4 DIY jobs you can do to enhance your garden this spring

Spring is the perfect time to spend a bit of time outdoors, especially if you’ve got a garden space of your own to relax in. Now that the days are longer and warmer, you may well be thinking about the best ways to get it looking at its best again, ready for the rest of the year.

Happily, you don’t need a full redesign or expensive makeover to make a real difference – just a few simple jobs can change how the space looks and feels. Whether it’s edging a bed, freshening up fencing, or giving the lawn a little care, there’s plenty you can do over a weekend or even an afternoon. And with more than 50 years of tool hire experience to our name here at Smiths Hire, we’ve got a sizeable range of garden tools for hire. So in that spirit, we’ve got a couple of suggestions on what you might want to look at first!

Put in a new garden border

A clean edge around your flower beds or along a path provides an instant sense of polish to a garden. You don’t need to be a landscaping expert to put one in – edging is easy and surprisingly satisfying. First, decide what kind of material suits your garden: timber sleepers can give the area a more rustic look, while metal edging is notable for its sharp, modern line. Brick is another solid option, and one that looks great in both traditional and more contemporary spaces.

Mark out the shape of your border with string or sand, then use a spade or a half-moon edger to cut the edge. If the soil’s compacted, a turf cutter is worth hiring too – it’ll speed things up and save your back. Once you’ve dug out the trench, simply slot in your edging, make sure it’s level, and backfill with soil. That’s it! Not only does it help define spaces, but as an extra bonus, you may find that it also makes mowing and weeding easier in the long-term.

Fix up your garden fencing

Fencing doesn’t need to be perfect to look good – it just needs to be looked after. If it’s leaning a bit or a few boards have come loose, it’s easy to sort. Start by walking the length of your fence and checking for damage. Loose boards can usually be reattached with a hammer or cordless drill. If posts have shifted over winter, you might want to reinforce them with a post spike or concrete repair spur – both simple to fit with some basic tools and a bit of guidance.

Once the structure is sound, a fresh coat of paint or wood stain goes a long way. Soft greys, black stains, and deep greens are perennially popular choices, but if you want to keep things subtle, a natural wood finish is a good one to consider too. You can also think vertically – for example, by attaching trellis panels for climbers or fixing hooks and pots to use the space more creatively. It’s a great way to bring more colour and interest into smaller areas.

Bring colour in with planters

If you want to change up the look of your garden quickly, planters are your best friend. They’re easy to move around, simple to plant, and work in every kind of space – from big gardens to balconies. For spring, you might want to go for plants that like cooler weather and give good colour: violas, primroses, tulips, hyacinths, and herbs like chives or mint are all good picks. Mixing a few together in the same container is also a great way to make an instant visual impact on your space.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with it, too. You can use different shapes and materials for contrast – terracotta, stone, painted metal, even repurposed containers if you like a more relaxed appearance. Just make sure whatever you use has proper drainage. If you’re drilling holes into the base of heavier containers for example, you may need a masonry drill. Group a few pots together in odd numbers – threes or fives work best – and you’ve got a corner that suddenly feels put-together and full of life.

Give your lawn a spring spruce-up

This time of year is ideal for giving your lawn a bit of seasonal attention. Not necessarily because it’s in bad shape – just because spring’s the time it naturally kicks back into gear. A gentle rake with a spring-tined rake will lift out any surface debris like twigs or old clippings. If you’ve got a bigger space or want to go a step further, a powered lawn rake or scarifier from a hire shop makes light work of it.

After that, aerating the lawn helps loosen compacted soil and gets water and nutrients down to the roots. A garden fork does the job for smaller patches, but for larger lawns, a petrol aerator will save hours. Once that’s done, scatter a bit of spring lawn feed across the grass to give it what it needs to grow strong through the season. Keep the mower blades sharp, cut little and often, and let the lawn do its thing.

Those are just some of our top suggestions – no doubt you’ve got plenty of ideas of your own, too! Whatever you’ve got in mind, you can always count on us to provide the tools you need to get the job done right here at Smiths Hire. We’ve been providing top-quality tool hire services across the North West and Yorkshire for over 50 years, and now, with 18 depots in key locations like Manchester Trafford & Openshaw, Liverpool, and Leeds – you’re never far from all the tools you need to get the job done. Got questions? Our friendly team is always happy to help! Give us a call at 0333 323 2100 and let us help you get your lawn ready for Spring.