After what seems like a very long and dark winter, we are more eager than ever to get back into our gardens and enjoy the fresh air and sunlight. Konservatory knows the heartache for those renting, wanting to give their gardens a facelift but may be restricted by what landlords agree with. They bring you the top gardening trends that even tenants with the strictest landlord can get on board with.

We don’t know if we’ll be able to host guests in our gardens this summer, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get it looking great while also providing a much-needed outside hobby, that doesn’t impede on any government guidelines.

1. Basic Gardening

This may seem obvious to some, but you’d be surprised just how many people don’t tend to their garden at all. Even a patioed garden needs maintenance and looking after, weeds often grow through cracks and garden slabs can become filthy over the year so don’t forget to pull those weeds and consider hirings a pressure washing before the warm weather sets in. You’ll be amazed how much of a difference this makes and will only take an afternoon.

For those with more foliage in their garden, this time of year is a great time to start prepping the garden. Basic weeding is always a must, pulling weeds now while they are small will be easier and quicker than waiting until the warmer months and having to tackle giant ones.

Empty flower beds deserve some love, but we know that no renter wants to pour lots of money and effort into these with the thought they may be moving onto somewhere new within a year or two.

Choosing easy to grow flowers is a great option, they add colour to the garden with minimal effort and the best part, they’re some of the cheapest flora on the market. Sunflowers, coneflowers, marigolds and pansies are just some of the inexpensive and easy flowers that renters should look out for next time they’re in the garden centre.

2. Sustainable Gardening

The sustainability movement is big and we all hope it’s here to stay. There are many ways renters can use their garden to be sustainable.

Firstly, you can cater your plant choices for drought-tolerant plants, such as succulents, tulips and lilacs. This saves water throughout the year and also has the added bonus of being able to survive, even if you forget to water them.

Another great way to be sustainable is by creating your own garden compost. Waste food doesn’t have to go in the bin and composting isn’t just good for the environment, but it makes a free alternative to having to buy compost for your outdoor and indoor plants.

Compost bins are easy to install and remove so you can take them with you at the end of your tenancy.

Lastly, a brilliant way to be as sustainable as possible is growing your own food. If you’re not allowed to dig up your current flower beds, getting a flower box can work just as well. Not only will growing your own food be great fun and save you cash in the long-run but will be a great addition for salads and vegetable kebabs for all those summer barbecues. 

3. Upcycling Containers 

If you aren’t able to dig up current flower beds or perhaps don’t have the right kind of garden to do so, that doesn’t mean you can’t add some colour to your garden.

While choosing colourful plants and flowers can always look great, they don’t bloom all year round and can be hard for a novice gardener to look after.

Mix it up and inject some colour with your choice of plant pot, or any pot for that matter! Any container can become a plant pot and upcycling current items isn’t only fun but great for the environment and can become a focal point of the garden.

Anything from old storage boxes, tinned cans and even chipped and cracked mugs make a great addition to the garden. Anything that you deem as too ‘ugly’ can be transformed with a lick of paint. Why not get the kids involved as a lockdown activity and get the paintbrushes out.

4. Flexible Furniture 

So summer is all about sitting on a sun lounger with a good book and a cocktail in hand. However, our garden furniture gets very little love throughout the rest of the year.

With summer parties quite possibly being the next time we can all get together with friends, you may find you run out of places for people to sit. When choosing garden furniture, it’s a good idea to choose practical indoor furniture that can be used outdoors, weather permitted.

For example, a dining chair with mental or plastic limbs can be brought outside with the worry of damage from rain or dirt. Similarly, a camp bed makes a fantastic bench for 3-4 people and can even host a guest if they are sleeping over.

Any drastic changes, such as fence painting, removal of trees of landscaping should always be run past your landlord. When in doubt, always double check!