Now that Spring has sprung and the weather is starting to warm up, I can’t wait to get started on my patio cleaning and gardening. If you’re ready to start cleaning your outdoor space, keep reading to find out how exactly I’ll be cleaning my patio up and prepping it for the warm Spring days to come!
Let’s Get Cleaning
First things first, I like to reassess the condition of my outdoor space. As we’ve had many rainy days in the past few months, I think it’s necessary to power wash my patio to give it a bit of a refresher. If you’re looking for power washer rentals in North Vancouver, click here to rent yours from Sun Belt Rentals! Depending on what your outdoor space looks like you may not need a power washer, rather you may need to start by raking up leaves and allowing your lawn to breathe. Lawn aeration breaks up compacted soil and creates pockets of air that can then be filled with compost. If you’re like me and love DIY projects, you can rent a power lawn aerator from The Home Depot.
While you’re cleaning up your lawn, make sure to also get rid of any unwanted weeds and get your lawn mower out to spruce things up a bit!
Outdoor Furniture
The next step is outdoor furniture. As we Vancouverites know, we can have one day of very warm beautiful weather, and the next could be rather cold and rainy. That’s why I’ve invested in a storage container for my patio cushions + covers so that I can enjoy patio lounging on the warmer days, then pack everything up into the container for when the rain rolls around. Take some time to set up your patio or outdoor seating (if you feel as though it’s a bit too cold for you to set up outdoor seating now, I’d suggest waiting 2-3 weeks for the weather to clear up even further). Personally, I can’t wait that long and am dying to sit on my patio, cozied up in the pillows and blankets, sipping on a cup of hot tea!
PRO TIP: Before you put your patio cushions on, give them a good wash or do a cleaning strip on your covers as they’ve most likely gathered a fair amount of dust while sitting in storage. I have white patio covers that tend to rack up lots of dust over the cooler months which is why I like to strip them before setting them up. The process involves filling your bathtub or a top-loading washer with hot water and then adding in Borax, baking soda, and a powdered detergent mixture. You can then add in your covers and let it soak for 2-3 hours. Every time I do this to my white covers they come out 2-3 shades brighter!
Gardening
Now that your outdoor space is looking cleaned up and refreshed, let’s move onto the fun part… Gardening!
There’s something soothing about planting your favourite flowers, herbs, and vegetables then watching them grow over the months. Here’s a checklist of tasks to complete BEFORE you actually begin the gardening process, I find this very helpful to get me started on the right track.
In early Spring, the temperature may seem too chilly, and the ground might be too damp for many vegetables, but as The Spruce explains, there are a handful of hardy performers that can go in the ground now. There are also fewer insects around in early Spring, so your vegetables should get off to a strong start!
Here are some vegetables that you can start planting:
- Lettuce / Kale
- Asparagus
- Peas
- Rhubarb
- Spinach
- Beets
Planting your favourite flowers
When it comes to florals on the other hand, there is quite a large variety of options to choose from. As HGTV puts it, “you can tuck all kinds of plants into your yard as spring unfolds, and watch the magic unfold as April showers bring May flowers.”
Here are some options to choose from to name a few:
- Flowering Stock
- Sweet Pea
- Gladiolus
- Summer Lilies
- Hydrangea
- Pansy
My personal favourite to start planting is Hydrangeas. Not only can they last you years, but when they bloom they are truly beautiful!
You can grab your plants, soil, and planting equipment from many spots on the North Shore such as GardenWorks, RONA, The Home Depot, & Canadian Tire to name a few.
The last step is to ensure you have nourishment for your plants. I like to use Miracle-Gro so my flowers thrive! Click here to purchase yours, just remember not to over use it (I suggest every 7-14 days).
I hope these pointers help you with your outdoor set up. Comment below with any of your suggestions when it comes to cleaning your outdoor space, or what vegetables / plants to start adding to your garden!