How is your garden looking right now? Because with restrictions that require us to stay at home more, there is a tremendous opportunity to improve our outdoor spaces.

So if you want some gardening ideas while at home, read on; because in this article, we suggest simple garden errands that can bring joy to you and your family.

- Get spraying

Before we even get onto the grass, how about giving your terrace or patio area a good old spray? Use a pressure washer to dislodge and wash away the grime which has been building up over the past few months. This task can have the effect of making your whole outdoor area seem more inviting, but don't forget the essential apparel - wellies, a raincoat and waterproof slacks.

- Start growing vegetables

Have you ever thought about growing your own vegetables? Not only can this be an amazingly rewarding project, but it will also allow you to produce the veggies which you and your family especially enjoy, save you money, and encourage a healthy diet. But getting started with growing vegetables doesn't need to entail digging up your whole garden. You can actually grow vegetables with the greatest of ease using pots. From potatoes to herbs and small carrots - they can all be nurtured in containers - check your local garden centre for the best seeds.

- Give your lawn some TLC

Have you been skimping on your lawn maintenance? Now is as good a time as any to put your mower into action. Once you have cut your grass down to size, you could do some re-edging. This is a job that can really make a difference to the aesthetics of your garden, and can also give you the opportunity to reshape your lawn. All you need is an edging tool, or failing that a good old garden spade.

- Do some woodwork maintenance

Our outdoor spaces typically feature a lot of wood - from fences to garden furniture, greenhouses and trellises. But how often do we think about their maintenance? Consider using wood stains to enrich your woodwork and give it a lick of colour. You can usually choose from a range of shades, and on today's market, many of the formulas are environmentally friendly.

- Build a pond

OK, a little more advanced than the ideas outlined thus far, but certainly not out of the question! Ponds are amazing garden habitats that can attract wildlife and aquatic insects. It all starts with digging a suitable hole and then installing pond liner and plants. Pond plants are widely available in garden centres and online, and they come in many shapes and sizes. It won't take long before you can marvel at a whole new habitat in your garden that acts as a magnet for new species. Give the kids a pond net and let them explore.

- Take care of your tools

The better we look after the various implements we use for gardening, the easier the tasks become. Use this time at home as an opportunity to sharpen your shears and secateurs. You will need; a whetstone, which is a small stone that can sharpen blades and can be used every few weeks to keep prevent your tools from getting blunt; a washing sponge with an abrasive pad, to get rid of lead sap that has accumulated on the blades; and camellia oil, to finish the job and help the blades move more smoothly while preventing rust.

Has this article given you some inspiration for home gardening? We certainly hope so. For more creative home design ideas, speak to the team at Jarvis Interiors on +61 412 398 313.