Clean up your outside space

Spring clean your garden

No more glancing out the window and claiming it\'s too cold to go outside! And no more scurrying indoors under cover of darkness when you get home at night! Spring\'s arrival means it\'ll soon be time to enjoy your garden and outside space once again. Here\'s how to give the great outdoors a pre-summer spruce-up...

By Jane Murphy

Brighten up your front door

Winter weather can take its toll on exterior paintwork, and nowhere is this more in evidence - or more-offputting - than your front door. So cheer up a scruffy door with a fresh lick of paint. Can\'t decide which shade to use? Sarah Cole, director of Farrow & Ball, advises: \'Classic colours such as black and red are incredibly smart for front doors. But it\'s important to consider the other elements that surround the door, such as the colour of the stone, brick or stucco, as well as the window frames. And if you want your door to look more imposing, paint the whole structure - door, side windows and panelling - in one strong colour.\'

Clear out the shed

Let\'s face it, many of us use our sheds and garages purely as somewhere to store all those old toys, tools and assorted furniture that we can\'t quite bring ourselves to throw out. But no more! It\'s time to free up some space with a radical clearout. So be ruthless: remember the first rule of decluttering is to throw away everything that hasn\'t been used for a year. Charity shops will be glad of the stock - or you can make some extra cash by holding a garage sale or selling some of your stuff on eBay. Any old or broken electrical goods can be recycled: find your nearest drop-off point at www.recyclenow.com.

Spruce up your garden furniture

More than six months\' worth of dust and dirt will have accumulated on your garden table and chairs since you packed them away in September. To clean sealed wooden furniture, use a mild detergent - but make sure you scrub gently and use a low-pressure hose to rinse. Plastic furniture will just need a good hose-down then a scrub with mild detergent and warm water, followed by another rinse. If it\'s still looking a little sorry for itself, you could always invest in some new cushions or covers: check out your local garden centre for early spring bargains.

Mow the lawn

It\'s terribly tedious but chances are, it needs doing! First things first, though: give your mower a quick MOT. Make sure there\'s no build-up of grass or debris in the undercarriage, as this will stop the machine from functioning properly. Also check the blade: a dull blade will tear your lawn and may rip up the grass at the roots. You can buy spare parts for your mower at www.espares.co.uk or most large DIY stores. Finally, when mowing the lawn, only cut one-third of the total length of a grass blade. Cutting it short may seem like a nifty time-saver, but it can cause the lawn to go into shock.

Beat that moss

The long damp winter may well have left your patio and pathways covered in unsightly - and slippery! - mould, moss and algae. To get rid of it, you could try using a product such as Patio Magic (www.brintonproducts.co.uk): just dilute it into your watering can and spray over the affected area, and it should then start to clear up within three or four days. Alternatively, try hiring a pressure washer, which is great for getting rid of general dirt on paths and patios, too. Check www.yell.com or visit www.hirecentres.com.

Declare war on weeds

Winter weeds don\'t just limit themselves to the flowerbeds: hardier types often sprout up in every crack and crevice, making your driveway and patio look like an urban jungle. Ripping them up from the roots is the best way forward, but bear in mind that many of these perennial weeds have long roots that grow deep into the soil below. The solution? Use a tough, biodegradable weed-killer that won\'t harm nearby plants or wildlife: try Roundup Fast Action or Weedol GUN! Max, available from garden centres.

Get yourself a talking point

Your garden may not have burst into bloom just yet - but you can still add colour and interest by investing in a bird table, a cute row of windmills, a hand-painted wall plaque or even a small sculpture. Buying something new and original for the garden will make doing all the hard graft seem a whole lot more appealing - plus it\'ll give you something nice to look at and encourage the kids to get out there and enjoy the great outdoors. Check out art fairs and craft shops, as well as garden centres, for inspiration.

Spring-clean your barbecue

Get your barbecue ready for all those long sunny afternoons by giving it a careful once-over. Get rid of any leftover ashes from last year, then wash the lid and firebox with mild detergent and warm water. Use a steel-wool soap pad to work off any stubborn stains, then rinse and dry. Before you use it for the first time, heat the grate for about half an hour then scrape it down with a long brass-wire brush. And always remember to brush it down before and after cooking.

Mend the fence

A leaning, broken or weather-worn fence can leave your garden looking very sorry for itself - but mending it is another of those unappealing little jobs we tend to put off during the winter months. Mending the fence may well be best left to your local handyman, but it may be simpler than you think to do it yourself: you can buy all you need, including replacement posts and wire, at DIY stores. Or simply give your fence a lick of varnish or coloured paint to really brighten up your outdoor space.

Go potty

For a fast, fuss-free way to pretty up the outdoors in time for spring, take a trip to the garden centre and invest in a couple of flower-filled containers or hanging baskets. The weather may not be wholly reliable just yet, but there are plenty of super-hardy spring blooms that can withstand the rain and chill, and will add a splash of colour to the front of your house. Shrubs such as rhododendra and forsythia also burst into bloom round about now - and they smell beautiful, too.