Organise to make the most of your outdoor space this spring!
Spring means snowdrops, daffodils and birds singing. The sun gets up earlier, it goes to bed later, the air seems fresher. If you have an outdoor space - whether it's a garden, balcony, patio or a few steps - it suddenly seems more inviting. Invest a little time this spring to make the most of it. Moira Stone, owner of Uncluttered in Wales, APDO member and keen gardener, takes us through what we need to be organising to prepare our outdoor spaces for springtime. You'll probably need to get something out of your garden shed or garage. Is it difficult to find things because it's so cluttered? Don't despair. Focus on the task in hand, that's organising your outdoor space for spring, and make a note to come back to sorting out the garage or shed later.Declutter and tidy up a bit
- Pick up any litter that's blown into your space.
- Remove fallen leaves and sticks from the pots, borders and lawn.
- Clear away any other plant debris left over from summer and autumn and put it on the compost bin.
- Weed a little - those pesky dandelions seed everywhere and soon get a grip.
- Cut back the ornamental grasses that die down in winter.
I'd like to make a special plea for the garden pond and other water features. Give them a little TLC by clearing out the debris. Leave it on the side for 24 hours so any pond life captured can make its way back into the water - it helps the pond in so many ways. Then put the rest on the compost heap. Your water features will thank you for it!
Spring clean
There are days when it's quite warm enough to sit outside with a cup of coffee and admire the great outdoors. That's so much nicer when you're sitting on clean garden furniture in an organised space. Firstly, wipe away the green algae that has flourished on wood and glass in the generally mild and damp winter. Next, bring the furniture out into direct sunlight and give the covers a good shake. Clean by wiping the furniture gently with a soft cloth and very dilute washing-up liquid. Gently scrub any dirt away with a small brush or old toothbrush. Leave the furniture to dry thoroughly. Finally, brush up along steps, paths, patios and other hard surfaces to make them look neat.
Organise and display
Abundance is a sure-fire way to make an impact in an outdoor space. Do this by putting like with like, something that professional organisers love to do. Several pots of daffodils or crocus or tulips clustered together, for example, make a much bigger statement than when they are on their own.Enjoy your outdoor space!
If you are lucky enough to have an outdoor space of whatever size or shape, enjoy it! If it's got a little out of hand, then an APDO professional organiser, especially one interested in gardening, would be happy to help.
You can read Moira's previous garden organising post for APDO here.