Six garden hacks to make your outdoor space great this summer

[{"selector":"#anim-695c733a-d97e-4e3e-a962-4309d7fea5ba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1a3ec2a-2ae5-4310-acc0-d77174c2431f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-104.48548%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Summer has been a mixed bag – and it could mean your outdoor space is worse for wear. Here are simple hacks from garden guru Victoria Emes to bring out the best.

Put broken egg shells in flower beds. Slugs can't crawl over them and eat your plants. And it's free!

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There's no better way than just pulling them out! Challenge the kids to help. A homemade recipe is 1 part salt to 2 parts water and pour over weeds and into patio cracks

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Plant things like herbs, rosemary, sage or mint, which are safe for curious children even if they put their fingers in their mouths

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A regular sand pit can set you back around £60. Get a builders’ tray which does the same job for £20

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Try a clover lawn which is low maintenance and doesn't need mowing as often. A bag of seed is around £22 and is a good option to sow for next summer

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Make the most of your space with a relaxing egg chair or even an old sofa and chair set to make it more informal

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