Gardens never look better than in the summer, and whether you’re looking to maximise your sale price or simply savour the sunshine, now is when everything bursts into flower and fragrance.

But what if you didn’t get planting back in the spring? Well, you can still get an instant fix in June and July with herbs, annuals, and even fast-growing salads. Plus a bit of styling on the side.

Even if you’re unsure where to start, these summer garden tips have all you need for a swift mid-season boost to give you and your local wildlife some green-fingered joy. So let’s dig into:

• Astonishing annuals

• Herbaceous highlights

• Watering wisdom

• Looking after the wildlife

• The outdoor living room

Whatever your garden looks like right now, you’re just a few steps away from having a wonderful outdoor space for you and yours to enjoy this summer, or to win the hearts of potential buyers.

ASTONISHING ANNUALS

Annuals offer a big bang for your buck, either from seed or ready-grown. Plant them once, deadhead them each year, and they’ll flower again and again, bringing bees, butterflies, and even scent.

• Cornflowers and marigolds can be bought ready-to-flower. Their orange and blue colours give zing to pots or beds, and are beloved by pollinators.

• Lobelia, petunias, and other hanging basket favourites can still be bought. Also stunning in a big pot, they’re instant centrepiece drama.

• Dahlias can have huge, complex blooms or small, daisy-like flowers on long, slender stems. Buy them now, pot them up, and place them wherever you need some dazzling colour.

• Pea sprouts and mixed baby leaves can be sown all the way through to autumn. Some leaves are ready to pick in as little as three weeks, making a delicious and fun farm-to-table feature.

In short, annuals are your secret weapon for instant impact. Their vibrant, continuous blooms radiate warmth and life, making them true powerhouses of the floral kind.

HERBACEOUS HIGHLIGHTS

Every outdoor space looks and smells great when you add some herbs. Magnets for wildlife, they also elevate your culinary creations, from tisanes and cocktails to seasonings and marinades!

• Buy potted herbs from a nursery or supermarket and transfer to bigger pots in the sun. Mint and basil thrive in moist, rich soil, while rosemary and thyme prefer dry, infertile conditions.

• Try adding herbs to your garden beds. Melissa with roses; basil with tomatoes or dahlias; fennel or dill with purpletop vervains. Or mix rosemary, lavender and thyme in a big planter!

• Use them up. Many, such as mint and basil, grow better when cut. Beyond cooking, you can make tea blends or syrups like the classic combo of rosemary, mint, lavender, and melissa.

Herbs really are a multisensory experience. Brushing past fragrant leaves, catching a waft of an inviting scent, or watching the dance of fluttering visitors… all in your personal, aromatic haven.

WATERING WISDOM

The way you water your garden can be the difference between lush and vibrant growth, and a sea of dead plants, either shrivelled from drought, or drenched to their doom. Here’s how to get it right.

• Timing matters, so water early or late in the day. After work in the evening is prime time for plants, giving them hours to drink before sunlight arrives again.

• Reduce waste and bills by watering every second or third day in dry, hot weather, and always at soil level to prevent overly damp leaves, which can turn into fungal infections.

• Some plants are big drinkers, while others need very little water, so always read their labels. To keep the water in and the soil cool, lay mulch (such as wood chips or bark) on the surface.

On top of healthy plants, watering offers a quiet ritual and moment of calm in your day, allowing you to appreciate the burgeoning life and beauty in your private summer sanctuary.

LOOKING AFTER THE WILDLIFE

From birds, bees, and butterflies to frogs, toads, and hedgehogs, the local wildlife needs to hydrate, and even a small garden can have a simple and much-needed water station. All you need to do is:

• Take a large pot, bucket or sink, block any holes with silicon, and place in a semi-shaded spot. Too much sun causes algae, while too little obstructs growth.

• Use bricks or rocks as platforms to make your mini pond accessible from the inside and outside, then pour in water and leave for a few days to let any chlorine evaporate.

• Add a small solar-powered fountain and a few plants, such as papyrus or water ranunculus, to oxygenate the water. Then, sit back and wait for visitors!

Now think of the payback! A ballet of buzzing and fluttering friends, frogs and toads eating slugs and snails, birds lunching on greenfly, and soothing sounds to unwind to after a long day’s work.

THE OUTDOOR LIVING ROOM

After harnessing nature to bring life to your garden, the finishing touch is to add a few creature comforts. Not just for your personal pleasure, but also to maximise the value to potential buyers.

• Define your seating area with an outdoor rug. Available in countless designs and sizes, they instantly create the feeling of an outdoor room and invite guests and visitors to settle in.

• Pile on layers of luxury with cushions, throws and table coverings – either picking up the design from inside your home, or creating a complete change of mood.

• Introduce all-day UV protection with an elegant sail shade, parasol, or pergola to soften the sun’s rays and create a comfortably cooler spot for extended enjoyment.

Soft furnishings really do transform a garden into a true outdoor living room, perfect for memorable moments with friends, and significantly enhanced viewings as your home naturally flows outside.

Looking for tailored summer garden tips?

If you’re planning to sell, why not explore whether any little jobs could make your presentation pop, add thousands to your sale price, and speed up your sale.

We’d love to share our expertise on what buyers want from a property, so send us a DM to give your move a real advantage.