Spring clean your patio

Declutter
If your patio is home to bikes, tools, toys and broken plant pots - be ruthless! Store away only those things you know you're going to use, recycle anything useful and put the rest in the bin.

Clear the weeds
Weeds are an eyesore. Whether tiny stragglers or big bushes, they look tatty and will make your patio uninviting. Scraping them out by the root with a kitchen knife is simple yet deadly. Strimming with a garden strimmer is only a temporary fix as the weeds will soon resurface. Weed killer can be used, but apply sparingly and not on a windy day when it could blow on to other plants.

Give it a wash
A thorough clean with a stiff broom will make a world of difference. Lukewarm, soapy water is all you need if the dirt is fairly minimal. If your patio hasn't been cleaned for years, or if there's moss or algae present, you'll need to use a proprietary patio cleaner, preferably an eco-friendly one.

Hose clean any excess dirt, apply according to instructions and gently scrub to remove stubborn dirt. Hose down and give a final sweep with a broom to leave your patio looking instantly cleaner. Don't using high-pressure hoses on slabs to avoid damage to the pointing.

And finally...
Now that your patio is looking lovely, make sure the surroundings are too! Adjacent flower beds should be watered and flowers regularly dead-headed. Make sure that French doors or windows overlooking the patio are clean and shiny. Finally, only keep your best plant pots out on display. Plastic just won't cut it!