Guest post- Top garden DIY projects!

This post is brought to you by Edel Flood.

If you fancy trying out a little DIY, the garden is a great place to start - not least because you do not run the risk of damaging the inside of your house if things do not quite go to plan! But where should you begin? I have put together a quick list of what I think some of the most interesting and useful projects are.

Repair work

Before you get started building weird and wonderful garden furniture, it is worth starting with something a little lighter - especially if you are new to DIY. If you own a low-cost garden shed, this is a pretty good place to begin.

Sheds are such useful spaces, but nine times of ten we let them become filled up with junk and as a result, fall out of use. If that sounds familiar, it is time to reclaim your shed!

First things first, empty it completely (yes, this is necessary). Throw out anything you have not used for a few years or that has seen better days and really can not be salvaged. Next, dust and sweep the shed, checking for any potential problem areas, like damp, rot or evidence of vermin.

Do not forget to look out for roofing issues too. If you spot any damaged felt, strip it off and replace it as soon as you can. Once you have dealt with any issues you have found, you can start putting things back in - just remember to invest in some decent storage solutions so it does not get in the same state again!

Compost bins

These days, growing your own fruits and vegetables is becoming more popular, so I thought I would include a few projects that will help you improve your garden. The first of project is making a compost bin. You can fashion one of these out of four standard wooden pallets, with three making the walls and one acting as a gate, so you can easily add waste and remove your compost.

Before you start, clear your chosen spot and, if the ground is not level, even it out. The first pallet should be stood on its long edge to act as a back, and be fixed into the ground with stakes (aim to drive these around 30 cm deep). The next two pallets should be positioned at right angles to this one, making the sides of the bin. Fix these in place with both stakes and wire for stability.

Lastly, simply wire the final pallet to the right side of the bin and voila! This will act as a door and completes your project.

Raised vegetable beds

Continuing the grow-your-own theme, I have chosen raised vegetable beds as my last top DIY project. One of the simplest ways to make these is to buy and interlock four scaffolding boards.

First of all, if there is any metal banding at the edges (there most likely will be) you need to grab some pliers and remove this. Then, you need to cut the boards to size. Current wisdom says beds should not be any bigger than 2.3 m x 1.6 m, since larger ones become a bit difficult to tend.

Disclaimer: I have received compensation in return for publishing this article.