Top tips to get your outdoor space summer-ready

Follow our hanging basket guide to ensure your garden or balcony looks blooming lovely this summer!

Add a splash of colour

Hanging baskets bursting with colour are a great way to brighten up even the smallest of balconies or terraces. And the best news is you don’t need to be an experienced gardener to create your own as Duncan Reade from Mayfield Nurseries in Southampton explains:

“Hanging baskets are easy to create and perfect if you have a small outdoor space. As well as beautiful flowers and plants you can also grow herbs, tomatoes and salad leaves and they also help to attract wildlife such as bees and birds to your balcony.”

Follow our easy step-by-step guide to create a hanging basket:

1. Once you’ve chosen your basket, line it with moss and then a sheet of plastic (you can use an old compost bag or a rubbish liner)
2. Make a reservoir at the bottom of your liner using a small circle of plastic to hold just enough water to keep the compost moist
3. Cut holes into the liner at varying heights and add multipurpose compost to the level of the cut holes
4. Wrap newspaper around the root balls of your chosen plants and push them through the holes into the basket. Use short or trailing plants around the edge and pop taller plants in the centre. Fill in around the plants with compost so the final compost level is just slightly below the rim of the basket

Water the basket thoroughly before hanging it up, and make sure you water, feed and cut off dead flowers regularly so it lasts throughout the summer. If you are proud of your creation, please send us photos of your hanging basket which will hopefully inspire other Tenants’ Link readers to have a go!

Clean up

Your walls might be blooming with colourful hanging planters but it’s also important to give your patio or terrace a thorough clean and tidy up to get it summer-ready. Give the floor a scrub and clear away any clutter. This will help the space feel bigger and is an important fire safety measure. If you live in a flat, remember that barbecues are not allowed on balconies as they pose a fire risk.

Got the gardening bug?

If you are keen to plant more than a hanging basket, why not join your local gardening club? Many of our blocks and council neighbourhoods have established community gardening clubs where neighbours get together to tend to communal garden areas. You do not need any gardening experience or equipment to join in. The clubs are a great way to meet others in your local community and keep fit and active in the fresh air.

To find out about your local gardening club simply contact our Tenant Engagement Team.