I’m not joking to say I’m thrilled to be bringing this post to you today.

Why?

Because if you’re anything like me, you will love gorgeous gardens but have no real idea of where to start with one.

When we moved into our home about two years, our garden was a jungle. Truly a jungle. A jungle which hadn’t received much love for many a year.

Thankfully, with a little help from family, we managed to cut out way through and reveal it’s beauty again (you can tell that previous owners past took great pride in it as the flowers, shrubs and trees we have inherited are phenomenal), however make no mistake, there is still heaps to do. Heaps!

Which is why I’ve decided to run a new garden series this summer, kicking off with this post!

Over the next couple of months, I’m going to show you how we’re doing our best to transform our garden, not just into a half decent space, but into an outdoor place worth celebrating, worth playing and worth al fresco dining in. I have big dreams people! ;-)

It’s not going to be easy and I’ll be ‘real’ with you, I’m also kind of dreading it. It’s going to take quite some work, but hey, it will be worth it in the long run right?!

Anyway, for those of you whose fingers aren’t so green (like mine), here are some top tips on how to get started with gardening, brought to you, from the clever people at Tesco.

Mental notepads at the ready? Ok here we go…

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There are a few simple things you can do this summer to ensure that your garden looks fabulous.

While you might have to get your hands dirty now, it will all be worth it in the end when you can barbecue out there without blushing!

If you haven’t done any gardening before, don’t worry, these pointers should help you get started:

Prepare the Ground

Whether you’re planting vegetables, herbs or flowers, pick a sunny spot in your garden and clear the ground of sod, weeds and any other rubbish you can see.

Improve the quality of the soil with organic compost before digging it over with a fork. It’s good to give it a week or two between each of these stages to achieve the best results.

Plan your Planting

If you’re starting a garden from scratch you’ll need to decide whether to plant from seed or use nursery plants.

Going along to your local garden centre or ​Tesco to buy seeds and plants can make for a fun day out, although you might end up coming back with more than you bargained for!

Lawn Love

An easy way to do keep your garden in check is to keep your lawn nice and tidy. Lawns need plenty of sun, moisture and drainage.

Care for your lawn – don’t scalp it! The optimum length for a lawn, according to gardening svengali Monty Don, is around the inch mark.

Buy Organic

Bring life to your beds with plenty of organic matter. Organic fertilisers, compost and mulch will enhance the nutrient levels in your soil and encourage worms and friendly microbes.

Use these products liberally and treat your garden worms with love and respect – they’re helping your petunias flourish!

Prune

Whether you have an eight foot hedge to tackle or an ornamental window-box, it’s essential to do some pruning. Use hand held clippers or larger electric shears depending on the size of the job. Remove withering flowers as often as you can as this will increase the flowering season in your garden.

Follow these basic gardening tips and turn your back yard into a colourful playground for you and your family. You don’t need to be an expert to give it a welcome boost!

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Hope your found these top tips as useful as I have!  Good luck novice gardeners. Now go and get ‘your prune’ on! ;-)

With love,

Kate

Disclaimer – this is a collaborative post.