The April sun has finally arrived. Summer is just around the corner, and May is the month where your garden gradually comes to life again. The soil will be warming up and ready for planting whilst the lawn should be growing well as the days get longer and lighter.

May is the month of preparation! Follow these ideas for to ensure you and your garden are ready for the summer ahead.

Pond Plants

The arrival of warmer, sunny weather in mid spring is a great time to plant some aquatic plants in your pond. Choose an interesting and varied assortment to suit the range of visitors the pond is likely to have over the summer months, and be sure to include some oxygenating plants to prevent algae developing. Plant some water lilies and watch the gorgeous floral display develop over the summer months.

Plant Summer-Flowering Bulbs

Spoil your garden beds and borders with some summer flowering bulbs such as gladioli, which are simple to grow and will result in a stunning colour display across the garden. A great tip is to break down any large lumps of soil when planting, and plant bulbs two to three times their depth and around two bulbs widths apart.

Prune Shrubs and Trees

Get all your pruning of shrubs, trees and hedges done before the birds begin to nest. Grab your secateurs and get snipping! Get rid of foliage from any overgrown evergreen shrubs from the base and prune all your summer-flowering shrubs. Be sure to cut off any dead or damaged wood and greenery, which will help encourage new healthy growth.

Bring Out Your Geraniums

Towards late-April, re-pot any geraniums you may have brought inside over winter. Re-pot them into fresh and healthy soil, adding some organic compost and cut back the dead stem tips before thoroughly watering the plants. Place the plants in a bright and sunny window to encourage new growth and gradually begin regular feeding.
Prepare Hanging Baskets

At the end of the month, begin to prepare and plant hanging baskets with your favourite summer annuals. Fill the basket with half good quality soil and half compost, adding an assortment of plants and foliage of your choosing. Remember most hanging basket plants are tender so shouldn’t go outside until frosts are unlikely – then water daily.

There are enough tasks there to keep you busy until June arrives! Then, for all the preparation, the rewards will begin to be reaped!

Happy Gardening!

Are you looking for additional space in your home but do not want to go through adding an extension? Transforming your shed or garage is an excellent and affordable way to create space AND add value to your home. Although remodelling this space still requires significant renovation, a main benefit of this idea is the structure is already there. You are just not utilising it yet!

Whether a detached or attached garage, chances are the excavation, framing and foundation of the structure are already in place. The main concerns will be making the space safe and comfortable to be in. Whether it be a second lounge, a study, an extra bedroom, a children’s den,  a gym or studio, the following technicalities should be looked into ;

The Garage: Perfect place for a pool tournament

•    Waterproofing the structure: Ensuring no form of precipitation will leak through the roof or walls.

•    Insulating the roof: Chances are the garage roof is un-insulated, making the room significantly colder.

•    Laying a new floor: Garage floors tend to be of concrete. Wood laminate or carpet would be suitable replacements.

•    Electricity: Ensure appropriate wiring is in place and safely installed.

•    Ventilation: New windows may need to be installed, which will also create new light opportunities.

•    Cleaning and fumigating the garage: Ensuring the space is free of any pests.

•    Heating and Cooling requirements: Temperature control would be suitable for cold winter nights and hot summer afternoons.

There is the somewhat hazy area of planning permission to delve into, depending on the size of your garage. Generally, if you haven’t already used up your ‘permitted development rights’ on other extensions, and you won’t be adjusting the appearance of your home from the street, you should be good to go.

So chuck out the tins of old paint, donate any old toys and unused fitness equipment, and dispose of the piles of pointless clutter. Reclaim your garage space this Spring!

Ensuring you are properly suited and booted for working outside may seem like an obvious and straightforward exercise, but (and at the risk of sounding like your Mother) taking extra care when choosing your outdoor work attire is still rather important.

Spring is on its way, and whilst trying to keep warm whilst working outside will HOPEFULLY soon be a thing of the past, we are not quite there yet, and it is a wise move to ensure you are dressed to suit the weather when working outside.

A good start would be acquiring some thermals. Thermal underwear fights moisture away from your skin. Thermal vests, socks, and dare I say long johns may not be up there with the most fashionable choices you will ever make, but they will provide an extra layer of skin. This allows the warm air from the insulating layers to reach your skin which ensures a lower risk of catching hypothermia.

For when it is raining, a waterproof jacket is also beneficial for the above reason, in addition to providing a degree of comfort when working against this potentially soaking form of precipitation. Waterproof jackets have a laminate construction which consists of an outer covering bonded to a water proof defence. Good waterproof jackets also add to the warmth factor too.

