June 16th, 2022 by Sarah Miles

As you survey your garden, perhaps contemplating the time you anticipate spending there once the weather warms up enough, and perhaps the parties, barbecues, play dates, and coffee meet-ups you plan to hold out there, are you thinking “yes, it looks great” or “heck, the grass looks a bit brown and patchy, the decking is a bit green, and what are those black spots all over the patio?”.

Few gardens emerge from the months of bad weather during winter unscathed, so if your lawn and hard surfaces are looking a little worse for wear, now is the time to do something about it.

Here are all the products you need to get your garden looking fresh and summer-ready.

Patio Cleaner

Patios, paths, and drives are subjected to weather conditions, walked on, driven on, cycled over, and have various items placed upon them like plant pots, furniture, and bins. No wonder then that they start to look grubby. As well as general dirt and debris, they can also easily develop green mould and algae, which can not only make them look uncared for but can be very slippery in wet weather.

Don’t waste time scrubbing with bleach or other household cleaners, it won’t get rid of many of the contaminants blighting them and you could actually damage the stone. What you need is a specialised Patio and Drive Cleaner such as our Patio and Driveway Cleaner. It’s really easy to apply, simply spray on and leave to work (ideally, overnight) and then rinse away. Not only will it remove the nasty organisms that have developed but it will restore your stonework to its original colour, leaving it looking like new. Alternatively, if you would prefer an organic product, the Homefront Organic Patio and Path Cleaner is biodegradable and is more suitable for homes with young children and pets.

Homefront Patio and Driveway Cleaner 5L

Price: £19.96

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Black Spot Remover

Black spots are commonly seen on stone and concrete surfaces, but you don’t have to just live with them as they can be removed easily – if you use the right product. You could be forgiven for thinking otherwise as these ink-like spots can’t just be scrubbed away (if you have tried, you’ll know). That’s because it’s black lichen and this is an organism that attaches itself firmly to the surface and forms a hard crust so standard cleaning products won’t touch it. Black Spot Remover is specially formulated for it and contains active ingredients that break it down, so it can be easily rinsed away. It will also clean away all the general dirt and debris. Black lichen will only get worse if left unattended and as it feeds on the minerals in the stone, it's well worth removing it to avoid irreversible damage.

Iron Sulphate

Your lawn is often the centrepiece and focal point of the garden and browning, patchy grass beset with moss and weeds will not do the overall space any favours. You don’t need to be a dedicated grounds person to achieve a lush, green lawn, you just need to apply the right products. Iron Sulphate applied every 6-8 weeks or so will give you nourished and vibrantly green grass. The nutrient-rich formula will help it to grow stronger, thus enabling it to fight off disease, pests, and weeds, grow thicker, and look greener. It’s very easy to apply. Simply dilute with water and apply using a sprayer or watering can and then water in. You’ll get even greater results if you do this before rainfall as this will help water it in.

Homefront Iron Sulphate for Greener Grass 2.5KG

Price: £13.96

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Artificial Grass Cleaner

If you have artificial grass, you have to think of it as an outdoor carpet and just as your indoor carpets need cleaning periodically, so too does your grass. In fact, as it’s exposed to the elements and may even be used as a toilet by your pets, there is an even greater need to clean it. Artificial Grass Cleaner will disinfect it, remove bacteria and germs, deodorise it, add a fresh scent and keep it looking its best for longer after all care is always easier the replacing the full lawn.