Get your outdoor spaces summer ready this spring

Published: 4/4/2025

As the days lengthen and the weather starts to improve, spring is the perfect time to prepare your garden and outdoor areas for the joys of summer. Here are some tips to get your outdoor spaces ready for summer:

For those with a garden

Clear and clean

Start by clearing away any debris that has accumulated over the winter, such as fallen leaves, broken branches, and old weeds. Give patios and decking a good sweep or wash down to remove dirt and moss.

Green wheelie bin / garden waste container and broom filled with fruit and vegetable waste, garden waste, organic waste for composting and fermentation. Recycling garbage for a better environment.

Tidy up borders and beds

Remove any remaining dead foliage from last year’s plants. Gently fork over the soil in your flower beds and vegetable patches to aerate it and prepare it for new growth. This also helps to remove any early weeds.

Gardener digging with pitchfork in the garden or allotment

Pruning and shaping

Spring is the ideal time to prune many shrubs and climbers. Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches to encourage healthy growth and flowering.

gardener pruning trees with pruning shears on nature background.

Planting and sowing

Spring is a busy time for planting! Sow seeds indoors for summer bedding plants and vegetables, or direct sow hardy annuals and vegetables outdoors once the risk of frost has passed. Consider adding some colourful bedding plants to pots and borders for an instant summer feel.

I sow the seeds of soybean in the field of garden,

For those with limited or no garden space, maximise your outdoor areas by utilising windowsills, both indoors and out (securing outdoor plants), for herbs and smaller blooms.

Hanging baskets are great for adding colour where space is tight, remembering to water them regularly. Consider vertical gardening with wall planters or shelves to grow more in small areas. Even without much planting, brighten your space with colourful cushions, throws, and outdoor decorations, and if possible, create a cosy seating area with a small bistro set or comfy chair to enjoy your summer retreat.

Your Grounds Maintenance and Communal Cleaning schedule

As part of your tenancy with One Vision Housing, we undertake regular grounds maintenance to ensure communal areas are well-kept and enjoyable for all customers.

This is what you can expect from our regular cleaning and grounds maintenance service:

Grounds Maintenance Summer Season (Mid-Mar to Mid-Oct)
- Site visits every 2-3 weeks (weather permitting).
- Grass to be cut and mulched for added nutrients.
- Lawn edges and abutting footpaths, walls, and beds to be strimmed.
- Weeds to be sprayed (weather permitting) and removed during the next visit.
- Litter picking of grassed and hardstanding areas.
- Shrubs and hedges pruned (additional visits for access and egress where required).
Not Included:
- Removal of fly tipping.
- Removal of dog foul.
- Collection of grass cuttings.
- Pruning or removal of trees.
- Jetwashing patio or paved areas.
- Planting or turf areas.
- Removal of established planting or shrubs.
Download a copy of our grounds maintenance poster HERE.
Grounds Maintenance Winter Season (Mid-Oct to Mid-Mar)
- 5 visits (weather permitting).
- Removal of debris from all areas (grass, flowerbeds, and paved areas).
- Grassed areas to be edged.
- Trimming of shrubs and hedges.
- Harsh pruning and thinning out of shrubs and hedges (as needed).
- Treatment and removal of moss.
Not Included:
- Removal of fly tipping.
- Removal of dog foul.
- Collection of grass cuttings.
- Pruning or removal of trees.
- Jetwashing patio or paved areas.
- Planting or turf areas.
- Removal of established planting or shrubs.
Download a copy of our grounds maintenance poster HERE.
Communal Cleaning
- Regularly hoover carpets and mats (if electric supply available).
- Sweep all hard floors.
- Mop all hard floors.
- Clean all interior glass surfaces, including vision panels, but excluding windows.
- Wipe hand plates and kick plates.
- Wipe skirting, architraves, window ledges and fittings.
- Polish switches and sockets.
- Wipe handrails and banisters.
- Dust spindles.
- Wipe fire extinguishers (where applicable).
- Spot clean walls.
- Assess communal areas and report any defects.
- Clean external windows monthly.
Not included:
- Removal of fly tipping.
- Carpet cleaning.
- Removal of stubborn stains like paint, bodily fluids etc.
- Removal of dog fouling.
Download a copy of our communal cleaning poster HERE.

More information on our Cleaning and Grounds Maintenance schedule and more can be found HERE.