Now that summer is here, with more hours of daylight (and hopefully more sunshine!), we naturally want to enjoy as much time outside as possible.
One of the most relaxing places to be when the weather is good is in your own garden – it’s convenient, free and private. So, no matter how little outside space you have with your rented home, here are some ideas for making the most of it this summer.
Bring the outdoors indoors
The first thing to do is throw open the windows and doors. Fresh air is healthy and a mood booster, so get as much air and light into your home as possible.
Also, having some potted plants just inside the door or on the window sill as well as outside, will slightly blur the lines between the indoors and outdoors and help make any room feel bigger and brighter.
Get a fold-up chair and table
If you don’t have space for permanent garden furniture, is there room to put some out now and then? You can find very reasonably priced (or even free with local sites, such as Freegle or Freecycle) fold-up recliner chairs and small flip-top bistro tables that can be tucked against the wall on a terrace or balcony when you’re not using them. And it’s worth paying a little bit more for decent quality pieces that will last several years. You don’t want them collapsing on you (!) - and remember that you’ll be able to take them with you when you move.
Grow fresh herbs and vegetables
It’s hugely satisfying to grow your own food, and there are loads of vegetables that work well in pots and don’t need much tending to, including lettuce, potatoes and courgettes. Herb-wise, rosemary is very hardy and also produces pretty blue flowers, and mint, sage and thyme are also fairly easy to grow.
If you can get hold of some bricks or boxes, you can create a lovely rockery effect by bunching pots together and positioning them at different heights. And why not ask your landlord if you could put up a trellis or hanging baskets?
Barbeque and picnic
Take advantage of the good weather to eat ‘al fresco’. However small your outside area is, if there’s enough space to room to put down a rug and some weather-resistant cushions you can have fun picnicking. And these days you can find great little gas barbeques that won’t break the bank, are easy to clean and fold away for storage inside.
Feed the birds…and bees
When the weather gets hot and dry, you can really help the birds by putting out a bird bath, whether that’s a free-standing version or one that can be hung on a fence or railing. You can also do your bit for the bees, by planting wildflower ‘bee bombs’ or having pots of hardy lavender - especially purple and blue flowering varieties, as bees see these colours more clearly than reds and yellows.
Invest in some outside lighting
There are so many options for illuminating your garden, terrace or balcony, from strings of fairy lights or bulbs to lanterns. And if you go for solar-powered versions, you don’t need to worry about switching them on and off or paying for electricity!
Whatever you choose to do to make the most of your outside space, just remember to check with your landlord or managing agent before fixing anything to walls or railings, or digging up the garden.
