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Seasonal Guide
Summer
Gardening Companion
Discover what to do in your garden every month with expert guidance and the right RYOBI® tools and tips for every season.
Summer lawn care
What to do in the Summer
Summer tree shrub and hedge care
What to do in Summer
Summer soil care
Summer Plant Care
From mowing height to hydration, learn how to keep your lawn green in summer with RYOBI®.
When the sunshine finally arrives, the first thing you'll want to do is get outside and enjoy your garden, so make sure you're ready for it. Spring is a great time to give your patio, decking and driveway a refresh. Waste none of the sunshine; complete your outside care ahead of time so that your house is primed and ready for BBQs and games in the garden. Here are some tips for preparing your outside areas for warmer months, including driveway weed removal and pressure-washing patio slabs, from the garden tool experts at RYOBI.
Your garden goes through a lot each winter, namely freezing temperatures and lashings of rain. You'll also see the effects of lack of use, which include overgrown plants and weeds, as well as moss-covered surfaces. It's best to address this as soon as you can after that winter strain has passed, so when the weather eases and the sunshine starts peeking through the clouds, it's a good cue to get to work. Spring is also prime planting season, so it's a good opportunity to tick off everything on your to-do list outside, helping get everything ready for when the blooms start to come through.
The right equipment can be the difference between mediocre and show-stopping. These garden cleaning tools are handy to have in your shed to get your patio ready for spring:
OK, so you've got your tools at the ready; now let's get into our patio cleaning tips.
Before you can get started on a deep clean, it's important to make sure you have a clutter-free workspace. Move any pots, furniture or ornaments from the patio so you don't miss any areas. Take this opportunity to decide if these objects still serve a purpose in your garden. Maybe you've got toys that your grandchildren have outgrown or a plant pot that was damaged in a storm over the winter. Consider throwing out or donating unwanted pieces.
The rainy, moist conditions during the colder months create an ideal environment for weeds to thrive. Getting rid of them is a crucial first step in preparing your patio for spring. Start by applying a weed killer with a sprayer about three days before your cleaning to target the weeds at their roots. Once that’s done, use a patio cleaner to extract the weeds from the joints. For soft stone surfaces like limestone or sandstone, use a nylon brush to gently scrub away the weeds without damaging the stone. For tougher surfaces like concrete or brick, a wire wheel brush works best, as it can handle the harder material without causing damage.
The winter months and the process of removing the weeds are bound to create dirt and dust, so use a patio cleaner to remove the debris. This will remove the surface-level dirt so you can address the heavier build-up.
How often should I mow in a heatwave?
When the weather's exceptionally hot and dry, grass growth significantly slows to conserve energy. During these heatwave periods, you should reduce your mowing frequency. If the grass isn't growing, don't mow it. If you must mow, raise the height of your cordless lawn mower to its highest setting so the remaining grass keeps the soil shaded.
My lawn has gone brown. Is it dead?
Unlikely! Most UK lawns go dormant during prolonged dry spells to protect themselves. It's a natural survival mechanism. While summer lawn care tips focus on keeping it green, don't panic if it loses some colour. Once the autumn rains arrive, a healthy lawn will usually revive.
Can I apply fertiliser in August?
You can, but only if the soil is moist. Applying fertiliser to a bone-dry lawn can actually 'burn' the grass. Fertilisers fuel growth, and a plant stressed by heat can't keep up with the pressure of producing new leaves. Wait for a break in the weather or a forecast of rain before applying a summer-specific feed.
Is there a way to ensure my summer fertiliser is applied evenly?
Yes, and even distribution is critical to avoid 'burning' your grass with too much product in one spot. One of the most practical lawn tips for summer is to move away from scattering by hand, which often leads to patchy results. Instead, use a RYOBI 18V ONE+™ Cordless Lawn Seed Spreader. It allows you to precisely control the flow rate and spread width, making it much easier to achieve a uniform, professional finish across the entire lawn.
What is the best way to handle dry patches?
Dry patches or localised dry spots occur when the soil becomes water-repellent, which is a common hurdle when keeping your lawn green in summer. Use a garden fork to aerate the area, allowing water to penetrate the surface again, and follow up with intense, infrequent watering to encourage the roots to grow deeper and stronger.
What should I do with grass clippings that end up on my driveway?
After a summer mow, clippings often find their way onto your paths and driveway, where they can quickly become a slippery mess when it rains. A garden blower is the quickest way to tidy up after you've finished. These blowers are lightweight and quiet, allowing you to clear debris from hard surfaces and flower beds in seconds, so your entire outdoor space looks as manicured as the grass itself.
Let us help you calculate your lawn size to find the perfect cordless mower with RYOBI.
Cordless power washers are best suited for light maintenance tasks, such as removing surface build-up or small patches of mildew. They offer convenience and mobility, but they don’t deliver the pressure needed for heavy-duty cleaning. When using one, fit a 15-degree nozzle and start with a small test patch to confirm it’s effective on your surface. Work methodically from left to right, cleaning in sections, and avoid lingering in one spot to prevent damage to the patio. Corded pressure washers, by contrast, provide significantly more power and are the better choice for blasting away deeply embedded dirt or heavily soiled areas. Start with a cordless at first, if it isn't working effectively, the patio will need further attention with a corded pressure washer.