How to turn your garden party-ready for those sunny days and balmy evenings.
Can you take the pressure?
Possibly the best ever reason to have a garden party or barbecue is that it gives you an excuse to get your hands on a pressure washer. No really: feel free to pretend that you’re a long-suffering martyr to outdoor cleanliness, but really you’ll be having a ball. Hook one of these babies up to the garden tap, plug it in, and get zapping: grot, grime, patio weeds, leaves and unidentifiable gunk all disappear on impact, leaving pristine paving and furniture dripping gently in the sun. Watch out, though, for any garden furniture that’s a bit, shall we say, ‘shabby chic’ – a pressure washer can strip off flaky paint and will reduce anything rickety to matchsticks in one blast.
Quick tips for garden slackers
Just as vacuuming a room makes it look presentable even if you haven’t dusted every corner, so mowing the lawn is the quickest way to give your garden a well-tended air. Better still, trim the edges around the beds and paved areas too: somehow the introduction of a few straight lines distracts from the fundamental chaos. Don’t worry about a few weeds if you’re short of time: they’re green and some of them even have flowers. Concentrate instead on planting up containers with cheap and cheerful bedding plants and position them where your guests will be gathering.
Work some magic
Fairy lights and garlands have become a bit of a barbecue cliché, though they do bring an instant sense of festivity to a garden. There’s something charming, though, about home-made decorations. Bunting is particularly quick and easy: just cut out a cardboard template in a diamond shape and then use it to make as many paper or fabric pieces as you like. Fold each diamond in half with the string or ribbon tucked into the fold, then glue the two triangular flaps together, adding another piece roughly every 10cms. They won’t look perfect, but by the time you’ve draped them along a fence or through a bush, no one will notice. Likewise, you can mimic expensive parasols by adding your own finishing touches to a cheap one: decorate the inside with lights, hanging ribbons, beads or charms for a decadent centrepiece.
Bring the indoors out
Look critically around your house for accessories that can be pressed into service outside: we’re not talking about your priceless heirlooms, but everyday cushions, throws and small cotton rugs can all make patio seating more comfortable, and there might even be a few side tables or stools that would work for your guests’ drinks and nibbles. And while you’re at it, why not invest in some wireless speakers that can beam music from your iPod dock or stereo straight into the garden. Hey, if it rains, you can press-gang your guests into helping you whisk everything indoors.
Do your prep
Get as much as possible organised in advance: set up a well-stocked help-yourself bar area with a large tub of ice and several bottle openers (because these invariably go missing). Chop, skewer and marinade all the barbecue food and line it up on disposable platters in the fridge; and have salads and bread primed for action too. Once everything is set, you can put on your best shades, pour yourself a drink, and enjoy yourself!
Super savvy tip: Invest in some attractive picnicware to use instead of china, but offer real cutlery and glasses for a civilised atmosphere.