How to get your garden ready for summer 2026
Refresh, relax, and get ready for summer
With longer days and warmer weather on the way, now is the perfect time to refresh your garden for summer. Whether you’re planning to host friends, enjoy outdoor dining, or simply create a space to unwind, a few thoughtful updates can completely transform how your garden looks and feels. We’ve partnered with TV gardening expert Katie Rushworth to share her top tips for getting your garden ready for Summer 2026 - from simple seasonal resets to creating spaces designed for relaxing, entertaining and enjoying the outdoors.
5 expert tips to get your garden ready for summer
Start with a simple summer reset
'If you do nothing else in your garden this early summer, focus on keeping it thriving,’ says Katie Rushworth. ‘Now is the time to deadhead spent flowers, top up and feed the soil, tie up taller plants, and stay on top of pests and weeds. Having the right tools makes all the difference – I rely on sturdy, reliable garden tools from Wickes to make the job quicker and easier. It’s amazing how much fresher and more vibrant your garden looks straight away.'
Design your garden for evenings, not just daytime
‘I’m seeing more people wanting to use their gardens to relax - not just in the day, but later in the evenings after a busy week,’ says Katie Rushworth. ‘Plant evening-scented blooms like jasmine, nicotiana and honeysuckle, and pale flowers such as white campanula or cosmos to reflect the moonlight. A little soft lighting, comfortable seating and trellis panels for privacy will help you enjoy the calming atmosphere well into the night.’
Mix edible planting with outdoor living
‘Summer is perfect for edible planting - there’s nothing better than picking basil for a salad or strawberries for dessert straight from your own garden,’ says Katie. ‘I love tucking herb planters next to barbecues for easy picking, planting tomatoes along sunny paths, and filling raised beds with vegetables you can admire and enjoy. Wickes has great planters and vegetable compost that make it simple, even if you’ve never grown food before. You’ll be harvesting fresh pickings all season long.’
Choose plants that can handle a changing UK summer
‘British summers can swing between blazing sun and torrential rain, so I choose plants that can cope with both,’ says Katie. ‘Hardy shrubs like Sambucus, Choisya and Viburnum tinus are reliable, while drought-tolerant perennials add resilience. Gardeners are no longer rushing for the earliest possible bloom - instead, they’re purposefully delaying flowering so their gardens stay vibrant during the hotter, later months of August and September. Mediterranean favourites like lavender and rosemary thrive in dry spells but need good drainage to handle wetter periods.
‘I also keep watering simple with soaker hoses or easy irrigation systems from Wickes - they deliver water exactly where it’s needed so plants stay lush without waste. Using mulch or decorative bark from Wickes is another clever way to keep soil moist in heat and protect roots when storms roll in.’
Create a space you’ll actually use this summer
‘Your garden should be somewhere you want to spend your summer - morning coffee, long lunches, evening drinks,’ says Katie Rushworth. ‘Don’t stress about keeping every inch perfectly maintained - the whole point of summer is to relax and enjoy it. I often recommend following the 70/30 Rule: keep around 70% of your garden ‘managed’ - clean lines, mown paths, neat borders - and let 30% go ‘wild’, with long grass, log piles for hedgehogs, and wildflower patches. This balance keeps your garden beautiful, biodiverse, and easier to enjoy without constant upkeep.’
Start your summer garden refresh
From simple updates to bigger transformations, discover ideas and inspiration at Wickes to help you get your garden ready for summer – and create a space you’ll enjoy all season long.