Easy Summer Garden Patio Ideas + Outdoor Summer Blog Hop

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If you are looking for some Easy Summer Garden Patio Ideas then you are in the right place. 

I have shared all the photos from our recent garden makeover. There are lots of easy budget-friendly ideas to inspire you + an additional bonus On this Summer Outdoor Blog Hop

You will find heaps of inspiration to get your garden and outdoor spaces ready for the warmer months so get a coffee and enjoy all the ideas that I and the other ladies have shared.

Close up of pink flower and text about  summer garden patios
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Last year I enjoyed taking part in The Great Outdoor Experience Blog Hop so much that I have decided to team up with some of the ladies again to take part in this year’s Summer 2018 Outdoor Blog Hop.

There was soooo much inspiration and I really loved seeing all the different garden designs and styles that everyone was sharing on the blog hop.

Last year, I shared the transformation of our little backyard and showed you how we turned it into a beautiful modern, and functional outdoor patio area where we could sit and chill during the summer months.  You can read about this and see the before and after pictures here: Small Garden Patio Makeover

This year I wanted to show you how the planting has grown a bit and share some of my ideas about how to decorate a small garden patio on a budget.

Perennials

On one side of the garden, I didn’t have to do much this year apart from tidying it up.

Pink Rhododendron Bush In Full Bloom
Pink Rhododendron Bush In Full Bloom

In one of the raised flower beds, I have a big rhododendron bush, a couple of round Buxus bushes, and an apricot tree.

Time Saving Tip

Although if you saw my Instagram feed you will have seen that I was a bit miffed that I forgot to put a sheet down to collect the leaves before clipping my Buxus bushes.  Big mistake!  I hate having to clear up the clippings!

So if you don’t do it already, I would really recommend that you do it from now on because it saves you LOADS of time.

Easy Budget Summer Garden Patio Ideas & Outdoor Space Blog Hop

To cover the ground I have various types of grass and some Laucheana Armeria (the grass-like clumps with bright pink flowers).

LED Solar Globe Light In Garden Border

I have also planted a clematis, which I had for mother’s day, next to the wood store but I am afraid that it’s probably not the best spot because it is too close to the conifers.  But me being me planted it there anyway because I thought it would look nice there.  It’s early days but I’ll let you know if it actually survives and thrives.

Close up of purple clematis flower

Bedding Plants

When it comes to choosing bedding plants I often return to my old favourites every year simply because I know as long as I keep deadheading them they will continue to bloom the whole summer long.

Last year on one side of the garden I filled the raised garden bed with red and white impatiens (in Dutch vleitig liesjes).  I actually planted them in a bed that sits in the shade of a conifer hedge and I was amazingly surprised as to how well they did.  The small plant plugs that I planted grew and spread out to completely cover the bed and the blooms lasted the whole summer long.

Garden Border Flower Planting Idea

This year when I went to buy my bedding plants I couldn’t find them so I went with mixed calibrachoa (mini petunias or million bells) in purple, pink, and white.

Petunia Flowers In A Garden Border

I also added some white Sutera Cordata (snowflake or snowtopia white) and Sweet Alyssum.

I was a bit late this year and have only just planted them, so they haven’t had a chance to grow yet, but I will post another photo here once the bed has filled out a bit.

Hanging Baskets

Because our garden is totally paved with grey slabs, I like to use bright flashes of pink to brighten the place up.  I have also carried this through to the hanging baskets which are filled with bright pink petunias.  I really love petunias as they make a great impact and as long as you keep deadheading the fading flowers then they also keep on going right through the summer.

pink petunias in a basket hanging on a shed

Garden Seating

I mentioned in last year’s blog hop about needing a new lounge set.

We threw the other broken one out because it was dangerous but have still not gotten around to replacing it.

Blue and pink cushions on garden chairs next to wooden table

So for now, we just have the dining table set and my big black garden chair which I love.  With lots of bright cushions (that I found in good old Action – a Dutch home discount store) and a spot in the shade, it is my favourite place to while away a few hours and read my book.

Garden chair on a patio with flowers and home decor accessories

Garden Patio Decor Accents

I pride myself on being thrifty and like to scour the junk and thrift shops for bargain finds and add recycle or upcycle the stuff I already have.

Fuschia flowers displayed on a wooden garden table

These concrete stone look planters caught my eye straight away and I snapped them up for €3 for the pair.

I love the contrast of the bright pink Fuschia flowers against the grey concrete.

