My simple 69p staple will leave your patio sparkling – it’s much cheaper than a pressure washer and everyone has it

IF you’re looking to host a gathering in your garden now the weather is starting to get warmer, you will want to get your outside space looking good.

After winter, many of us will have patios covered in unsightly green algae and moss.

If you want to shift the growth before guests start showing up, there’s a simple solution.

And the good news is, reviving your outside space needn’t cost much at all, according to Chris Bonnett of GardeningExpress.co.uk.

The green-fingered expert told The Sun: “There’s no need to splash the cash on a specialist patio cleaning product if you want to get rid of the grime from your slabs.

“One of the easiest methods involves you using washing up liquid.”

Chances are, you’ll already have some at home. But if you do need to buy some, you can pick up a 500ml-bottle for 69p at Asda. If you’re set on buying big brand Fairy Liquid, a 383ml bottle will cost you £1.50 at Asda.

“All you need to do is add a little bit of washing up liquid to the bottom of a bucket, and then fill it with warm tap water,” said Chris.

“Pour the cleaning solution on your patio and scrub with a hard-bristled brush to get rid of any stains and debris.”

At Wilko, you can buy a scrubbing brush for under £2.

Chris said: “Good old-fashioned soapy water is a no-brainer for cleaning your patio effectively.”

The best way to carry out the job is by starting from the corners of your patio slabs and working inwards.

If you’re struggling to shift tougher stains, the garden whizz suggests using diluted white vinegar.

At The Range, you can pick up white vinegar spray for £1.19.

“Don’t forget to rinse the patio with clean water once you’ve scrubbed it,” he added.

“Then leave it to dry for around 24 hours.”

If you can access a pressure washer it is another effective way to remove stubborn dirt and build-up from your patio.

Take care not to hold the washer too close to the slabs as it may cause permanent damage.

The best approach is to start on a low setting and take things from there.

If you don’t own one already, you might think about buying one.

But you could expect to pay at least £100 if you decide to do so.

To keep costs down, it’s worth checking out forums on sites such as Facebook and the Nextdoor app to see if you can borrow one from someone who lives locally.

Alternatively, head to B&Q, and you can hire one for £99 for the weekend.

Buddy up with a couple of neighbours who also want to clean their patios, and you can split the cost to make it cheaper for everyone.

Using washing up liquid to clean a patio isn’t Chris’ only go-to hack involving this household staple.

While you’re at it, you can use your trusty mixture of washing up liquid and warm water to clean your patio furniture, too.

This is a quick and easy task that is sure to revamp any garden. Use a sponge or brush to scrub away the excess dirt. Then, once your furniture is clean, use a hose to rinse away any excess soap.

“You can also use it in your garden to get rid of aphids and other pests,” said the horticultural whizz. “Simply dilute a teaspoon of washing up liquid in three litres of water and pour it into a spray bottle.”

At The Range, you can find reusable spray bottles for 56p.

Once again, using a home-made concoction is a simple way to save on the expense of store-bought products.  

Chris said: “While you can fork out on insecticidal soaps to control an aphid infestation on your plants, it’s cheaper to make your own DIY remedy.

“You need to spray the solution directly onto the stem of the plant.”

Once you’ve done this, keep an eye out for leaf damage.

“If you notice any, try using a weaker solution,” said the gardening supremo. “To be on the safe side, it might be best to use the spray on one or two leaves first, to test it out, before using it on the whole plant.”

According to Chris, it’s best to leave spraying aphids with your home-made solution for a cloudy day.

He said: “If it’s done in full sunlight, it can lead to serious leaf burn.”

If you’re looking for a home-made solution to deal with weeds, Chris has a hack for this too.

“Weeds sprouting between paving and in lawns can instantly make an outdoor space look unkempt,” he said. “The good news is, you can simply and cheaply create your own weed-killer by mixing vinegar, water and soap.”

As you’re steering clear of commercial products, you will not only save money, you will also avoid using chemicals on your garden.

Chris added: “For some weeds, one spritzing should be enough to kill them. But others may need spraying a few more times until it works.”

What are your rights over a fence row?

IT'S very important to know your rights if you are embroiled in a fence row with a neighbour.

How do I know which side I own?

A boundary feature can be a fence, wall, hedge, ditch, piece of wire, or sometimes even just the edge of a driveway.

The only way to know for certain who owns what side and to avoid any neighbour disputes, is to refer to the title plan or Land Registry. 

In this, the T mark is used to indicate who the boundary belongs to and therefore who is responsible for its upkeep, say pros at Jacksons Fencing.

Larger developments tend to have some indication provided by the builder, but there are no hard and fast rules

People often think they are responsible for the left (or right) hand boundary wherever they live, but there isn’t any legal basis for this.

You can check with HM Land Registry to see which boundary feature you are responsible for.

Often households can’t get hold of the paperwork but experts say they shouldn’t panic.

Homeowners can guess who owns the fence by checking where the rails are.

Pros say: “The fence is typically facing away from their property so that their neighbour gets the ‘good’ side. 

“This is the most secure way of facing fencing so there are no rails for anyone to use to climb into your garden. 

“This is then repeated with the neighbour on the other side to ensure that each home has both a ‘good’ and ‘bad’ fence side.”

Walls and fences are often built on the land of the boundary’s owner with the edge of the wall marking the limit.

While professionals agree a glimpse at the fence can give you a hint, it’s not foolproof – so you can’t be certain.

Fines and punishment

It is recommended to always check legal documents before making changes to avoid hefty fines.

There is no law that the neighbour has to get the good side of the fence, so it’s completely up to whoever owns the fence. 

Fencing pros have suggested: “It may be worth selecting a double-sided panel with no ‘bad’ side as both sides look the same and rails are concealed within the fence panel.”

If one boundary backs onto a road or footpath you can install the panels with the rails on the inside

But if it’s installed on the outside, it can provide an “easy ladder for burglars to enter your garden”.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Property Litigation Association have created a mediation service to help neighbours resolve disputes over their property boundaries without resorting to court action. 

RICS also provides a list of surveyors who could assist in boundary disputes.

If a dispute continues, it is ultimately a court that makes decisions, but they do not like such disputes being put before them.

Changing a boundary

If you want to change an existing boundary, such as replacing an old fence with a new one, we always recommend discussing with your neighbour first and making sure it is all agreed.

The registered titles can help you to reach an agreement, but only if this information has been added.

In terms of decorations on a fence legal advisers recommended asking around over who actually first installed it.

But they also urged caution before getting to work on amending the fence without getting more certainty yourself – since there is a danger of actually being prosecuted for criminal damage.

How high can a garden fence be?

The height of the fence is measured from your ground level, this can have an impact when, due to slopes in the ground, your garden may be at a higher level than your neighbours‘.

A garden fence can be as high as 100m but you need to get planning permission if it’s over than 2m.

However, there are some complications to this.

If you are thinking about front garden fences, restrictions state that fences alongside a driveway can be a maximum of 1m or 3ft.

You would need to get planning permission for putting a trellis on a fence of 2m.

But, if any plant that you grow on that trellis exceeds 2m, you do not need to obtain a permit for the growing plant.