Need to declutter your garden? Here's where to start
Clutter might be more common inside the house but when attention turns to the garden, tools, toys, troughs, plant pots and other accessories can all contribute to a messy-looking outdoor space.
'Decluttering your garden is not that much different to decluttering your home; you're simply assessing what items you have and whether or not you need them all,' Harry Bodell at PriceYourJob.co.uk tells House Beautiful UK.
Not sure where to start? Keep reading for some expert-approved tips on how to declutter your garden.
Assess your space and plan
'Take a walk around your garden and note areas that may need attention. What do you want to achieve? What are your ideas for the space? It could be anything from changing the layout to easier maintenance or changing the style altogether,' Sian Pelleschi, owner of Sorted! and President of the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers (APDO), tells us.
'Understand what you want from your space – similarly to the way we look at our inside areas, decide what this garden needs to do for you – is it a play area, for entertaining, or just for sitting and relaxing – once you know this it helps to put a plan of action together.'
Start with your shed (if you have one)
Get the biggest job out of the way by tackling your garden shed first. Sheds are classic dumping grounds for tools, bikes, toys and piles of non-essential items, but it's more than possible to organise them effectively.
First, separate items into different piles. Sort through each section and decide what can be sold, donated, kept, or taken to your local recycling centre.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show winner and gardener, Adam Woolcott, tells us: 'Identify what items really and truly give you pleasure, and which items are just there for the sake of it. Decide which items you still use and those you don't. Do you still have that trampoline at the end of the garden and your children are now at university? Do you need all of those pots and planters?'
Before you put everything back, consider hanging shelves and hooks to keep the space organised. A tidy shed offers numerous benefits, including improved safety by keeping equipment properly stored and protecting belongings from weather damage.
'Add hooks to the walls to hang tools, so they are out of the way and taking up less floor space. It may be worthwhile investing in some additional storage such as a dedicated tool store or bike shed to help keep order in your garden shed. Leave things such as cushions, watering cans and anything you regularly use closest to the door for ease of access,' adds Harry.
Clear garden debris
Rake fallen leaves, pull unwanted weeds and clear any grass clippings to ensure paths are clear. Have a wheelbarrow or garden waste bin on hand to remove debris quickly.
'Rather than leaving this to pile up, make a habit of regularly collecting and disposing of garden debris to reduce the risks of pests and diseases, whilst also improving the appearance of your garden,' says Samantha Richards, garden gazebo expert at Gazeboshop. 'You may want to consider starting a compost heap with this organic waste to create nutrient-rich compost for future use.'
Prune and trim
Pruning and cutting back will give your plants their best display and prevent them from outgrowing their space. Overgrown plants spilling onto walkways can also make a garden look cluttered.
'Sometimes this needs to be done regularly when the rain and sun are working together. While this can mean a beautiful flowering and green space, it can also mean plants and trees grow at an alarming rate so need to be taken back a bit. Always remove dead plants as it can affect the aesthetics of the garden, plus it makes additional work when leaves and foliage start to drop and disintegrate,' says Sian.
Harry adds: 'Consider thinning out your plants if your borders have become a bit overcrowded, keeping the ones you like best. For flowers like irises, dig them up, separate the rhizomes and reduce the amount you replant. Offer the excess to friends, family or neighbours.'
Tidy up your patio
Patios provide a seamless extension of the home, offering a versatile area for alfresco dining, relaxing after hours, barbecues, garden parties, and more. But when did you last tidy yours?
Consider repotting overgrown plants, sorting out unused containers, recycling old log piles from fire pits, and placing toys into a sealed storage container. Use this opportunity to assess your garden furniture. Do you need stackable garden chairs? Could your garden bench go to a new home if it's never used?
Next, clear and clean the patio. 'No one wants dirt, moss and weeds to ruin the appearance of their garden, so sweeping and cleaning your garden patio will give it that clean look,' says Samantha.
The easiest way to clean your patio? Use the oldest trick in the book: warm, soapy water. If the grime is a little tougher to remove, consider 'pressure washing to make your walkways look even fresher and more attractive'. Patio paint, such as Polar Paints' clever range, is a brilliant way to refresh tired-looking slabs for less.
Reorganise plant pots and containers
'Try grouping plant pots and containers together in strategic locations. This will create a focal point and also look visually appealing by having them grouped together,' continues Samantha. 'Doing this will also free up space in your garden and make it look more organised.'
This is even more important on a balcony when you're already limited with space. If possible, reduce the number of potted plants – start by removing any broken, damaged or unused planters or containers.
Sort through tools and equipment
Tools are best stored when they are out of the way but still accessible. 'A simple way to declutter your garden is by having a clear out of your garden tools and equipment. Sort through your tools, disposing of any that are broken,' says Samantha. 'Store your most-used tools in a shed or under a shelter, and aim to keep them neatly arranged on racks and hooks ready for when you need them. This way, you can find the tools you need more easily, without them being discarded haphazardly around your garden.'
Invest in garden storage boxes
Pick up some garden storage boxes to keep clutter at bay. 'Store smaller items such as garden gloves, seeds, and plant tags in a basket to keep everything tidy and easy to find,' says Alan Murphy, store manager, at OutdoorLiving.ie. 'If you can, invest in a large storage box. Storage boxes not only add an extra element of style to your garden, but provide crucial space for you to store soft furnishings and cushions if you don’t want them out right now, or want to protect them from harsh weather.'
Vertical gardening is also a great space-saving option to make your garden feel less cluttered. 'It will not only save ground space, but it will also add greenery to smaller areas,' Alan adds.
Maintain often — and don't be afraid to ask for help
'Regular maintenance is key to keeping on top of your garden so set aside a little bit of time each week or month for specific tasks,' advises Sian. 'Do more thorough decluttering and clean-ups at the start of each season to prepare for changing conditions.'
If you are struggling to keep on top of things, don't be afraid to ask for help. This could be from a family member or neighbour, or even by hiring a gardener.
'As with any other support service, taking on a gardener can really help keep on top of the bigger things (like pruning trees, rearranging flower beds or keeping on top of the grass) allowing you more time to be able to focus on the smaller, more manageable and maybe even more enjoyable areas and therefore spending more valuable time in the outdoors.'
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