Purple Hydrangeas In Large Basket On Patio

I like to incorporate lots of pots and baskets to soften the hardness of the slabs and raised beds.

Summer Flowers Displayed In Wicker Baskets

My garden seems to be following a bit of a romantic theme as I collect more of the rustic-looking willow hearts that I have got dotted around the place.  I come across them every time I go to the Kringloop (thrift shop) and because they only cost a few cents they very often end up coming home with me (if you can not find them in the thrift store you can also buy similar hearts and wreaths here: Grapevine Heart + Willow Wreath)

Wicker wreaths and hearts in a garden

Garden Patio Lighting

I love the garden at night when it is all lit up!

In the flower beds, I have crackled glass orb solar lights, these can change colour but I prefer the white light setting (although my other half likes the coloured lights and keeps switching them – grrr!)

Solar Powered Glass Globe LED Lights In Garden Border

On the fence, we have 3 really easy-to-mount solar-powered lights with crackled glass globes (these are very similar – Crackled Glass Ball Lights).

raised garden border with round buxus bushes and other plants

We have a string of coloured lights again on the shed (my other half again – although I must admit they do look pretty!)

Blue Glass Candle Votive On Garden Table

And last but not least candles – lots of them!

Now that you have had a good look around my little garden make sure that you carry on and hop over to the next blog on this Summer Blog Hop.  With so many gorgeous garden patio ideas you’re in for a treat!

Click on the links below:

Summer Outdoor Blog Hop

Mommacan    Semigloss Design    The Project Pile    JenRon Designs

A Happy Home in Holland    House By The Bay Design    Eclectic Twist

Pink petunias in plant pot with blue glass candle votives

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19 thoughts on “Easy Summer Garden Patio Ideas + Outdoor Summer Blog Hop

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    Your flowers are so lovely! It makes me want to run over to the garden store and fill my car with flowers to plant. There can never be enough flowers. 🙂

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      Thanks so much, Emy! Do it! Do it! I quite agree 🙂

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    Where do I start?! Those round bushes are so awesome! And your patio is looking so fantastic, I love the flowerbeds and your choice of flowers! And that pair of concrete urns, what a find! So now the question is….when can I come over for dinner?! Thank you for sharing lovely lady!

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      Thanks Tina! Open house here, the more the merrier – you’re welcome anytime 🙂

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    Your raised flower bed are beautiful!!!! You have chosen such a lovely variety of flowers to feature in your yard to really embrace the season. Pink and blue really seem to be the hot outdoor colors for this year too, everything looks fantastic!

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      Thanks Jen, yes I’m loving the pink and blue combo this year and I like how the contrasting colours brighten up all the grey landscaping.

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    I love the fuschia in the grey pots. I love fuschia, I think it is my new favorite color. A very charming and fun outdoor space! Thank you for sharing.

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      Yes, fuschias remain a firm favourite with me!

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    You have an absolutely beautiful garden! I love how you’ve set up your flower beds and those concrete/stone look planters are so pretty

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      Thanks Casey, yes I couldn’t believe my luck when I spied those planters in the thrift store.

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    I just love these pretty pictures. These are really easy summer garden patio ideas. Thanks a lot for sharing.

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      Yes, I like easy! Glad you like them. 🙂

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    Thank you so much! I do try to make the most of the small space that we have.

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      Thanks Michelle! And thanks for taking the time to come over and take a look I’m so glad you like it 🙂

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    Sam, everything is so pretty!!! Question… How the heck do you get your bushes so round???! Please… Give my husband some tips!! 😉

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      Thanks Sarah, I just kind of wing it with the round buxus bushes.

      My other half is not allowed to touch them because, well how can I say it …er… he would destroy them …lol.

      I use a pair of garden shears and start at the top and work my way around and down the bush. I also stand back a lot to see if it is the right shape.

      I did read somewhere that you can also use a hula hoop or a piece of wire bent into a circle to use as a guide.

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    Very difficult to maintain gardening and stone landscape. I hire a full-time Gardner, Who take care garden area correctly. I have a question, do you cut through the fabric in those areas or do the roots get down there on their own? And then finally, you lay your mulch around? Please tell me if I understand this.

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      Hi Alina, yes I have a fabric layer in the flower beds and I do cut through the fabric when planting bushes and plants that have deep rooting systems. I don’t lay mulch but I do put a fresh layer of compost every year before adding my bedding plants. I just keep on top of the weeds by weeding once a week, for me this is a quick job because I only have 2 small areas. I hope this helps 🙂

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