burst of colour next summer. It’s also the moment to start thinking about spring bulbs-crocus, daffodils, and alliums can be planted now for a spectacular display come spring.
If you grow your own, harvest potatoes and sow winter salads like lettuce, rocket, and spinach for an extended cropping season. Turning your compost heap now will speed up decomposition, providing rich mulch for autumn planting.
Maximising your garden’s appeal for sale
A well-tended garden is a major selling point for any home. Here’s how to make yours irresistible to buyers:
- First impressions: Neat lawns, trimmed hedges, and weed-free paths create an immediate sense of care and order.
- Seasonal colour: Plant late-flowering perennials such as rudbeckia or echinacea to keep borders vibrant into autumn, and consider adding pots of colourful annuals near entrances for instant kerb appeal.
- Tidy and declutter: Remove any tired or overgrown plants, tidy away tools and toys, and keep patios and decking clean. A simple seating area can help buyers imagine themselves relaxing outdoors.
- Wildlife-friendly touches: Bird feeders, bee-friendly flowers, and a small pond or water feature add charm and show your garden is a haven for nature.
By investing a little time in August, you’ll ensure your garden remains a sanctuary through autumn and beyond-and if you’re selling, you’ll be giving potential buyers every reason to fall in love at first sight. Happy gardening from all of us at By Design!
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