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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Rachel Ogden

Alfresco summer hacks: outdoor family fun and weatherproof barbecues

Smiling mother and toddler daughter enjoying flowers growing in backyard garden
With a little planning ahead, your garden can be a source of pleasure rather than a chore. Photograph: Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

Picture the scene: the sun is shining, the sky is a clear blue, and you have nowhere to be that day other than relaxing outdoors with the family. But as you reach for a comfy chair and sunscreen, you notice that your garden is in need of some TLC.

Overgrown hedges, grass taller than the kids and creeping weeds – these all means time spent maintaining your garden rather than enjoying it. Add in an iffy forecast for your barbecue later and an argument about screen time, and suddenly summer starts to look a lot less enticing.

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