How to get your garden Summer BBQ ready

As soon as the sun makes an appearance, it's time to get the garden ready for the BBQ season. 

Whether you're planning a family get-together or a summer party with friends, a little preparation now will mean more time enjoying the garden and less time wishing you'd sorted it sooner.

Here's how to get your garden BBQ ready, step by step.

Give the garden a spring clean

Start with the basics. 

Clear away any leftover autumn and winter debris, cut back overgrown shrubs, and give the lawn its first proper mow of the year. A tidy garden instantly feels more inviting, and it's much easier to spot any jobs that need doing once the clutter is out of the way.

Sort out your patio or BBQ area

Your BBQ area needs to be level, stable and easy to keep clean. 

If your existing patio or slabbed area has seen bett r days, or you're creating a new spot for the BBQ from scratch, a well laid gravel base is a quick and affordable way to create a firm, attractive surface.

Gravel is also a sensible choice around a BBQ area because it's low maintenance and drains well, so you won't be left with puddles after a summer shower.

Define your borders and beds

Once the hard landscaping is sorted, turn your attention to the borders around the seating area. 

Fresh bark mulch instantly smartens up flower beds, helps suppress weeds, and locks in moisture during the warmer months, meaning less watering and less weeding over summer.

Laying a weed suppression membrane underneath your bark or gravel is worth doing properly if you're starting a border from scratch. It will save you hours of weeding later in the season.

Refresh your soil and get planting

If you're planting up pots, beds or borders for summer colour, it's worth refreshing tired soil rather than planting straight into it. Good quality topsoil gives new plants, herbs and vegetables the best possible start, particularly if you're growing anything you plan to serve up at the BBQ, such as herbs, salad leaves or chillies.

Add seating and finishing touches

Once the hard work is done, add the finishing touches that make your garden a place people want to spend time in. 

A sturdy bench or picnic table gives guests somewhere comfortable to sit while the food is cooking, and outdoor furniture in a natural timber finish will sit nicely alongside gravel paths and bark borders.

Think about safety

Keep the area immediately around the BBQ clear and stable. 

A firm gravel or hard-standing base under and around the BBQ itself is safer than grass or loose soil, reducing the risk of the BBQ tipping and making it easier to clean up any spills.

Shop the range at Scotbark

Getting your garden BBQ ready doesn't need to be complicated. Here are some products from the Scotbark range worth considering:

• Ornamental bark and bark mulch – Ideal for freshening up borders around your BBQ or seating area. Choose from a ornamental  bark for a woodland look, or a fine  bark mulch for a neater, more manicured finish.
• Gravel and stones – Perfect for creating a firm, low-maintenance base for a BBQ or seating area. Popular choices include 8mm pea gravel for a traditional look, Cotswold Buff Chippings for a warm, golden finish, and Scottish Beach Pebbles for a smoother, more contemporary style.
• Weed suppression membrane – Lay beneath bark or gravel to keep borders and BBQ areas looking neat all summer, with far less weeding.
• Premium topsoil – A screened, reclaimed topsoil and compost blend, ideal for refreshing beds and borders before planting up for summer.
• Garden furniture – Solid timber benches and picnic tables, such as the Athol Bench, made from pressure treated redwood and built to handle plenty of summer use.

Browse the full range and get your garden BBQ ready this summer.