Houses In The South East Have Biggest Gardens On Average

 

With the South East boasting the largest average garden size in the UK, local estate agent Quealy & Co in Sittingbourne take a look at how you can get your garden summer ready as the weather warms up!

Gardens are integral to British life and are found in 97% of houses in Great Britain. Garden size holds increasing importance, with many homeowners opting for garden offices as a way of expanding their living space to create dedicated ‘work from home’ areas.

Regional disparities in garden sizes are evident, with the South East boasting the largest average size at 422m², while London has the smallest at 201m².

Recent research highlights a substantial 39% price difference per square foot between homes with the largest and smallest gardens. This emphasises the value and desirability of generous outdoor spaces in today's market.

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How to make your garden summer ready

Whether you are a green fingered fanatic and can’t wait to pull on your gardening gloves and get stuck in, or if you consider the maintenance of your outside space as just another household task that you need to tick off a list, you can’t deny that the imminent arrival of summer is the perfect time to update and refresh your garden.

From the planting of late spring bulbs to sprucing up your winter-weathered garden furniture, keep reading to find out how you can make your garden summer ready in six simple steps.

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1.   Get underway with weeding

Possibly the most boring and time consuming of all the garden maintenance tasks is weeding, but unfortunately it is a crucial step in getting your garden summer ready.

Start by removing any weeds that have accumulated in your flower-beds and then look to remove any dead plants from around your garden.

You can also tidy up your borders using a strimmer or an edging tool.

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2.   Tend to your lawn

After a long winter without a trim, your lawn is no doubt in need of a good mowing. It is always best to mow your lawn when it is dry, and you should also leave the grass clippings where they fall as this will provide the soil with moisture and nutrients, resulting in a healthier lawn.

Now is also the ideal time to aerate your lawn. This can be done either by hand with a fork, or with an aerating machine.

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3.   Fix up your fence

Fences can take quite a battering over the winter months and nothing can make your garden look as neglected and uncared for as a faded wooden fence. Therefore, it is vitally important that you repaint and treat your fence to ensure it looks its best once the sun starts shining again.

If you have painted your fence previously, you should first strip off this colour before you start the re-painting and treating process.

The colour of your fence is completely dependent on your personal preference although it should be noted that darker stains can make your garden appear smaller. If in doubt, try and choose a shade that will complement the plants and flowers in your garden, as well as any garden furniture that you may have.

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4.   Set up a scrubbing station

Depending on the items you have in your garden, you may have a fair amount of cleaning on your hands. From a rusty BBQ, to grubby outdoor seating, to debris littered decking; essential cleaning will definitely be on your list of tasks for ensuring your garden is summer ready.

To remove rust from your BBQ, simply mix one cup of baking soda with a little bit of vinegar, apply to the affected area, leave for half an hour and then scrub away with soapy water and a sponge.

Outdoor tables and chairs can also be revived with just a bucket of warm soapy water and a bit of elbow grease.

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5.   Sow your seeds

Whether you favour flowers or prefer growing a selection of edible plants, now is the perfect time to start deciding what you want to grow and where. Once you have established your preferred plants, you should start ordering your summer flowering bulbs and seeds.

Now is also a good time to hunt down and eliminate any hibernating garden pests that may attack and destroy your precious plants and produce once they awake from their slumber.

You can either use a shop bought pesticide, or you can make your own soap spray that will effectively eliminate any pests. Simply mix one tablespoon of dishwashing soap with one gallon of water and spray directly onto the insects.

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6.   Install a water butt

Keeping your garden looking fresh and vibrant requires a lot of watering, especially over the warm summer months. Using water from your tap can send your utility bills spiralling if you have a water meter fitted, so instead, install your own water butt.

There are a wide variety of sizes and styles to choose from including slimline options if you do not have much space and second-hand butts available on eBay if you are keen to save money and do your bit for the environment.

Other water saving tips for your garden include:

• Using a watering can instead of a hose pipe
• Watering your plants when the temperature is at its coolest, either first thing in the morning or later in the evening
• Not overwatering your plants
• Not worrying if your lawn becomes scorched, it will recover quickly once the rain returns

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Quealy & Co are here to help

Whether you are thinking of selling your home in the Sittingbourne area, or would just like to improve your property, ask us for our opinion as we are more than happy to share our advice and expertise on how to add value.

Quealy & Co Estate Agents are your local property experts for the Sittingbourne area. Call us on 01795 429836 or email hello@quealy.co.uk to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team.  

Source: Dataloft, ONS, Ordnance Survey (2020), Savills (2023)