Cup of warm tea optional

Gloves are also important when working out in the cold. The best route is perhaps the fingerless option, which will provide warmth without compromising your movement or grip.
Staying warm isn’t all you have to consider however, when preparing for the great outdoors.

The trusty hard hat is an important piece of safety attire which is legally required on construction sites across the country.  It will protect you from the hazard of falling material and softens any impact to the head. Considering you see, hear, smell, taste and think with your head, it is an important part of your body to protect.

Lastly, be sure to be wearing the correct footwear when doing your DIY outside. Boots with steel toe caps offer the most protection. As well as being waterproof, they offer security when working outside from objects falling and crushing your toes. They are also hard-wearing which is not only good for the longevity of the boots, but great value too.

By considering the above pointers, you will ensure you have a safe, warm, and productive time when working outside.

When working throughout the winter months, it can be difficult to drum up enough enthusiasm to get things done. Despite this, there are plenty of things that can be done to ensure your home and garden is kept in top condition through into spring.

A garden can become unruly if left without care over winter

Servicing your gardening equipment is essential. As the frenzy of spring approaches, it is always worth ensuring that your equipment is well maintained and oiled to prevent any rust up. Plan a schedule for your spring DIY tasks, so you will have a priority on which machinery to repair and clean first. That way you wont lag behind with your tasks when the weather picks up.

This also includes things like forks, spades and shovels which should be adequately cleans and sharpened (where necessary). As mentioned in a previous blog post, oiling your tools before they are tucked away for winter is a great way to prevent some rust taking hold.

Repair any fencing while you have the chance - In winter, any climbing plants that may be found in your garden will be much less agressive, meaning that any fencework that may need repairs can be done so without fuss.

A few other tasks include:

- Wrapping your pipes if you are prone to freezing temperatures. This can help prevent any bursts and damage in extreme weather. Use molded pipe sleeve where possible to keep the frost out!

- Be sure to rake your lawn (if you have one) which can help slow the growth of moss in the soil.

- If you have a garden pond, be sure to clear out any debris and grime where possible. You can keep the pond oxygenated during freeze overs by regularly breaking the ice on the pond.

By completing just a couple of small tasks like these can make your spring gardening tasks just that little easier!

Keeping your self warm in winter is not always the easiest task, but there are a few things that can be done to help you during the colder winter months. Some conventional and some a little strange, but all will add an extra feeling of comfort to your home.

Door excluders are great for preserving the warmth in your home. Tartan dog style not needed!

Why not consider a simple draft excluder? - Ok, well maybe not a dachsund draft excluder, but you get the idea.

These will keep some of the cold air out and plenty of warm air in your home which can boost the overall temperature of your living space. Just place one behind your front door, or any other drafty area - like a conservatory door for example.

Clingfilm your windows - For single glazed homes, this can keep additional warmth in the room which is lost through less energy efficient single glazed panels. By stretching cling film over a window, you are able to add an extra layer of air to the window, which has an insulating effect.

Although this may look a little scruffy, if done correctly, you can hardly notice that anything has been put on the windows at all.

Hire a heater - HSS.com have a large range of electric heaters for hire, which can quickly add a great deal of warmth to any room. Simply find a nearby power socket, plug in and you are ready to go.

Do make sure you adhere to all of the correct safety instructions included as electric heaters can be dangerous if left unattended for extended periods of time. Also avoid covering the heater with clothes etc as this can pose as a major fire hazard.

No matter how small a heat saving exercise turns out to be, the cumulative effects can be fantastic. When the nights are getting colder, its always good to know you are going to be warm when at home.

This is a post to reach out to all those incredible gardening bloggers out there ! Home DIY Tips is looking to connect with gardening bloggers around the world, for guest posts and general networking!

Please email me at homediytips [@] gmail.com or comment here to get in touch - we would love to hear from you!

It’s getting cold around these parts right now, so it’s time to start thinking about protecting your trees and perennials from the potentially damaging cost and frosty conditions. Problems can include cracking, decay and root problems which could cause the tree to die if not prepared for correctly. By following a few of these easy tips, your favourite trees will ride out winter and enter spring without a hitch.

Don’t leave it too late to fertilise and prune your tree adequately - The tree will need all of the energy it can to survive winter, so by pruning of any dead branches and topping up its nutrient supply, you give it a fighting chance during colder times. You don’t want to do any extreme pruning, but anything dead is good to go. Make sure you trim these off carefully to prevent any further damage to the still living parts of the tree.

