Gloves on: five top DIY tips to get your garden looking great over the bank holiday

Bank holidays offer a rare opportunity to complete an entire DIY task in one long weekend and, with the weather on our side, it's the ideal time to get out in the garden and make it a more enjoyable space to retreat to.

Research by Hitachi Personal Finance has found that well-maintained gardens can add a hefty premium to a property's value, giving you another reason to pamper your patio this weekend.

Robin Chatwin, head of Savills in south-west London, revealed that the best presented outside spaces "significantly contribute to the overall desirability of a home", hiking the price up by as much as 10 per cent.

Fortunately for those of us on a budget, he advises against overspending on garden design features or installations that a future buyer may wish to remove. Much like interiors, a garden is all about personal taste.

Instead, Chatwin suggests aiming for "a low maintenance garden with maximum visual impact" by incorporating some colourful pots on a terrace or bay trees on a patio, especially if the living space looks out onto it.

"The key to making a garden of any size desirable is making sure it looks appealing without making buyers anxious about its upkeep," he says. "Ten years ago, astroturf was hardly ever seen, and now it’s the norm in many London properties."

TIDY THINGS UP

Scott Chandler, a former Kew Gardens gardener, insists that a little goes a long way when it comes to keeping your garden looking loved.

"Many of us put off the nitty gritty gardening chores but de-weeding your patio, fixing that wonky fence panel or simply mowing the lawn will turn a scruffy garden into a purposefully rustic outdoor area that shows off how much space your property has to work with," he said.

Scott recommends keeping grass short and using a pressure washer to spray away any dirt and slime from your patio or decking.

"It's much more pleasing on the eye and one less chore for the buyer if you're hoping to sell.

SWAP GRASS FOR GRAVEL

If the heatwave sun has scorched your previously lush green lawn and turned it a rather joyless shade of brown, you might want to consider swapping grass for gravel .

Mediterranean plants thrive in free-draining gravelled soil and are blissfully low maintenance.

Gravel, chippings and decorative stones are widely available from garden centres or online — try Homebase for some bargain bags.

GET BUILDING

Prospective buyers tend to get excited by the versatility of a garden building, be it a shed, a summerhouse or a log cabin.

Outbuildings offer a convenient storage solution, helping to keep the home and garden clutter-free, and can make great offices, studios, gyms, games rooms or even private pubs.

Kiarna Benson of garden building specialists Tiger Sheds thinks they are a smart way to add extra space at a fraction of the cost of an extension.

"Many of us would upgrade to a bigger, better home if we had the opportunity but renovation can be incredibly expensive as well as an inconvenience," he said.

"Most garden buildings will not require planning permission so it can be a relatively simple process — just be sure to check if you're uncertain."

If you need some inspiration, take a look at this year's eclectic Shed of the Year shortlist .

ORGANISE THE CHAOS

Potential buyers view gardens as additional rooms, so it’s important to show yours off at its best.

Chatwin finds that family buyers, in particular, prioritise more outside space and appreciate gardens with different zones, however big.

"For example, an outdoor kitchen and seating section can double as an entertaining space, while a separate children's play area or miniature vegetable patch will help feed their imagination and understanding of nature."

MAKE THE MOST OF THE SUNSHINE

"If you're lucky enough to get some sunshine in your garden, even if it's just a small corner, make sure to utilise it," urges Scott, who recommends "splashing a bit of cash" on a simple patio or decking and adding some outdoor seating.

"Capture any potential future homeowners' imagination and get them dreaming of summer evenings spent catching rays and relaxing with loved ones in that spot."