Get your garden ready for BBQ season

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Get your garden ready for BBQ season Posted On 22 July 2019

Nothing says summer quite like the sight and smell of a sweet, smoky barbecue sizzling in your garden. Now is a great time for a big clean of your grill and to get your garden ready for BBQ parties in the sun!

Give your BBQ a good clean

Whether you’re cooking on gas or charcoal, it’s important that your grill is clean and wiped down before you start cooking. Take off the grates and scrub them down; there are plenty of products on the market specially made for BBQ grates. If you have a charcoal BBQ which has been stored inside the garage or shed over the winter, wipe down the inside to get rid of any dust or insects. Also wipe the exterior of the BBQ and your tools. When you’ve finished cleaning your BBQ, rub your tools and the grates in some oil to help prevent rusting.

Create/clean up dedicated BBQ area

If you have spare space in your garden, or would like to cook away from guests, try building a dedicated BBQ area! Whether it is raised decking, a small area of paving or some decorative gravel, you can find the perfect spot even in the smallest of gardens.

Pick somewhere which enjoys a little shade and provides easy access for transporting food. You can install your brick BBQ or even build your own outdoor kitchen, equipped with a grill, sink and that all important drinks fridge!

If your garden has a great view, whether it’s countryside, a local landmark or the seaside, raise the BBQ area so the cook gets the best seat in the house.

And if your BBQ area has been deserted during the winter, pick out any weeds and wash down the decking or patio with a jet washer to bring it back to life.

Clean down/buy new patio furniture

Now that you’ve cleaned down your patio or laid some new decking, now is the time to kit it out with some furniture! There are tons of different styles and designs for garden furniture, all suitable for a range of budgets and garden types. Rattan and weaved furniture are a popular choice, as are wooden tables. There are even dining sets with a fire pit built into the middle; perfect for keeping warm and toasting marshmallows.

If your garden furniture has been sat on the patio or stored inside since last summer, give it a wash down. If you have wooden furniture, use ‘wood cleaner’, then finish off with wood sealer to preserve its colour. For weaved or iron furniture, you can use warm water and soap to wash it down, followed by a rinse with the hose.

Add lighting

Now that you’ve got your garden all set up, add lighting so you can entertain guests after the sun goes down. Solar lights are environmentally friendly and cheap to run. Lighting up a fire pit or a chiminea will keep your guests warm whilst you sit back, relax and drink into the early hours.