Try and prevent your tree from getting too icy

Also try and find yourself a good tree fertiliser, which can be found in your local garden store. This will help keep the tree topped up with the compounds it needs for growth and repair.

Give your tree some winter clothing - In some regions of the country, you will see trees wrapped with insulation to protecting them from the snow and frost. This is a great idea if you suffer from extreme temperatures during the winter. Natural burlap or commercial tree wrap is great here, and can be found from your garden centre. The additional protection gives the tree a better chance to fight off frost damage throughout winter. The wrapping will also prevent certain critters, including birds, squirrels and insects burying into the tree for protection from the cold.

Although most of the time it is not necessary to protect your trees, large scale damage to plant life can be costly, so a low level of preventative action will help save your favourite garden features from taking damage during the winter months

Having been on a DIY hiatus as of late, i thought i would think get stuck into another passion of mine - interior design and collectables. You might have read other posts of mine, inlcluding making your own compost heap amongst other various gardening tips, so it makes a nice change to move inside for this post.

Interior design is a skill that, unfortunately many of us never dedicate much time to over the course of our lives, we often go buy the trends and traditions of others and mould our homes accordingly. With a little work on your behalf, styling your living spaces can be a rewarding and exciting activity.

Whilst the kitchen and garden both need continual work and maintenance to keep them looking great - i find the living room and bedroom are of most importance in my home. This is where my family spend alot of their time, so i strive to make this area comfortable and inviting! Because of this i try to focus my interior design skills here, with furniture, paintings, flooring and ornaments all playing their own role in making these spaces complete.

Collectables, like cars, figurines and mementos are great for adding a personal touch to your home. Don't go overboard though!

I am a fan of classic wooden furniture in the bedroom, to add a comforting, warm feel. My wardrobe and cabinets all are made by my own hands, so that gives me a great deal of satisfaction. I also like to keep a bright and airy feel, which includes incorporating a range of pictures and photo frames around my furniture. If you feel comfortable in your surrounding i find you will sleep much much better.

Whilst my parents like to decorate their living room with Compton and Woodhouse figurines, artwork and various flower arrangements, my styling has to accomodate my children, who are prone to breaking such fragile things!  I have decided to go for my very own collectables, such as my neutral, matching furniture as it compliments the ‘cosyness’ factor this room tries to instill.

Whilst im no Llawrence Llewlyn Bowen, i do feel that good home DIY projects are almost useless if the interior of your home doesnt truely relfect your tastes and ideas. Perhaps this weekend, concentrate on the inside your home before you think of the outside.

Autumn leaves can be used to keep your perennials from dying off during the colder months

As the autumn approaches, we can make use of the soon-to-be-falling leaves by using them as great compost to protect our perennial plants. When leaves are gathered up and added to the flower bed, the breakdown of the leaf structure releases nutrients and minerals into the soil which will help your flowers survive the colder months.

By creating a small blanket over the top of your flower beds, you are also adding a layer of warmth to the soil bed, which will help protect the fragile plant roots and prevent any damage.

You can prepare by deheading your flowers and removing any annuals that remain in the flower bed. This should be done before adding any of the dead leaves. One the bed is prepared, evenly spread your autumnul leaves are the required area, if possible before the first frost hits your garden.

The leaf coverage should be around 3 to 4 inches, covering all of your perennials and protecting them during the colder months. This is also a good way to clear your yard or driveway, recycling any waste leaves in the process!

Clearing your garden can be a real pain, but without proper maintenance your verges and lawns can become overgrown with weeds and pesky grasses. Ideally, you should get your hands on a regular garden strimmer or brush cutter, which should make light work of any pesky weeds. These can be used in conjunction with your lawn mower to keep your property in good condition throughout the year.

Most brush cutters are hand held, which makes them great for neatening up grassy verges.

Check your equipment before starting work, checking your petrol levels, safety equipment and straps and are in good order before starting - you dont want any mishaps whilst the machine is in full swing.

Also ensure you are wearing suitable clothing, such as well fitting work overalls or strong trousers, to reduce the chances of being cut by the cutting blades. For correct safety, always wear ear defenders and goggles to protect your eyes from flying debris whilst using the brush cutter.

Before lowering the brush cutter to the required area, first check for any glass, rocks or potential debris which may break the cutter while in use. Work gradually, walking slowly along the verge until all of the overgrown area has been trimmed back to the required height.

Be sure to keep on top of trimming your verges, as these can often become saturated with weeds and nuisance plants, which will only make your gardening work more difficult throughout the year.