Garden Spring Clean-Up is Due: Suddenly spring is here and now is the perfect time to give your garden a nice clean up. The Growing Rooms Team has picked some key jobs for you to consider for a high impact spring garden.

1. Clean and oil timber decks
   Remove moss and mold with a stiff broom and a hose. To make the job easier, there are plenty of non-toxic mold removers now available that can be sprayed onto paving and decks, or you can make your own:

DIY: Prepare the wood deck treatment solution by mixing 3 quarts of water, 1 quart of oxygen bleach, and 1/4 cup of ammonia-free liquid dishwasher detergent. If you don’t have bleach, you can substitute vinegar. Vinegar acts like the bleach without the chemical composition.

Spray or pour the chemicals on the mildew infected areas. Allow the solution to sit for about 15 minutes. Thoroughly rinse all the residue off the deck once the chemicals have finished working their magic. If you still see any mildew present, repeat until you get results.
Treat the deck with an oil-based sealer, which will help keep your wooden deck in good shape for a long period of time.

2. Clean outdoor furniture
   Whether your outdoor furniture is made of wood or metal, it needs regular attention to avoid stains or rust. Remove mold and stains from wood using the selfmade treatment solution from above or a stiff wire brush to get rid of rust and loose paint on metal furniture. Don’t forget to oil or repaint your furniture for this nice refreshed look.

3. Get rid of weed
   The warm spring weather encourages weeds to germinate, so remove them while they’re small. It’s much, much harder to get rid of weeds if you let them mature, particularly if you wait until they flower and spread their seed around the garden. Mulching around young plants will not only help keep weeds and pests away but also retain moisture in the soil.

4. Clean up the water features
   Remove leaves and algae from ponds and refill with fresh water.
   Overgrown aquatic and marginal plants need to be divided and repotted every year or two just like other containerised plants. Lift baskets out and carefully remove plants before cutting clumps into smaller segments.
5. Trim and shape
   Trimming will help keep trees and shrubs nice and compact. Prune deciduous trees if they have outgrown their position, or if limbs are diseased and damaged. To create a pleasing shape when you are reducing the size of your trees, cut out just those branches that are too tall or wide.

6. Clean the BBQ
   Give your BBQ a good clean and making sure everything is in working order. If it’s looking a little worse for wear, it might be time to update – the latest ranges offer many options such as warming racks, wok burners and viewing windows. We’ve put together more tips on “How to clean your BBQ” in this article.

7. Don’t forget about the front garden
   Your front garden gives visitors their first impression of your house. Don’t forget to get rid of mold and moss here as well. Nice looking pots, planted or left empty, will add impact to the front porch.

8. Refresh built elements
   It’s amazing how a new coat of paint or stain gives new life to existing structures in the garden. Repainting or staining tired looking fences, walls, sheds and pergolas will give your whole garden an instant pick-me-up. Always clean surfaces thoroughly before re-staining or repainting, regardless of whether they are new or existing.

9. Shop new furniture and accessories
   If cleaning and repainting your furniture is no option have a look for the newest trends for your outdoor entertaining area. Stylish furniture with weather-resistant fabrics and decorative elements will bring personality to the space, simply follow a style with similar materials or colours for continuity as you would inside the home. Area rugs, solar lamps, trays and other eclectic pieces will add the extra bit of coziness you are looking for in your garden.